How close are Flemish and Dutch?

[Talldutchie]

I know, I'm half Dutch (hence my name) but by far not good enough to really know this! Any Belgians or Dutch people om here, or people who know this?

[abc3643]

Don't tell the Flemish that they are really Dutch and you make sure that you understand that Flemish is a distinct variation of Dutch. The Flemish will be happy to remind you of that.

Google "Belgian Revolution" and "Belgian National Day" celebrated on 21 JUL annually.
In short, this was when the Flemish successfully seceded from the United Netherlands.
So, the Flemish are strongly opinionated about not being Dutch.

While it is not exactly the same thing, for somewhat similar reasons, this is why Canadians are strongly patriotic about being Canadians and that Canada is not just like the 51st state of the US.

[Robert_]

Dutch guy here. The Flemish and Dutch are somewhat different. It is a bit like England vs America. With Flanders being England and the Netherlands being America. The Dutch are blunter more direct and slightly less tactful. We can understand eachother as we do speak the same language. However you will find that we use some different words or have a different meaning to a word.

[melanieeeB]

Hii now I'm really curious, do you understand German?
Or does german sound really weird, still similar but not-enough-to-understand weird to you? (Cause that's how I understand Dutch)

[Robert_]

Hi! German doesn't sound weird to me. We don't dub any films or television so we are used to hearing it. Some words you can pick up but we get German as a subject in highschool. I myself don't use German but I would still understand the news.

[melanieeeB]

Oh that's pretty interesting! I didn't knot that. Thank you for your insight 🙏🏼
Yeah for me dutch sounds kinda similar but like suuuper drunk german and I don't really understand it, swiss or austrian are way easier to me

[Robert_]

Those are just different dialects not different languages

[AddylynnNightingale]

It's very similar. There are just three differences I'd say. 1) Flemish sound depressed when compared to Dutch, and Dutch sound oddly excited most of the time. 2) Some words are different, or some things are said different. Like in English we have... "Do you understand what I'm saying?" vs "You feel me?" They mean the same thing, but just a different way of expressing it. 3) I think Flemish are more timid than the Dutch.

[Anonymous]

I’m old enough to know better but I’m still to young to car.

[Talldutchie]

Thanks for your input. NEXT! LOL

[Opinion Owner]

You we so welcome

[Opinion Owner]

Lol. I meant to say care. Not car

[24_7_Amazing]

Belgian living in Canada here

[Talldutchie]

Flemish or French sspeaking?

[24_7_Amazing]

Bit of both

[24_7_Amazing]

Mostly English

[24_7_Amazing]

My grandparents spoke French and Flemish fluently. My mother speaks both as well.

[BJP21]

Dialects are different.

[OddBeMe]

Belgium is in-between right?

[TallAnon]

It's both Dutch, Flemish is just a dialect.