• In the language itself: Grunnegs
• ISO 639-3 standard: gos

UNESCO	Ethnologue	Endangered Languages	Glottolog
n/a		n.a.

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

• Classification: Indo-European → Germanic → Northwest Germanic → West Germanic → North Sea Germanic → Altsächsisch → Middle-Modern Low German → Low German → West Low German → North Low Saxon → Gronings. For more information, see gron1242 at Glottolog
• Script: Latin

Low Saxon is not one standardised language, but a language family. The main varieties in the Netherlands are Achterhoeks, Drents, Gronings, Sallands, Stellingwerfs, Twents, Urks and Veluws. Within these varieties of Low Saxon, different dialects can be found. Examples of the dialects that constitute Gronings are Groningen-East Frisian, Veenkoloniaals, Westerwolds and West Groningen¹⁾. The varieties within the province of Groningen are however codified (Bloemhoff et al., 2013, p. 499). ²⁾

Spelling rules were introduced in the early 1950s in Groningen, which were based on the second edition of K. ter Laan's Nieuw Gronings Woordenboek (Bloemhoff et al., 2020, p. 84) ³⁾. In the 1980s, Siemon Reker published an adapted version of ter Laan's dictionary ⁴⁾.

The dictionaries of ter Laan and Reker, as well as Reker's spelling rules for Gronings, can be found on WoordWaark. The website Woordwark provides a dictionary (Gronings-Dutch and vice versa), a corpus (Gronings-Dutch), and a map with regional differences in lexicon. Woordwark is a joint effort of the Centrum Groninger Taal & Cultuur and the University of Groningen.

A research project in 2003 focused on eliciting command and use of Low Saxon varieties in nine areas. The results for the province of Groningen show that out of the then population (574,500) 77.7% declare to be able to speak their variety but only 45.6% actual use Gronings, or together in combination with Dutch, at home (Bloemhoff et al. 2013, p. 499). ⁵⁾ The percentages for their ability to read and actual frequent reading are similar (72.6% and 46.4%) (ibid). ⁶⁾ All answers were self-reported estimations by the respondents (ibid). ⁷⁾

Gronings is a variety of the larger Low Saxon language family (also: West-Low German; in Dutch: Nedersaksisch), with a language area that spans across the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark (see figure 1). In the Netherlands, a substantial north-eastern part is traditionally referred to as the Low Saxon area. This geographical area stretches from the province of Groningen southwards to the eastern corner of Utrecht province, more precisely the Veluwe, and to the Achterhoek in Gelderland⁸⁾(see figure 2).

The Gronings language area mainly lies in the province of Groningen, the north-eastern province of the Netherlands (see figure 3). Gronings is subdivided into several varieties. Glottolog divides Gronings into four: 1) Groningen-East Frisian, 2) Veenkoloniaals; 3) Westerwolds; and West Groningen ⁹⁾.
However, a commonly made division is:

• Kollumerpompsters;
• Westerkwartiers;
• Hogelandsters;
• Stadsgronings;
• Westerwolds;
• Oldambsters
• Veenkoloniaals
• Noordenvelds/Noord-Drents

Note: Veenkoloniaals and Noordenvelds/Noord-Drents are part of the Low Saxon language continuum and spoken in the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe. There is discussion whether these can be considered to be part of Gronings or Drents¹⁰⁾.

_{Figure 1. Map to the left¹¹⁾: the Low Saxon language area in the East/North-East of Netherlands, West/North-West of Germany and the South of Denmark
Figure 2. Map in the middle ¹²⁾: the Low Saxon language area in the East of Netherlands, showing the Gronings (Grunnegs, number 1) language area, mainly in the province of Groningen.
Figure 3. Map to the right¹³⁾: The Gronings language area shown on the map, with various varieties: 1) Kollumerpomsters in the Northeast of Fryslân; 2) Westerkwartiers in the Northeast of Fryslân and Northwest of Groningen; 3) Stadsgronings in/around the city of Groningen; 4) Hogelandsters in the North of Groningen; 5) Oldambsters in the East of Groningen; 6) Westerwolds in the East of Groningen, 7) Veenkoloniaals in the South of Groningen; 8) Noord-Drents in the North of Drenthe. Note: Number 7 (Veenkoloniaals) and number 8 (Noord-Drents) are part of the Low Saxon language continuum, and there is discussion whether these can be considered to be part of Gronings or Drents¹⁴⁾}

There is a limited number of studies researching the speaker numbers of Low Saxon and Gronings in the Netherlands, and estimations vary greatly.

