Standard Dutch language
The standard Dutch language ( ndl. Standaardnederlands ; formerly also Algemeen Beschaafd Nederlands , literally: "General educated Dutch") is the standard language variant of Dutch , which is used as the language of instruction in schools, as an official language and in the media.
It is the official language in the following states or dependent areas:
- Netherlands
- Belgium ( Flemish Region and Brussels Capital Region ) -
- Suriname
- Aruba , Curaçao and Sint Maarten (autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands )
The modern standard Dutch language is strongly influenced by the dialect of the formerly most powerful province of Holland (now the provinces of North and South Holland). Less of the dialects of the other earlier provinces are found in modern Dutch. However, Brabant and Flemish used to have a strong influence on the dialect of Holland.
The form of the standard language used in Flanders largely corresponds to the language spoken in the Netherlands. To this end, the governments of the Netherlands and Belgium created the so-called Dutch Language Union (Nederlandse Taalunie) on September 9, 1980 . This is to ensure that a common spelling and official terminology persists and the language is maintained. In 2004 Suriname also joined the Union as an associate member.