• In the language itself: Bildts
• ISO 639-3 standard: not available

^{Click here for a full overview of the language vitality colour codes.}

• Classification:
  Indo-European > Germanic > West-Germanic > Weser-Rhine Germanic > Low Franconian > Hollandic > Bildts, as well as
  Indo-European > Germanic > West-Germanic > North-Sea Germanic > Anglo-Frisian > Frisian > West Frisian > Bildts.
  See bild1234 on Glottolog
• Script: Latin

A first academic series of standardisation of Bildts came from Hotze Sytses Buwalda, who wrote various articles from 1935 onwards¹⁾ In 1963, he wrote the general booklet Hoe skrive wy 't in 't Bildts (How do we write it in Bildts) ²⁾³⁾ This standard for Bildts is highly influenced by the writing of author Waling Dykstra (1821-1914), who wrote several stories in Bildts, from 1852 onwards⁴⁾⁵⁾.

In 1996, the first dictionary of Bildts, Woordeboek fan 't Bildts. En list fan toponimen, was published by the Fryske Akademy, as the collective work of Hotze Sytzes Buwalda, Sytse H Buwalda and Anne C.B. van der Burg ⁶⁾⁷⁾. This dictionary was welcomed greatly, some even saying it raised the status of Bildts from a dialect to a language ⁸⁾

As the popularity and need of the dictionary was high - it was sold out for several years - a second edition was published⁹⁾¹⁰⁾. This second edition did not include the toponymical list, but did include a slightly adapted version of the aforementioned writing guide Hoe skrive wy ’t in ’t Bildts (covering additional information, such as a detailed orthography and grammar). The dictionary was the collective work of H.S. Buwalda, S.H. Buwalda, A.C.B. van der Burg, and H. Sijens. In 2022, this edition of the dictionary was made available online.¹¹⁾

In 2024, a grammar, Grammatica van het Bildts, was added to this collection, written by by S. Buwalda ¹²⁾ This grammar is also available online.

Bildts is highly linked to the area Het Bildt, in the North-West of the province of Fryslân, the Netherlands. The development of the mixed language is tied to the development of the area Het Bildt, which is land claimed from the sea, with the first dykes established in that area in 1505¹³⁾. Due to language contact between Frisian speakers and speakers of the Dutch varieties from South and North Holland, Bildts could develop ¹⁴⁾¹⁵⁾.

The Bildt area also formed a municipality for a long time, called Het Bildt. In 1984, part of the former municipality Barradeel was added to Het Bildt, which included the Frisian speaking village of Minnertsga (Fr. Minnertsgea). In 2018, a large amalgamation took place, with a merger of the former municipalities Franekeradeel, Menameradiel, and part of Littenseradiel into the new municipality Waadhoeke. In this new administrative area, speakers of Bildts are a relatively small minority. In the municipality Waadhoeke, most residents speak Frisian and Dutch, and in addition to Bildts, there is also a local variety of Town Frisian called Franekers¹⁶⁾¹⁷⁾.

^{A map showing languages ares in the North of the Netherlands. The language area of Bildts is shown in orange. The Frisian language area is marked in blue, Town Frisian areas are indicated with stripes 18).}

It is estimated that there are six to ten thousand speakers of Bildts ^19)20)21).

The Frisian census on regional languages 2014 and 2022 reported the following responses from Het Bildt^{22) 23)}:

• Table 1: The percentage of people who indicated to have good- very good Bildts language skills (productive and receptive);
• Table 2: The percentage of speakers using Bildts in various situations:

_{Table 1: Bildts language skills of respondents}

_{Table 2: Bildts language use of respondents who indicated to use the language}

The call for Bildts language education was spurred due to developments for Frisian in education, in the seventies²⁴⁾. In 1973, a committee was established to form an advice for the introduction of Frisian as an obligatory subject for schools in Fryslân²⁵⁾. This not only led to the obligation for schools in the province of Fryslân to teach Frisian as a regular subject starting in 1980, but also to an amendment for the national Primary Education Act in 1974. This amendment stated that 'in regions where there is a regional language in living use next to Dutch, some knowledge of this regional language may be included during lessons on reading and Dutch' ²⁶⁾. Propelled by this, action was taken for Bildts to be taught next to Frisian. To provide for Bildts educational materials, a special committee,De Commissie Bildts, was established in 1979²⁷⁾.

In 1980, Stiching Ons Bildt was founded to support the language and culture. Organising Bildts language courses was one of their activities²⁸⁾. In 1981, a new national act on education allowed for 'a regional language in living use' to be used as a language of instruction, next to Dutch ²⁹⁾. Since then, it is legally allowed to teach as well as use Bildts in class, in addition to Dutch as a language of instruction.

