Dutch Literature

Dutch literature comprises all writings of literary merit written through the ages in the Dutch language, a language which currently has around 23 million native speakers. Dutch literature is not restricted to the Netherlands, Flanders (Belgium), Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles, as it has also been produced in other (formerly) Dutch-speaking regions, such as French Flanders, South Africa and the former Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia). A sub-section is 'Dutch Indies literature', colonial and post-colonial Insulinde inspired literature, covering the Golden Age up to the present day. Alternatively, Dutch literature was and is produced by people originally from abroad who came to live in Dutch-speaking regions, such as Anne Frank and Kader Abdolah.

In its earliest stages, Dutch literature is defined as those pieces of literary merit written in one of the Dutch dialects of the Low Countries. Before the 17th century, there was no unified standard language; the dialects that are considered Dutch evolved from Old Frankish. Afrikaans can claim the same literary roots as contemporary Dutch, as both languages stem from 17th century Dutch.