Netherlands

Dutch or Netherlands

Before you use the word Dutch there is something you need to know. The word Dutch does not exist in any of the languages of the Netherlands. It is a word invented by the English and probably derived from the German word Deutch which is how the Germans call their language. Also all those English sayings that include the word Dutch were invented during the many wars and incidents between The Netherlands and England. While these wars were going on, you must understand that there were hardly any borders and many families in Amsterdam had family in London and vice versa. People spoke many languages on the streets of Amsterdam. Now don’t get me wrong, we love the English, but in The Netherlands we never go Dutch because that is a typical English thing to do. So let it be clear that Netherlanders speak Netherlands and Frisian, aswell as many local dialects. They never speak Dutch because it does not exist. Another thing that has to be clear is that Netherlands is not German. Netherlands is very much influenced by the Frisians and lies nicely inbetween German and English. Not much off a surprise as topographically that’s exactly where The Netherlands are. However, it must be understood that during the previous centuries the borders between those countries were not very tight, the many wars scattered people around and everybody mixed up all over Europe. Only cities were fortified and guarded, countries were not. In the town of Amsterdam lived amongst many others: French, Germans, English, Italians, Spanish, Portugese, Scottish, Denish, Swedish, Noorwegans, Polish, Lithauers, Moscovites, Russians, Tartars, Schyten, Turks and other Ottomanians, Persians, Arabs and Jews coming from all over the world. When you look at old paintings from the 17th century showing the town’s squares and for instance the people at the Buerse, you will see all the the different people together with a different style in clothing. Merchants and commoners with every type of headware you can think, from wide rim hat to turban. There was a high level of literacy and people also published and read other languages besides Netherlands, Frisian, Crecian and Latin. Popular in The Netherlands were books in French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, German, English, Arab, Hebrew and Crecian. Asian books were translated to European languages and specifically Netherlands books were translated to Japanese and several other Asian languages.