Dutch is a West Germanic language most closely related to low and high German.
21,000,000 speakers
One of the official languages of the European Union, Dutch is spoken in the Netherlands and in Belgium. There's also a small Dutch-speaking community in northern France around Dunkerque.
Dutch uses the Latin alphabet.
The first written example is a late 11th century love poem, written in old-Dutch or more specifically South-West Flemish:
Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan
All the birds have begun their nests Hinase hic enda thu
except me and you Uuat unbidan uue nu?
what are we waiting for?
The English name 'Dutch' derives from the old Dutch word 'Duyts(ch)', which means 'from the people'. The term was used as a collective name for the Dutch and German languages, as distinguished from Latin. Nowadays, the Dutch word 'Duits' is only used to refer to their neighbours, the Germans.
Key Phrases
Ja.
Yes.
Nee.
No.
Welkom!
Welcome!
Prettig met u kennis te maken.
Pleased to meet you.
Hoi.
Hello.
Dag.
Goodbye.
Dank u.
Thank you.
Ik heet ...
My name is ...
Spreekt u Engels?
Do you speak English?
Het spijt me, ik spreek geen Nederlands.
I'm sorry, I don't speak Dutch.
Ik heb hulp nodig.
I need help.
Waar is het toilet, alstublieft?
Where is the toilet, please?
