What language is Dutch?

To describe the Dutch language is difficult because it has been spoken by many different people over many years. However, most experts agree that Dutch originated as a North Germanic language. The original settlers brought their language with them to the new lands. They lived in a northern part of Europe and the language has similarities with the Scandinavian languages, Swedish and Danish. In modern times, the Dutch language has evolved into Dutch two forms, known as Standard Dutch (Standard) and General Dutch (General). The Standard form is the official language of the Netherlands. It has developed into the language of most business communications, and is still spoken by many educated people. It is used by all public institutions and it is taught in schools. The General form is used in most Dutch-speaking communities and in everyday life. It has its own dialect, which varies from region to region.