Municipal amalgamations in 1984 and 2018 have led to an impulse for the Bildts language and culture movement³⁰⁾. In 1984, the Frisian speaking village Minnertsga/Minnertsgea was added to municipality Het Bildt, and in 2018, the municipality Het Bildt was merged into the larger and new municipality Waadhoeke (see Legislation of language education).

Nowadays, legislation allows schools to teach and/or use Bildts (see Legislation of language education). Nevertheless, Bildts language has a limited place in education, as schools are not obliged to teach Bildts (see Education presence). Bildts is included especially in pre-school education, primary education, and adult education, and there are a few organisations and initiatives which promote Bildts in education (see Institutional support for education of the language).

In 2018, the municipality Het Bildt amalgamated into the larger municipality of Waadhoeke. In anticipation of this administrative change, there was an increased amount of activity and efforts to have Bildts recognised as a (minority) language.

For this, researchers at the Fryske Akademy were asked to research Bildts, which led to several publications^31)32)33). They concluded that Bildts is neither a Frisian nor a Dutch dialect, but a mixed language. Eric Hoekstra, one of the co-authors: 'We hope that our analysis of Bildts, as a mixed language rather than as a dialect of either Frisian or Dutch, may serve the policy makers of the Ministry, who will decide on the recognition of Bildts as a language'^{34) 35)}

Despite the efforts, Bildts was not recognised via the ECRML, but the language has received recognition at both provincial and municipal level.

The Netherlands has signed and ratified the European Charter for Regional and Minority languages by the Council of Europe, which came into force in 1998. Nevertheless, Bildts is not among the recognised regional or minority languages in the Netherlands.

In 2016, municipality Het Bildt and language activists were in pursuit of recognition for Bildts under part II of European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. They received support of the Province of Fryslân for this recognition, but the Dutch government decided not to recognise Bildts as a regional or minority language.³⁶⁾³⁷⁾ This decision came after a negative advise from the Taalunie (Language Union) in 2016. The Union was of the opinion that, though Bildts as hybrid language is neither Dutch nor Frisian, it does not mean Bildts is a language rather than a variery of either Dutch of Frisian. The Union states that the purpose of the Charter is not to 'elevate more regional languages to distinct cultural languages. Mixed varieties do not need an own umbrella if they can shelter underneath the common umbrella of existing cultural languages.' ³⁸⁾

Bildts is not recognised as a regional or minority language in the Netherlands. In 2017, after the negative advise of the Taalunie (Language Union), a petition to recognise Bildts was presented to members of the Dutch Parliament and Senate, but the topic was not discussed in the plenary session on the amalgamation.^39)40)41)

Legislation regarding education is made at the national level in the Netherlands.

Pre-school education (0-4 years)

The law for pre-school education, the Wet Kinderopvang [Childcare Act], allows for regional language varieties 'which are in living use' as medium of instruction, in addition to Dutch.⁴²⁾

As of January 2025, there is a legal requirement for employees to have a Dutch language certificate at B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference.⁴³⁾ Employees who use Frisian or another language full time, are exempt for a Dutch certificate, but are required to have a certificate at B2 level for the language of instruction.

Primary school education (4-12 years)

The law for primary education, the Wet op het primair onderwijs [Primary Education Act], allows for regional language varieties 'which are in living use' as medium of instruction, alongside Dutch.⁴⁴⁾

Secondary school education (12-16/18 years)

Until August 2022, the Wet op het voortgezet onderwijs [Secondary Education Act] stated the same construction as pre-school and primary education, namely that regional language varieties 'which are in living use' can be used as medium of instruction, alongside Dutch. However, this passage no longer is included. The Act does allow to deviate from Dutch as language of instruction when the subject is about another language, or when it is necessary to do so for pupils because of their linguistic background ⁴⁵⁾.

Though legislation regarding education is made at national level, the Provincial Government of Fryslân has primary authority regarding Frisian education via a policy rule, which also encompasses opportunities for schools to teach other regional languages ⁴⁶⁾. In addition to the national legislation which allows for Bildts to be taught and used as medium of instruction, Bildts can be taught as subject alongside or instead of Frisian at primary level⁴⁷⁾.

Representatives of the Dutch government, the government of Province of Fryslân and amalgamated municipalities, including Waadhoeke, have signed the agreement Bestjoerlike oerienkomst Frysk taalbelied yn de nije gemeenten Ljouwert en Súdwest-Fryslân en yn de nij te foarmjen gemeente Waadhoeke ('Administrative Agreement Frisian Language Policy in the New Municipalities Leeuwarden and Súdwest-Fryslân and the Upcoming Municipality Waadhoeke')(2017), which states that Waadhoeke will strive to include Bildts in a multilingual language policy.

