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

• 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 en 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 set in motion due to the lower educational law amendment of 1974, which allowed Frisian to be used as language of instruction at all levels of primary education, and which established Frisian as a regular subject in all primary schools of the province of Fryslân, starting in 1980. Propelled by this, action was taken and Bildts was allowed to be taught next to Frisian. To provide for educational materials, a special committee,De Commissie Bildts, was established in 1979. Nowadays, Kemissy Meertalighyd [Committee on Multilingualism ] and Cedin have taken up most of this work²⁴⁾.

In 1984, the Frisian speaking village Minnertsga/Minnertsgea was added to municipality Het Bildt, which caused another wave for the Bildts language and culture movement, eventually leading to equal status for both languages in the new enlarged municipality. In 1980, Stiching Ons Bildt was founded to support the language and culture, which organised Bildts language courses for example²⁵⁾. This organisation merged with the Bildts Dokumintasysintrum, cultural-archaeological visitor centre Aerden Plaats, and the abovementioned Kemissy Meertalighyd into the Stichting Bildts Aigene foundation in 2015, of which the last two went their own way again after a few years.

In the years leading to formation of the new municipality Waadhoeke in 2018, the Bildts language and culture movement was very active again, with recognition of the Bildts language as one of their aims (also see Legislation of language education). Although Bildts was not recognised on national level, the province of Fryslân and the new political coalition for the municipality of Waadhoeke stated that they would promote and continue to financially support the Bildts language^26)27)28).

Nowadays, Bildts language education is mainly provided at primary schools. It is also offered as language courses for adults.

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 studies ^29)30)31). 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” ^{32) 33)}

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

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.³⁴⁾³⁵⁾

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.” ³⁶⁾

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 ^37)38)39).

Legislation regarding education is made at national level.

• 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 lively use” as medium of instruction, alongside Dutch ⁴⁰⁾.

• 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 lively use” as medium of instruction, alongside Dutch ⁴¹⁾.

• 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 lively 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 ⁴²⁾.

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 ⁴³⁾. In addition to the national legislation which allows for Bildts to be used as medium of instruction, Bildts can be taught as subject alongside or instead of Frisian at primary level⁴⁴⁾.

The Dutch state, the 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]⁴⁵⁾. Due to this policy memorandum, the province financially supported Stichting Ons Bildt, and it drew up a policy on youth and education⁴⁶⁾. 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 education, municipalities can set standards tied to subsidy, to be implemented for a type of pre-school education, called Vroeg- en Voorschoolse educatie [Early and Pre-school education] within pre-school education ⁴⁷⁾. As such, Waadhoeke has added an article (Art. 10) within their policy, in which day care centres need to cooperate 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 home languages used by the children ⁴⁸⁾.

Since its start 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] promotes multilingualism, including Bildts, supports Bildts education, and specifies financial support.

In 2021, as first municipality of Fryslân (and the Netherlands), the municipality appointed a meertalighydskoördinator [Coordinator for Multilingualism], to succesfully implement the language policy, and promote multilingualism among organisations, businesses and the municipality ⁴⁹⁾. 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 Motherlanguage Day.

Bildts education and educational materials is supported and provided by e.g.:

• 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 2019:⁵⁰⁾
  • 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.⁵¹⁾ 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.

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 Bildts⁵²⁾⁵³⁾. Almost all materials are made available online for free by Bildts Aigene and Kemissy Meertalighyd.

For pre-school, the Frisian series Tomke has been translated to Bildts, both books as short stories. 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 2023⁵⁴⁾), also published a Tomke story every week for a longer period, around 200 in total⁵⁵⁾.

Every September there is a reading campaign in Fryslân, the Lês mar foar! [Reading aloud!]. Every year, a theme is given (connected to the national Reading week theme), and many activities are organised. For toddlers, a Tomke book is published with that theme, in Frisian, as well as in Bildts (and other regional languages).

There is one study book made in Bildts for the two highest years of primary scool, 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 made own materials to use in class, one school for all levels, the other school for the lower and middle years.⁵⁶⁾

During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, a Bildts colouring and story booklet was published and provided for free for the first three years of primary schools.⁵⁷⁾

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)⁵⁸⁾.

According to the 2018 Frisian study on language education, teachers express a need for a specific Bildts didactic teacher course⁵⁹⁾. )

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 ⁶⁰⁾.

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 ⁶¹⁾.

There are several pre-school facilities in the Bildt, where Bildts may be used informally ⁶²⁾.

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 Bildt⁶³⁾. 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)⁶⁴⁾}

The Bildts language proficiency is not tested, as adequate means to do so have not been developed.⁶⁵⁾

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.