Dutch Language Weekend 2025 brings communities together across New Zealand - New Zealand
Dutch Language Weekend 2025 brings communities together across New Zealand
Last weekend, the first Dutch Language Weekend brought together communities across Aotearoa New Zealand to celebrate the Dutch language and the role it plays in identity, culture and connection. With events in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Palmerston North, the programme offered opportunities for people of all ages to explore language from different angles: through music, dialogue, sports, storytelling and cultural traditions.
Celebrating language, culture and community: highlights from the first Dutch Language Weekend in Aotearoa
The weekend kicked off with a cultural broadcast on RNZ Concert,
where Wednesday’s morning programme spotlighted Dutch and Flemish
music.
At Auckland University of Technology, we organized a panel
discussion on language regression and health, exploring both older
migrants reverting to their first language and younger generations
gradually losing theirs.
In Wellington, language and movement came
together as Les Mills Taranaki Street hosted a group fitness class
that introduced Dutch words in a fun, active setting.
In
Christchurch and Palmerston North, libraries turned into vibrant Dutch
hubs with bilingual storytime, games, treasure hunts, music and
cultural activities for families.
And, of course, across the
country, Dutch and Flemish communities held Sinterklaas celebrations,
bringing together generations and families in a shared cultural
tradition.
Across all events, one thing stood out:
multilingualism is not just a skill, it's identity and
community-building.
A big thanks to everyone who took part,
hosted activities and helped make this first edition a success!
