Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The history of the Dutch language spans some fifteen centuries and can be divided into five stages: Old Dutch, Middle Dutch, Early Modern Dutch, Modern Dutch and the Dutch of the 21st century. From “Hebban olla vogala” to “selfie”: in every stage, the language reflects the cultural and social changes of its time. In this article we walk through the five stages.
1. Old Dutch (500 to 1150)
Old Dutch is the oldest form of the language, spoken between 500 and 1150 and strongly influenced by Germanic languages. One of the oldest surviving texts is the sentence “Hebban olla vogala”, written down around 1100, presumably by a Flemish monk trying out his pen. For today’s speakers, Old Dutch is barely comprehensible.
2. Middle Dutch (1150 to 1500)
Middle Dutch marked a transition towards a more recognisable version of the language. Dialects such as Brabantian and Flemish were dominant. Although there was no standardised spelling yet, the language was written down more and more often. “Van den vos Reynaerde” (Reynard the Fox), a famous literary work from this period, shows the language of the time well.
3. Early Modern Dutch (1500 to 1700)
With the rise of the Dutch Golden Age and the invention of the printing press, the standardisation of Dutch began. The publication of the Statenbijbel (the States Bible) in 1637 played a major role in fixing spelling and grammar. This laid the foundation for modern Dutch.
4. Modern Dutch (1700 to today)
Modern Dutch was further standardised in the 18th and 19th centuries. Linguists wrote dictionaries and grammars, such as the famous Van Dale. Since then, Dutch has kept adapting to new influences, such as the rise of English and new technologies.
5. Dutch in the 21st century
Today, Dutch is influenced above all by English. New words such as “downloaden” and “selfie” have become fully naturalised. Social media language and street slang continuously add new elements as well. And on the work floor, a hybrid of its own has emerged, in which Dutch sentences are laced with English work terms: even een meeting inplannen, een deadline halen.
A language that keeps moving
The history of the Dutch language shows that change is the only constant. Globalisation, technology and popular culture ensure that Dutch keeps evolving.
For anyone learning Dutch as a second language, that is precisely the challenge: textbook Dutch is not always the Dutch of the work floor, with its colloquialisms, jargon and English loanwords. That is why language training works best when it connects to the language as it is actually used, in your own role and sector.
Colleagues learning Dutch?
Our Dutch courses (NT2) focus on the Dutch of the work floor: the conversations, emails and terminology of your own job. In-company, at one of our locations or online.
Frequently asked questions about the history of Dutch
What is the oldest Dutch sentence?
The most famous old Dutch text is “Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan”, written down around the year 1100. It roughly means: all birds have begun nests. It is one of the oldest surviving examples of Old Dutch.
What are the stages of the Dutch language?
The history of Dutch is divided into Old Dutch (500 to 1150), Middle Dutch (1150 to 1500), Early Modern Dutch (1500 to 1700) and Modern Dutch (1700 to today), with 21st-century Dutch as the youngest stage.
When was Dutch standardised?
Standardisation began in the 16th and 17th centuries, driven by the printing press. The publication of the Statenbijbel in 1637 played a major role in fixing spelling and grammar. Dictionaries and grammars, such as the Van Dale, followed in the 18th and 19th centuries.
How is Dutch changing today?
Mainly under the influence of English, technology and social media. Loanwords such as downloaden and selfie are fully naturalised, and on the work floor, Dutch sentences are increasingly mixed with English work terms.
