Why are Dutch people...

[Cowabungaa]

I quote from the internet:

"This word is the English counterpart of the Dutch words "Diets" and "Duits". In Dutch "Duits" means "German", where the Germans call themselves "Deutsche". Around 1290 in the northern and eastern part of the Netherlands the word was: "duutsc" and as the Frisian people (living in the North) spoke a language much more alike English, the English adapted "dutch" from Frisian "duutsc". Later "duutsc" became the Dutch word for our eastern neighbors: Duits (German)."

It actually makes for an interesting little history lesson.

And me, hailing from this quirky little country, actually never knew that. And now I do! Hah!

While we're at it, why is the country called Holland somewhere and Netherlands ('low grounds') elsewhere? That's some schizophrenic country

Either way, researching history of words is very interesting. I think I'll look this up.

because officially THE NETHERLANDS would mean including belgium luxemburg and the northern part of france

The Netherlands blatantly means : the low countries

I always thought that the common name for that region was Benelux....i just found out that Benelux only refers to some sort of economic union between those countries.

Live and learn i guess

You are actually right. Our country is called The Netherlands. No matter what it actually means, it's just the country. I don't think you'll make many friends in Belgium if you lop them in with the Netherlands.

Anyway people should really stop calling it Holland, it's annoying. Ask any Brit what they think about people calling their entire continent just 'England'.

you're right somewhat but wrong in your conclusion, you ask an englishman he'll say england, you ask a scot he'll say " no you *** I'm scottish/brittish"

It's not everyone it's those parts that are actually heriditary different

Also : Belgium Belongs to THE NETHERLANDS because they are one of the low countries
The reason why everyone calls Holland ,Holland because of the view of The Netherlands being the low countries

Neder-landen Neder=Lage=Low

Ask any educated belgian on the subject and they'll tell you the same

Again, I know what the name of my country means. But again, it's just the one country. Belgium has been part of the Republic of the Netherlands in the past, but is not anymore. I don't know how I can make it more clear to you.

I'm trying to make clear to you that belgium IS a low country a "Neder-land" thus in the international community the area would be referred to as Netherlands, the countries as holland and belgium

I'm sorry, but you're just wrong on all accounts. Holland is not a country. The Netherlands is. Belgium is. Eveybody in the world but you seems to know that.

Just like to break in here before people get hurt; you're misinterpreting him. He said the international community refers to our little country as Holland, and while not always they often do.

And from an etymological point of view he has a point, sort-of; Belgium and Holland are both 'nether-lands', sorta part of the same-ish geographical area (except when you dive into the Ardennes). It's just that one part is actually called the Netherlands, and the other Belgium. But they're both, overal 'netherlands'; low countries.

So yeah, he's making an etymological and geographical point, not a political one. Now shake hands you two.

 

[Trillovinum]

...called Dutch if their country is called either Holland or Netherlands?

It's the only country/nation that uses different words for the nationality and name of the country, as far as i know.

the word Dutch is actually derived from Dietch which is a medieval language that was spoken in parts of medieval germany and in the lands around.

Dutch is a germanic language and is in the same familly as modern german. Dutch is currently spoken in the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. Afrikaans, spoken in South Afrika is a direct descendant from Dutch but is not considered as such, it's a seperate language.

Oh and you forgot the United states. they're called americans, not the same as the country. You might disagree but "United States of America" is the official name.the same can be said of the United Arab Emerates. You might just call them arabs, but arabs are in fact an ethnic group. the largest in the counrty but they also live in other countries.

 

[TheDuckbunny]

I quote from the internet:

"This word is the English counterpart of the Dutch words "Diets" and "Duits". In Dutch "Duits" means "German", where the Germans call themselves "Deutsche". Around 1290 in the northern and eastern part of the Netherlands the word was: "duutsc" and as the Frisian people (living in the North) spoke a language much more alike English, the English adapted "dutch" from Frisian "duutsc". Later "duutsc" became the Dutch word for our eastern neighbors: Duits (German)."

It actually makes for an interesting little history lesson.

And me, hailing from this quirky little country, actually never knew that. And now I do! Hah!

Same here, fellow dutchman! This proves the internet makes people smarter and generally more awesome.

