Editing Dutch language (section)

== History ==
Dutch developed from Old Low Franconian speech used in the western Germanic area of the Low Countries. Old Dutch was used during the early Middle Ages. It later developed into Middle Dutch.

Middle Dutch was used from the 12th century onward. It appeared in town records and court writing. It was also used in trade documents. Religious texts and local administration used regional written forms. These regional forms influenced spelling and vocabulary.

Printing made written Dutch more regular. Urban government increased the use of written Dutch in public records. Trade also spread written forms between towns. After the Dutch Republic developed in the late 16th century, the written traditions of Holland and Brabant had strong influence on standard Dutch.

The ''Statenvertaling'' was published in 1637. It helped strengthen a common written form for religious and public use. Modern standard Dutch later developed through schools and publishing. Government administration also helped fix written usage.