Dutch is spoken in Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, and there are many varieties, namely different forms of northern and southern accent and, recently, Moroccan Flavored Dutch. Standard Dutch is characterized by 22 consonants, many consonant clusters, 13 vowels, and 3 diphthongs. The writing system is not entirely transparent. There are many studies of children’s acquisition of Dutch that provide a detailed description of typical development, speech sound disorders as well as of the processes underlying speech. Researchers have particularly focused on children with speech sound disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, dysarthria, and cleft lip and palate. Research on the underlying processes of speech yielded a process-oriented approach to diagnosis and therapy planning. Common speech assessments include picture naming tasks as well as phonological analyses of spontaneous speech. Interventions include phonological approaches consistent and inconsistent phonological disorders, classic articulation intervention detailed in Logo-Art, and speech motor interventions.

Key words:
Dutch, Moroccan Flavored Dutch, multilingual, communication, speech, language, children’s development, interdisciplinary, international communities, assessment, intervention

Book chapter:
van Doornik, A., Gerrits, E., Fikkert, P., Beers, M., & Terband, H. (2025). Dutch speech development. In S. McLeod (Ed.). The Oxford handbook of speech development in languages of the world. Oxford University Press.

Language overview presentation:

• van Doornik, A., Gerrits, E., Fikkert, P., Beers, M., & Terband, H. (2024). Dutch: Multilingual children’s speech development. Charles Sturt University, Australia. https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech/languages
• Video: Dutch [Dutch version] – Children’s Speech Development
• Video: Dutch [English version] – Children’s Speech Development
• PowerPoint: Dutch [Dutch version] – Children’s Speech Development (pdf)
• PowerPoint: Dutch [English version] – Children’s Speech Development (pdf)

This presentation relates to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 17: Partnerships to Achieve the Goals