Dutch is the national language of Holland. However, English is spoken by almost everyone. In addition, many Dutch people speak German and French. Dutch is the mother tongue of well over 21 million Dutch people and Flemish people (Dutch- speaking nationals of Belgium). In addition, some 60.000 people in Northwest France speak a Dutch dialect. On the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, which islands are a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and in the former Dutch colony of Surinam, Dutch is used in government institutions and in schools. Because of the historical ties, many lawyers and historians in Indonesia speak Dutch. Dutch was the basis for Afrikaans, the language spoken in South Africa. Dutch has also influenced other languages, as shipping, agriculture and hydraulic engineering terms in various languages testify. 

Friesian language
The people in the province of Friesland speak Fries, in addition to Dutch. The Dutch outside this province do not understand this language. For many Friesians, the use of their own language is essential for the way they function in society. The language is alive as never before and is being used extensively, recent research shows. More than 90 percent of the inhabitants of this province understand the Friesian language, nearly three-quarters speak it.