Over 150,000 New Zealanders have heritage tracing back to the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking countries. Globally, more than 24 million people speak Dutch, mainly in the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname and the Caribbean. This makes it one of the world’s 40 most spoken languages and the eighth largest in the EU by number of native speakers.

The Dutch Language Weekend celebrates this shared heritage and the Dutch language as a bridge between people, ideas, and generations. By connecting Dutch-speaking New Zealanders and anyone with an interest in Dutch language and culture, the initiative keeps language and identity alive across communities.

The weekend’s activities are built around themes that explore how language shapes who we are and how we connect. They highlight how words and names influence belonging and recognition, how language connects people through shared stories and cultural traditions, and how language loss or reversion reveals the deep link between language and identity.

This initiative is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Canberra, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Wellington, the Belgian Honorary Consul in New Zealand, the Federation of New Zealand Netherlands Societies, and New Zealand parliamentarians with an affinity for the Dutch language.

Preliminary programme Dutch Language Weekend 2025

The first edition will take place from 4 to 7 December 2025. The programme offers activities for children, students, families and older generations throughout New Zealand: inclusive, accessible and welcoming to all. The weekend program is still being developed, but the following activities have been confirmed:

Thursday 4 December - Panel discussion on language regression
Auckland University of Technology will host a discussion on language loss and reversion, highlighting both older immigrants who revert to their first language and younger generations gradually losing their mother tongue.

Friday 5 December - Speech and story competition
Children across New Zealand are invited to take part in a speech and story-writing competition to explore the Dutch language, and the relation to culture and identity, in a playful and creative way. 

Saturday 6 December - Dutch language festival and Sinterklaas film festival
Christchurch’s Tūranga Library will host an interactive Dutch language festival with games, bilingual storytime and creative activities. Besides, Dutch clubs across New Zealand will host screenings of a classic Sinterklaas film for families to enjoy together.

Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December - Sinterklaas celebrations
Traditional Sinterklaas events will take place throughout New Zealand, organised by Dutch clubs and societies. These gatherings highlight the cultural roots of the Dutch language and bring together generations in celebration.