The main language spoken in the Netherlands is Dutch. Over 95% of people living in the Netherlands speak Dutch as a native language, although that number may change depending on where you visit in the country. People living in the northern region of Friesland, for example, may speak different languages as well as Dutch.
However, if visitors to the Netherlands know key phrases and greetings in Dutch, they’ll generally be understood no matter where they travel. Discover more about the primary language spoken in the Netherlands, the Netherlands’ official language, and other languages you may encounter in this beautiful part of the world.
Table of Contents
What is the official language of the Netherlands?
The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch (or Nederlands). The vast majority of the population in the Netherlands, over 95%, speaks Dutch, as do the people living in neighboring Belgium, where Dutch is called Flemish.
In addition, Frisian is recognized as an official language in the Netherlands’ northern province of Friesland. Frisian is spoken by around 500,000 people and taught in Friesland schools along with Dutch. It is considered the closest language to English, as its vocabulary and grammar is very similar to English as well as Dutch.
How many languages are spoken in the Netherlands?
There are around 18 languages spoken in the Netherlands, with most citizens speaking Dutch and another language. According to Ethnologue, 13 of those languages are living indigenous languages, with the other 5 being languages spoken by immigrants or in neighboring European countries.
Like many European countries, the Netherlands is home to speakers of a variety of languages. While Dutch is the main language spoken in homes and schools, there has been an emphasis on more language diversity to incorporate and celebrate the languages spoken by the Dutch population.
Besides Dutch, languages spoken in the Netherlands include:
- Arabic
- Achterhoeks
- Drents
- English
- French
- Frisian
- German
- Gronings
- Limburgish
- Sallands
- Sign Language of the Netherlands
- Stellingwerfs
- Turkish
- Twents
- Veluws
- West Flemish
- Zeeuws
Top 3 spoken languages in the Netherlands
Although so many languages are spoken by the 17 million people living in the Netherlands (Ethnologue, 2026), there are three languages that you’re most likely to hear on busy streets or in friendly conversations.
If you happen to speak one of these three languages, chances are that you’ll easily find someone to talk to or help you when you’re visiting the Netherlands.
Dutch
Dutch is by far the most commonly spoken language in the Netherlands (Britannica, 2026). It’s spoken all over the country, as well as in neighboring Belgium and parts of nearby France. Afrikaans, a derivative language of Dutch, became one of the official languages of South Africa after 18th-century Dutch exploration brought Dutch to the African continent.
Dutch is a Germanic language that was known as Dietsc or Duutsc in the Middle Ages, meaning “language of the people.” The earliest known Dutch documents were written in the late 12th century. Its most common form in schools and government institutions is Standard Dutch (Standaardnederlands), with several other mutually intelligible dialects spoken in different regions of the country.
English
English is one of the most spoken languages in the world, so it’s no surprise that English is a common language in the Netherlands as well. Around 93% of people living in the Netherlands speak English either as a first or second language (Europa.eu, 2023). Additionally, the Netherlands consistently scores at the top of the English Proficiency Index, indicating that English proficiency is the highest in the Netherlands compared to other countries where English isn’t a primary language.
Like Dutch, English is a Germanic language, and is very similar to Dutch in grammar structure, vocabulary, and pronunciation. English is also a significant language in politics, media, business, and economics. That’s likely why so many Dutch speakers in the Netherlands also speak English as a second language.
German
Around 61% of people living in the Netherlands speak German (Europa.eu, 2023), another Germanic language with a similar grammar structure and vocabulary to Dutch. Germany neighbors the Netherlands on the western border, so it’s easy to see why so many residents speak German as well as Dutch and/or English.
Like Dutch and English, German is often taught in schools and used in business, particularly in economics (Sciencedirect.com, 2022). Many parents see these three languages as important for their children to learn for future education and career opportunities.
Indigenous languages spoken in the Netherlands
Besides the major European languages from regions nearby the Netherlands, the country is also home to speakers of indigenous languages dating back hundreds of years. Some of these native languages are flourishing in communities and educational institutions, while others have fewer speakers and may be in danger of future extinction.
Take a look at the indigenous languages and dialects spoken in the Netherlands (speaker numbers account for speakers within the Netherlands, not in neighboring nations). Like Dutch, English, Frisian, and German, these languages are all in the Indo-European language family.
Dutch Low Saxon languages
The Dutch Low Saxon languages are a collection of regional languages spoken in the northeastern provinces of the Netherlands. While Dutch Low Saxon is considered a regional language of the Netherlands, you can see from the examples below that dialects vary between them, with some being mutually intelligible with Dutch. Compare each version of “How are you?” with How gaat het? in Standard Dutch.
| Language | Number of Speakers (approx.)* | Location | “How Are You?” |
| Sallands | 347,000 | Overijssel | Hoe gaat ‘t? |
| Gronings | 300,000 | Groningen | Hou wordt t nou den? |
| Twents | 334,000 | Overijssel | Hoe hej’t d’r met? |
| Achterhoeks | 200,000 | Gelderland | Hoe goat ‘t? |
| Drents | 200,000 | Drenthe | Hoe is ‘t? |
| Veluws | 175,000 | Gelderland | Oe got ut? |
| Stellingwerfs | 5,000 | Friesland, Overijssel, Drenthe | Hoe is ‘t? |
*data from worlddata.info, languagemap.eu, and ethnologue.com
Other Indigenous languages of the Netherlands
Around 1 million people speak other Indigenous languages in the Netherlands. Due to the Netherlands’ proximity to countries like Germany, France, and Belgium, some indigenous languages resemble German, French, and Flemish, making them less similar to Dutch than the Low Saxon languages.
| Language | Number of Speakers (approx.) | Province | Example |
| Limburgish | 800,000 | Limburg | Wie bisse? |
| Zeeuws | 100,000 | Zeeland | Oe is ‘t? |
| West Flemish | 50,000 | Zeeland | Oe wis’t? |
| Sign Language of the Netherlands | 15,000 | Throughout the Netherlands | (sign language) |
FAQs about the languages of the Netherlands
Still curious about what language is spoken in the Netherlands? Find answers to your questions in these FAQs about Netherlands languages.
Is English spoken in the Netherlands?
Yes, English is commonly spoken in the Netherlands. Over 90% of citizens are proficient in English (Europa.eu, 2023). If you’re planning to travel to the Netherlands and only speak English, most people living there will understand you, especially in Holland and larger cities.
Is Hollandic the same as Dutch?
Hollandic is not the same as Dutch. However, they are quite similar. Hollandic is a dialect of Dutch spoken by citizens in the western Netherlands, mainly in North Holland and South Holland.
The Dutch language usually refers to Standard Dutch, which is taught in schools and universities. Most people living in the Netherlands speak Hollandic Dutch, the most common dialect, but read and write in Standard Dutch.
Is Dutch more similar to German or French?
Because Dutch and German are both Germanic languages, they are very similar to each other (and to other Germanic languages like Norwegian and English). While the Netherlands and France are geographically close to each other, French is a Romance language, making it more similar to Latin-based languages like Spanish and Italian.
However, many regional languages of the Netherlands have French influences, particularly West Flemish, which is also spoken in parts of France (where it’s known as French Flemish).
Is Dutch hard to learn?
If you speak English, Swedish, or another Germanic language, Dutch may be a very straightforward language to learn. It’s listed in Category I of the Foreign Service Institute language difficulty rankings, meaning that English speakers could become proficient in Dutch in around 24-30 weeks of practice.
If you’re interested in learning Dutch as a second language, learn more about how Rosetta Stone works today!
0 Commentaires