Dutch Folkmusic is difficult to describe. First, what is Dutch? Second, what is Folk Music?. And then we have the big question what is Dutch Folk Music?
To begin at the beginning. what is Dutch? and is it Holland or is it the Netherlands?
There are a lot of misunderstandings about the term, and in fact the name "Dutch" is wrong. But I will try to explain it quickly from a historical point of view. Most of the European countries didn't become a real state until the 19th century. Germany only in 1871, Italy in 1870. Before that Europe was mainly a big collection of small counties, duchies and other domains. They were loosely organised in bigger realms ruled by kings, emperors and dukes. Due to wars, marriages, inheritances and purchases the composition of this realms could change from year to year. In the North-West of Europe is an area where some big rivers flow into the sea, it is a big delta. From early times this region was called the Low Countries because there were hardly any hills or mountains in that region. That area covered roughly the today territories of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and the north of France (French Flanders)
Upto 1581 the area consisted of 17 provinces and was ruled by the Habsburger dynastie. In that year the northern seven provinces declared their independence as "Republic Of The Seven United Netherlands". The Netherlands (Nederland) of today is almost similar to that republic. Netherlands means as much as low countries.
Late 18th century France occupied big parts of Europe. When at last Napoleon was defeated, Europe was redivided in states. The Kingdom of The Netherlands was established and consisted of the current areas of Belgium and The Netherlands. Only a few years later it was divided again in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
And how about Holland then?
Holland was one of those provinces in the North. Actually two today, North and South Holland It was reigned by the duke of Holland. Because they were the coast provinces, many of the traders that crossed the North Sea sailed from Holland, and probably said so in the foreign ports. The Netherlands was not really a state then, That is probably why the name Holland is stuck until current times. But the real name is "Kingdom Of The Netherlands" (which also includes some caribbean islands), or "The Netherlands¨. Never say "Holland" again. People from other parts of the Netherlands may be offended. Except at big sport-events, then everybody wears Orange (the colours of our Royal Family) and roots for "HOLLAND"
And what is Dutch?
The word Dutch is an anglification of the word Deutsch, it is the name the Germans gave to their language. They call their country Deutschland. The Dutch call themself Netherlanders and their language Netherlands. This language is closely related to German, almost like English and Scottish. We can roughly understand each other if we try. I am not a linguist, but I think the English did not hear the difference in the language and call them all Dutch. Not consequently though. The Pennsylvania Dutch really came from Germany, and therefore the language they speak is German not Dutch.
That Dutch language used to be wide spoken in the low countries. Still the dialects in the east very slightly dissolve into German. Around the 10th century the original Germanic languages In the South where slowly overtaken by the Latin(French) languages. Up to today some French towns still have Dutch(or Flemish) names, and in the French Flanders Dutch is gaining popularity again
Dutch Or Flemish?
The Dutch language is spoken in The Netherlands , Belgium, Surinam and in South Africa. The Netherlands, Belgium and Surinam are united in a language union to keep spelling and grammar consistent. Afrikaans, spoken in South Africa is a kind of daughter-language developed in the 18th century, after the Dutch occupation of the parts. And again, like German, we can understand each other. It is up to you to call it Dutch or Flemish, though the official name is Netherlands.
Another time I will get into the music.
https://dutchreview.com/culture/history/why-are-the-dutch-called-dutch-we-have-the-answer/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany#German_Confederation_and_Empire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy#Italian_unification https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Countries#Division https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikaans
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