The Province of Fryslân underlined the support of Bildts and other regional languages for several years. In 2004, in in the Notysje Streektalen [policy memorandum regional languages]⁴⁸⁾. Due to this policy memorandum, the province financially supported Stichting Ons Bildt, and it drew up a policy on youth and education⁴⁹⁾. The province has made similar policies for art & culture, language, heritage and education in 2011−2015 with Grinzen oer(Across Borders), in 2016−2020 with Mei hert, holle en hannen(With heart, head, and hands'), and in 2021−2024 with Nij Poadium(‘New Platform’/’New Stage’). Thus, the province has been supportive towards Bildts, although the main responsibilities to carry out the policies lie with the municipality.

For a type of pre-school education, called Vroeg- en Voorschoolse educatie [Early and Pre-school education] within pre-school education ⁵⁰⁾, municipalities can set standards tied to subsidy for these pre-school centres. As such, the municipality Waadhoeke has an article (Art. 10) in their policy, which stats day care centres receiving this subsidy need to comply with the multilingual language policy of Waadhoeke. For example, centres have to offer and/or develop activities to stimulate a language-rich environment, with attention to multilingualism and the home languages used by the children ⁵¹⁾.

Since its foundation in 2018, the municipality Waadhoeke has implemented a multilingual language policy, with support of the four main languages in the municipality: Bildts, Dutch, Franekers and Frisian. The first language policy document Waadhoeke: Lân fan Taal [Waadhoeke: Land of Languages] promoted multilingualism, including Bildts, supported Bildts education, and specified financial support.

In 2021, as the first municipality in Fryslân (and the Netherlands), the municipality Waadhoeke appointed a meertalighydskoördinator (Coordinator for Multilingualism), to succesfully implement the language policy, and promote multilingualism among organisations, businesses and the municipality ⁵²⁾. This coordinator founded and presedes the Taalplatform Waddenhoek (Language Platform Waadhoeke) to connect organisations and initiatives, and has initiated the Taalprijs Waadhoeke (Language Award Waadhoeke) to award a language initiative on UNESCO's International Mother language Day.

There are a few organisations which (among other things) promote and support Bildts in education, including:

• Bildts Aigene, a foundation originating in Stichting Ôns Bildt and the former cooperative entity Bildts documentatiecentrum. Bildts Aigene has a section Language and Education, which, according to their year report 2019:⁵³⁾
  • organises language courses for both native and non-native speakers, both in class as well as online;
  • develops multilingual learning materials for primary schools;
  • publishes books;
  • organises the yearly Bildts spelling test and poetry evening.
• Kemissy Meertalighyd, was part of the umbrella organisation of Stichting Bildts Aigene since 2015, but not anymore.⁵⁴⁾ The committee provides multilingual materials as well as information on multilingualism, and collaborates with Cedin’s Centre for Multilingualism. The materials of Kemmissy Meertalighyd are aimed at teachers in the municipality Waadhoeke.
• Cedin’s Centre for Multilingualism, an educational organisation which supports schools in Fryslân to embed multilingualism within education.
• Afûk, an organisation for Frisian edcucation, developer of educational materials and a publishing house. Afûk also develops materials in Bildts for regular activities, such as the the yearly lês-mar-foar-wiken (reading aloud weeks), when reading to children is promoted during September.

Educational materials are made by a several organisations (mentioned above): Bildts Aigene, Kemissy Meertalighyd, Cedin Taalsintrum Frysk and various initiatives, often in cooperation and/or published by De Bildtse Boekerij/BildtTaal or Afûk.

The province of Fryslân and municipality has financially supported the production of pre-school and primary school educational materials in Bildts⁵⁵⁾⁵⁶⁾. Almost all materials are made available online for free by Bildts Aigene and Kemissy Meertalighyd.

For pre-school, the Frisian children books and materials of Tomke have been translated to Bildts. Tomke is to be read to children aged 2-4 to stimulate the language use. The Bildtse Post, the local newspaper (which was published until 2023⁵⁷⁾), also published a short Tomke story in Bildts every week for a longer period, around 200 stories in total⁵⁸⁾.

Every September there is a reading campaign in Fryslân, the lês-mar-foar-wiken (reading aloud weeks). Every year in September, many reading activities are oranised, and the lês-mar-foar-wiken have a central theme, that is connected to the theme of the national Reading Week. The main focus of this campaign is th Frisian, but regional languages are included. For toddlers, a Tomke book is published connected to the central theme. This Tomke book is published in Frisian, as well as in Bildts and other regional languages such as Stellingwerfs and Franekers.

There is one study book in Bildts for the two highest years of primary scool (aged 10-12 years), which is Bildtse Taalrotonde, published by the Komissy Meertalighyd in 2006. It is translated from the Frisian study book Fryske Taalrotonde.