At the start of the 21st century, the Dutch government estimated Low Saxon to have around 1.8 million speakers ¹⁵⁾. A national study from 2019¹⁶⁾ showed that around 4.8% of the people in the Netherlands speak Low Saxon (for a rough indication: if combined with Dutch population data of 2019¹⁷⁾, this would be around 830,000 Low Saxon speakers in the Netherlands). Another study, from 2021¹⁸⁾, had an estimation with around 350.000 speakers of Low Saxon between the ages of 6 and 69 in the Netherlands.

The national study from 2019 ¹⁹⁾ showed that within the province of Grongingen, 25.5% speaks Low Saxon (with Gronings as the main variety; for a rough indication: if combined with the Gronings population data of 2019 ²⁰⁾, this would be around 149,000 speakers in Groningen).

Factors such as gender, educational background or urbanisation only play a small role in comparison to the aspect of age (Bloemhoff et al., 2020, p. 116)²¹⁾. Regarding Gronings language use at home, 40% of the age group of 61 and above use the language, compared to 17% of the younger age group from 18 to 39 ²²⁾.

Low Saxon has never been part of education curriculum and schools are not obligated to incorporate any kind of courses on Low Saxon (Bloemhoff et al., 2020, p. 105)²³⁾. Low Saxon is barely represented in traditional media. It is not in use in national broadcasting but sometimes on local and regional television or radio (Bloemhoff et al. 2020, p. 109)²⁴⁾. The regional station in Groningen, RTV Noord, airs for about 15 hours per week in Gronings ²⁵⁾. Online learning resources have only been started to be developed recently, as will be discussed in the chapters below.

The Netherlands has signed and ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages by the Council of Europe, which came into force in 1998. Within the Charter Low Saxon, and thus Gronings too, is protected under Part II, Article 7 ²⁶⁾.
This facilitates its promotion across different layers of society, including education, e.g.:

• 7.c) the need for resolute action to promote Gronings in order to safeguard it;
• 7.d) the facilitation and/or encouragement of the use of Gronings, in speech and writing, in public and private life;
• 7.f) the provision of appropriate forms and means for the teaching and study of Gronings at all appropriate stages;
• 7.g) the provision of facilities enabling non-speakers of Gronings living in the area where it is used to learn it if they so desire;
• 7.h) the promotion of study and research on Gronings at universities or equivalent institutions.

Though the Netherlands has signed and ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by the Council of Europe in 2005, Low Saxons are not recognised as a national minority.

The Covenant on the Recognition by The Netherlands of the Low Saxon Regional Language (English version) was signed by the Minister of Interior and the governmental representatives of the provinces of Drenthe, Fryslân, Gelderland, Groningen, Overijssel, and of the municipalities of West- and Ooststellingwerf on October 18th, 2018. The province of Flevoland and the municipalities of Urk and Bunschoten joined at a later moment, and signed the covenant on September 13th, 2024 ²⁷⁾.

With the Covenant, the Dutch government “recognises the Low Saxon regional language as an intrinsic, integral and independent part of the language system of the Netherlands”, and all parties “will make every effort within their power and will cooperate to preserve the Low Saxon language in the Netherlands and to promote its use, without passing new legislation” (translations from Council of Europe). Possibilities for education are mentioned in reference to the national educational acts .

Legislation regarding education is made at national level. The compulsory school age is between 5 and 16 years. Most children in the Netherlands start school aged 4, in the first year of primary education. Students between 16-18 years are obliged to attain a so-called qualification certificate, a diploma for havo (senior general secondary education), vwo (pre-university education), or mbo (secondary vocational education) ²⁸⁾

• Pre-school education (0-4 years)

In pre-school education, the Wet Kinderopvang (English: Childcare Act) states that “a regional language which is in lively use” (Dutch: “een streektaal in levend gebruik”) can be also be used as the medium of instruction, besides Dutch ²⁹⁾. This allows for the use of Gronings.

• Primary education (4-12 years)

In primary education, the Wet op het primair onderwijs (English: Primary Education Act) states that, when “a regional language which is in lively use”, this language can be also be used as the medium of instruction, besides Dutch ³⁰⁾. This allows for the use of Gronings, as underlined by the Covenant on the Recognition by The Netherlands of the Low Saxon Regional Language.

For primary education, attainment targets (in Dutch: kerndoelen) for all schools are established on a national level since 1993. The current attainment targets (set in 2006) do not include targets for Low Saxon. The organisation Ijsselacademie (a knowledge institute for regional history and Low saxon language and culture) therefore, initiated the development of five attainment targets for Low Saxon] ³¹⁾. The five attainment targets for Low Saxon are based on sixteen attainment targets and five basic skills from the official document, and cover attitude, processing information, speaking skills & vocabulary, writing skills, and history ³²⁾. New official and national attainment targets are developed and expected to be adopted in August 2026 ³³⁾. Concepts published in 2025 include sub-targets for Dutch lessons such as: “to provide space to the various languages and language varieties of the pupils”³⁴⁾. Though these attainment targets show more opportunities to include home languages and multilingualism, Low Saxon is not explicitly mentioned (there are attainment targets for Frisian in primary education, since 1993).

