Why Are People From The Netherlands Called DUTCH? “Of The People”

Have you ever wondered why the people of the Netherlands are called as ‘Dutch’? The source of the word may astound you.

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The Dutch are renowned for their directness and openness. Do you need LGBTQ+ rights? You’ve got them! Do you want to share the cost? No problem! Do you wish to have a wide selection of cheese? You have ten times more than you asked for!

Questions arise when you begin to consider the details. What is the reason behind the two names of this nation – Holland and the Netherlands?

Why are people in this area referred to as the Dutch? Why are these terms unrelated? We have the solutions for you!

As if the difference between The Netherlands and Holland wasn’t perplexing enough.

Why Are People From The Netherlands Called DUTCH? "Of The People" — That’s a lot of provinces for a tiny country. Image: Alphathon /Wikimedia Commons/ CC3.0

If you can tell the distinction between the Netherlands and Holland, recall the Dutch national anthem, and have some familiarity with Dutch history, you can confidently say you are a semi-Dutch individual. For those who don’t have that knowledge, let’s clear that up before we delve into the primary concern.

The Netherlands is divided into 12 regions, but North and South Holland include all of the major attractions.

Discover the Provinces of the Netherlands with this convenient guide!

When one thinks of tulips, windmills, canals, Amsterdam, and The Hague, it is easy to understand why the two provinces of Holland have become so famous that the nation is commonly referred to as Holland, despite its official name being the Netherlands. But what is the origin of the name Dutch for the people of this country?

SEE MORE: Why Is Netherlands Also Called Holland?

The culprits are the British.

England? Englishman! America? American! The Netherlands? Netherlander? Hollander? No, Dutchman! Why? Because it’s logical.

The United Kingdom bears the blame for a lot of the chaos that has arisen. Not only did they bring about Brexit, but they also caused difficulties for the Netherlands some time ago.

Now, I must have your undivided attention for the foolish (albeit amusing) reason why we refer to the Dutch as ‘the Dutch’. As we all know, the German word for Germany is ‘Deutschland’.

In the eyes of the British, anyone who spoke a Germanic language was considered to be the same, so they referred to both people from Germany and the Netherlands as Dutch.

As time went on, people began to refer to the Germans simply as Germans. Yet, the Netherlands has been stuck with the label Dutch since then, much like an embarrassing nickname someone might receive in high school from a mean and uninformed bully.

Dutch called the “Dutch”?

The Dutch are called the Dutch because the word “Dutch” comes from the Old English word “þeodisc,” which means “of the people.” This word was used to refer to the Germanic-speaking people who lived in what is now the Netherlands and parts of Germany. Over time, the word “þeodisc” was shortened to “Dutch,” and it came to refer specifically to the people of the Netherlands.

The word derives from Proto-Germanic *þiudiska,z which was Latinized into Theodiscus and meant “popular” or “of the people”; it is related to Old Dutch Dietsch, Old High German duitsch, and Old English þeodisc, all of which meant “(of) the common (Germanic) people.”

It’s worth noting that in Dutch, the language spoken by the Dutch themselves, the word for their nationality is “Nederlands,” which means “of the Netherlands.” So while the Dutch are commonly known by the name “Dutch” in English and other languages, they refer to themselves as “Nederlanders” in their own language.

Do you have any thoughts on the source of the word? Were you taken aback by the rationale behind it? Let us know in the comments section!

Topic: Why Are People From The Netherlands Called DUTCH? “Of The People”

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