What are the language laws in Dutch?

Ehm, you mean what the spelling rules are?Or the rules regarding grammar? Or… Are you talking literally about the “language Laws” (Capital Letter!) as they apply in Belgium?Or about laws and regulations regarding the Dutch language in general?

For a Dutchman the question reads rather weird because “language law” is a Dutch concept but it is relatively unknown for most people in the Netherlands and the Caribbean Territories.

Except for example for people who know some more about Belgium, and Flemings themselves of course.There is a good wiki about the item. Check: language legislation in Belgium-Wikipedia

In the wiki, the various Belgian language laws are described from the first of 1873 and there is a good contextual explanation of the concept and discussion about the use of Dutch.

In The Netherlands, In my opinion, regulations on the Dutch language are usually not indicated as such (i.e. with a title such as Language Law (legislation) or linguistic rule).I think that this is also the fact that in the Netherlands we do not have or have had something like a language struggle directly.

But… There are certainly things recorded about the use of the Dutch language as a board or in education.For Belgium and the Netherlands you can find a short overview with links here: language and legislation


Source: K.B. 18 July 1966 -Language Law on Administrative matters, chapter III: Use of languages in local services, Art.10 (Belgian Royal decree and thus in Belgium)

Article.10 each local service, established in the Dutch, French or German languages, uses only the language of its territory in its internal services, in its relations with the services under which it is based and in its relations with The other services from the same language area and from Brussels-capital.


Source: Law of 4 june 1992, laying down general rules of Administrative Law (chapter 2). Traffic between citizens and administrative bodies Section 2.2. Use of the language in the administrative traffic article 2:6, 2:7, 2:8, 2:12 (Dutch law.)

Article 2:6 1. Administrative bodies and persons employed under their responsibility shall use the Dutch language, unless otherwise provided by statutory regulation.http://2.In Derogation from the first paragraph may be used in a different language if its use is more effective and does not disproportionately prejudice the interests of third parties.

Article 2:7 1. Everyone can use the Frisian language in traffic with administrative bodies, insofar as they are located in the province of Frysl芒n.2. The first paragraph shall not apply if the administrative authority has requested that the Dutch language be used on the ground that the use of the Frisian language would lead to a disproportionate burden on administrative traffic.

Article 2:8 1. Administrative bodies may use the Frisian language in the oral traffic within the province of Frysl芒n.2. The first paragraph shall not apply if the other party has requested to use the Dutch language on the ground that the use of the Frisian language would lead to an unsatisfactory conduct of the oral movement. (…) Article 2:12 1. Each person may use the Frisian language in meetings of the representative bodies established in the Province of Frysl芒n. 2. What was said in the Frisian language is recorded in the Frisian language.

Striking: In Belgium therefore referred to as “language law” but in the Netherlands hiding in the AWB.

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