Moreover, there are various learning materials developed by Komissy Meertalighyd (in cooperation with Cedin):

• Online materials via Digibildts
• Themed lessons (e.g. food, art, the municipality, astronomy);
• A series with short stories and accompanying songs about the leading character Bob de Krôb;
• Short stories;
• Puzzles;
• Songs (e.g. CD Speule met Bildts)

Two primary schools have created their own materials to use in class, one school for all levels (4-12 years), the other school for the lower and middle years (4-10 years).⁵⁹⁾

During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, a Bildts colouring and story booklet was published and provided for free for the first three years (aged 4-7 years) of primary schools.⁶⁰⁾

More general materials regarding multilingualism are made as well, which could be used to include Bildts, by organisations and/or initiatives such as Inspirerend Meertalig Onderwijs [Inspriring Multilingual Education].

Bildts Aigene is the main organisor of Bildts courses for adults, and as such, also offers the online learning environment, Digibildts.

The educational activities are financially supported by the municipality, but nonetheless 'also exist by the grace of volunteer effort, having allowed this infrastructure to exist cost-effectively'(p.25)⁶¹⁾.

According to the 2018 Frisian study on language education, teachers express a need for a specific Bildts didactic teacher course⁶²⁾. )

Some primary teachers, from four out of the six schools in the former municipality, have attended courses to improve the Bildts language skills. These courses include Bildts for native speakers, Bildts for non-native speakers, or courses on multilingualism. Two schools promote the attandence of such courses, two schools are open for teachers to request the courses ⁶³⁾.

In 2018, the coaltion of the municipality of the Waadhoeke expressed in their agreement to promote multilingualism as wel as promote and preserve the multilingual character of the municipality. For this, a multilingual themed lesson plan should become available for all schools ⁶⁴⁾.

There are several pre-school facilities in the Bildt, where Bildts may be used informally ⁶⁵⁾.

A study on Frisian language education by Varkevisser and Walsweer (2018) included research results on Bildts language education at primary schools in the former municipality Het Bildt⁶⁶⁾. This study showed that Bildts is taught up to one hour a week at five out of eight primary schools (see table 3). Two schools do not teach Bildts, as they are situated in Minnertsga/Minnertsgea, and the third school that does not teach Bildts states the low number of Bildts speaking pupils, which is 1 in 6, as the reason. Out of these eight schools, five have a language policy which include both Frisian and Bildts. The Bildts language classes don't take place at all levels, but mostly take place in the lower levels and are often dependent on the teacher. What is more, three schools also use Bidts as language of instruction (p.135).

_{Table 3. Teaching time for Bildts language education at the 5 schools (marked a-e) (Varkeviseer & Walsweer, 2018, p.132)⁶⁷⁾}

The Bildts language proficiency is not tested, as adequate means to do so have not been developed.⁶⁸⁾

Bildts Aigene is the main organisor of Bildts courses for adults, and offers:

• Bildts for non-native speakers
  lessons which aims at listening, reading and speaking skills.
• Bildts for native speakers
  lessons which also aims at writing skills.
• Online courses
  The courses are also offered online. A selection of lessons may be tried for free.

• Bildts Aigene Organises language courses, also online, has archive on Bildts history. Also has a webshop with Bildts books.
• Kemissy Meertalighyd Develops educational materials and makes them available online.
• Cedin: Centrum Meertaligheid Assists and promotes multilingual education in Fryslân. Also develops multilingual educational materials.
• Afûk The Frisian language education organisation, which organises Frisian courses, publishes books and educational materials, has a book store (also online), and promotes multilingualism in Fryslân.
• Sintrum Frysktalige Berne-opfang (SFBO) Centre for Frisian pre-school education, which promotes multilingual pre-schools in Fryslân.
• Taalplatform Waddenhoek A network of language organisations in Waadhoeke, lead by the Coordinator for Multilingualism.

Dictionaries and grammars

• Woordeboek fan ‘t Bildts Bildts dictionary
• Grammatica van het Bildts Bildts grammar

Educational resources for children

• Bildts materials by Kemissy Meertaligheid Various materials at primary school level, inculding the series Bob de Krôb, short stories and songs, puzzles, and music.
• multilingual educational materials Multilingual theme lessons in English, Dutch, Bildts, and Frisian.
• Poems Collection of poems
• Bildts Filmhuus Youtube channel, with a playlist for pre-school children with readings of Tomke
• Bob de Krôb Video on one of the stories of the educational series.

Educational materials for adults / in general

• Digibildts Online course on Bildts. A trial can be done for free.
• Wikitongues Videos of native speakers.
• Bildts FilmhuusYoutube channel of Bildts activities, including readings of Tomke, the yearly spelling test, and the Bildts poetry evening.