Amsterdam- the beginning of standard Dutch
The history behind the first usage of standard Dutch is closely related with the city of Amsterdam and its people. The religious turbulences of the 16th century in the Southern provinces of Netherlands compelled numerous people to relocate to the north, especially to the city of Amsterdam. These people spoke the standard form of Dutch which gradually came into popular use in Amsterdam.
The reputation of the language used by these migrants was enhanced by their elevated socio- economic position. The form of Dutch used by them was gradually accepted as the standard form of the language in the written form. The dialects spoken by the commoners became part of the spoken language. As a result, major differences can be witnessed in the spoken and written forms.
Amsterdam- other languages spoken
Along with Dutch, the people of Amsterdam also use other languages of which English is the most widely spoken. French and German languages are also quite common in Amsterdam.
