Culture of the Netherlands

Lore & Background

The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, spoken by almost all people. Dutch is a West Germanic, Low Franconian language that originated in the Early Middle Ages (c. Frisian is also a recognized language, used by the government in the province of Friesland. Several dialects of Low Saxon and Limburgish are recognized as regional languages. There is a strong tradition of learning foreign languages: about 89% of the population have good knowledge of English, 70% of German, 29% of French, and 5% of Spanish.

Reader's Guide

The culture of the Netherlands is marked by a history of religious diversity and tolerance. After independence, the Netherlands adopted Calvinism as a quasi-state religion but practiced a degree of religious tolerance toward non-Calvinists. Christianity was the predominant religion until late into the 20th century, but religious adherence has declined sharply: in 2015, about 25% of the population adhered to a Christian faith, 5% were Muslim, and 2% followed Hinduism or Buddhism. Approximately 67.8% had no religious affiliation. The Dutch constitution guarantees freedom of education, allowing schools based on religious principles to receive government funding. The Dutch Golden Age painting of the 17th century was among the most acclaimed in the world, breaking from Baroque style into a more realistic depiction concerned with the real world.

Did You Know?

• Dutch is also spoken and official in Aruba, Belgium, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Suriname.
• In 2015, 82% of inhabitants said they had never or almost never visited a church.
• The Netherlands contains a Bible Belt from Zeeland to the northern parts of Overijssel where Protestant beliefs remain strong.
• Islam grew considerably as the result of immigration, mainly from Turkey and Morocco.