 

[Asti]

Yeah, the 'g's in Dutch, makes them sound like they're choking. It was quite funny to listen to them speak, when I was in the Netherlands. Oh, and I agree on Russian. I learned a little bit of it and fell in love immediately. It's a wonderful language. Though, Slavic languages can be difficult to learn; luckily, my language is Slavic too, so I had little to no problems with Russian. Generally, I like Germanic type of languages (I consider English to be almost my second native language, I've been listening and learning it since early childhood), but I very much like Greek and Near and Middle Eastern ones.

I'd love to learn Arabian, but I hear it's really really hard to learn. I learned some Dutch because I live close to the border now and I hate to visit other countries without being able to at least say the most basic things in the respective language. But those 'g's really killed me each time. It almost sounds like the Swiss German dialect (Schwizerdütsch). It's funny how the northern most and southern most variations are similar to each other. =D

Aaah, I love languages and dialects. So interesting. <3

 

[Wado Rhyu]

we call them dutch cos of the Deutschland, which I believe the Netherlands were once a part of them.

this is utter and complete bullcrap I'm sorry to say.

Besides Nazi germany's occupation the only people ever to occupy The Netherlands were spain and france

The Dutch Republic originated out of rebellion against the spanish and even seized control of England at a few points in their lifetime (therefrom stems a certain hate between the two, yet also a bond)

Actually, your reply isn't much better. The low countries were for centuries part of the 'German' Holy Roman Empire, until royal inbreeding caused the Spanish king (Charles V) becoming the Emperor as well. I'm not really sure of the circumstances but after him the areas were dividided with Philip II becoming king of Spain, including the low countries and some other family member (dunno who) becoming the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Ofcourse the reformation caused civil war and we kicked out the Spanish and gained independance.

Germany is a succesor state of the HRE (or to speak in nazi terms: the HRE was the first 'reich'). Besides even if you'd not consider being part of the HRE being part of Germany, then you cannot say the Spanish were occupying The Netherlands either because that's before there was a country called The Netherlands. Also it can't be called occupation because it was simply a next phase of an hereditary monarchy.

As for England: we've been in four wars, but the 'seized control' thing happened once... and it was part revolution. England had for a long time fights between Catholics and protestants, and parliamentarists and royalists. Stadtholder William II did indeed invade Britain including Dutch marines, but also with support of protestants/parliamentarists and a large part of the people He then went on to marry Mary and to favour the English over us.

i geuss everyone here was sleeping during history. Germany as a country diden't exist before 1860 ( not tottaly sure when it was formed). it was a collection of villages that became the german empire and not much later the started world war 1. so the idea that the netherlands, or as alot of us like to call it holland, was part of germany is total BS. and the netherlands where formed during the time of Karel the Great of Karel of alxandria. ( ruled after Rome failed). So in short Germany as a country has nothing to do with the name Dutch.

and on a side note alot of Nederlanders like to call our self Hollanders because everyone with a staying permit is a Nederlander and only the born and rased Nederlanders can call the self Hollanders.

 

[Wado Rhyu]

...called Dutch if their country is called either Holland or Netherlands?

It's the only country/nation that uses different words for the nationality and name of the country, as far as i know.

Germans call themselves "Deutch". The Dutch language is a derivative of German. Simple answer is simple.

The real question is, why the hell is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5DZexDYyuU]this so funny [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CST7w_Otz7o&feature=related]

you sir where sleeping. German is derived of the English langauge and the Dutch ( nederlands) language. this is because before the formation of Germany ( in 1850 or around that time ). it had no offical language. and there for the spoke a dialect version of the language around them.

 

[Warforger]

South Slavic languages might be similar, but they are not the same. It might be Gurmaanyia in Bulgaria, but it's Nemacka in Serbia.
Just like Netherlands is called Holandia in Serbia, and Nizozemska in Croatia (Nizozemska is a literal translation meaning low-lands)

Yes I know, the only problem being say look at the Spanish word for Germany,started with an A, it's like the French word for Germany, this makes more sense because the French encounter the Germans more then the Spanish do so they get their knowledge about them from the French and consequently their names for them. If you look at a map Serbia is closer to Germany then Bulgaria.

Oh and i don't know where on earth did u dig that "Cnobec" thing about Montenegro.
Montenegro is called Crna Gora (which translated does mean black mountain, that part was right) and it's called like that in all the ex-Yugoslav languages.

I heard it from a Serb it was a while ago so I may have remembered wrong.