• Secondary education (12-16/18 years)

The Wet op het voortgezet onderwijs (English: Secondary Education Act) allows 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 ³⁵⁾.

For the lower grades of secondary education, attainment targets (in Dutch: kerndoelen) for all schools are established on a national level since 1993. The current attainment targets (set in 2006) do not include targets for Low Saxon. New attainment targets are developed and expected to be adopted in August 2026 ³⁶⁾. Concepts published in 2025 include similar sub-targets for Dutch lessons as primary education, such as: “to provide space to the various languages and language varieties of the pupils”³⁷⁾. These new attainment targets therefore show more opportunities to include home languages and multilingualism, but Low Saxon is not explicitly mentioned (there are attainment targets for Frisian in secondary education, since 2006).

• Vocational education (≥ 16 years)

In vocational education, the Wet Educatie en Beroepsonderwijs (English: Education and Vocational Education Act) states that, when “education is provided and examinations are taken in Dutch” (Art. 7.1.1.). Exceptions for this are made, for example when another language is taught. As such, it is allowed for a vocational school to teach Gronings (as a course).

• Higher education (≥ 17 years)

In higher education, the Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek (Eng: Higher Education and Scientific Research Act) states that, when “education is provided and examinations are taken in Dutch” (Art. 7.2.). Exceptions for this are made, for example when another language is taught. As such, it is allowed to teach Gronings (as a course).

There are various organisations which (among other things) promote and support Gronings in education, for example:

• Centrum Groninger Taal & Cultuur. The Centre for Groninger Language & Culture (CGTC) is a centre for heritage and language of Groningen. It organises adult language courses and cultural and/or language events, creates learning materials, does research and has initiated the digital dictionary WoordWaark.
• Levende Talen Nedersaksisch. The Low Saxon department of the teacher association Levende Talen (English: Living Languages)
• The professor by special appointment of Low Saxon / Groningen Language and Cultureat the University of Groningen, on behalf of the Stichting Groninger Universiteitsfonds.
• Grunneger Cultuurcentrum The Groninger Cultural Centre hosts three Groninger organisations: the Stichting t Grunneger Bouk [The association for the Groninger Book], De Boukenkist [a book store], and the magazine Toal en Taiken.

In April 2025, the Nij Begun (English: New Beginning) programme (A 30-year long financial programme to recover and/or improve e.g. housing, economy, and social wellbeing. It was initiated by the Dutch Government in 2023, to compensate for the damages as a result of the gas extraction) published the Social Agenda, which includes 4 million Euros for the promotion of cultural avtivities and the use of Low-Saxon in Groningen and the North of Drenthe. The language is promoted at home (‘Toal op Stee’) and at schools (‘Toal op Schoule’) ³⁸⁾. As a result, the educational programme MOI:Meertalig Onderwijs in Grunnen en Drenthe (English: MOI: Multilingual education in Groningen and Drenthe) was announced in July 2025 ³⁹⁾. The project offers primary schools teaching materials, in-service teacher training, and tools in order to include Gronings and Drents in a multilingual setting within their regular lessons. In September 2025, schools can sign up to participate in the project in the school year 2025-2026⁴⁰⁾.

Resources for Gronings are made available for different age groups, but with a focus on primary education.

• Klunderloa [Gronings for “drawer with odd and ends”] is a digital environment with materials for all ages in primary education, for groups 1-2 (ages 4-6), 3-4 (ages 6-8), 5-6 (ages 8-10), and 7-8 (ages 10-12), with songs, stories and poems. Klunderloa is not only aimed at being used in a classroom setting but also at home with caregivers. In 2019 an app game project, also initiated by CGTC, has received funding to teach children the regional language in about 20 villages in Groningen.⁴¹⁾ Created by the Centrum Groninger Taal & Cultuur (CGTC).
• Wiesneus is a magazine, published once a year, which schools can receive for free (subsided by the province of Groningen. The Wiesneus project was originally launched for Drents by the Huus van de Toal (engl. House of the Language) and is now translated into other varieties of Low Saxon, including Gronings. New editions are published in March, which is the month of the regional languages, and includes instructions and materials for teachers, as well as audio files ⁴²⁾. The Gronings edition is made available by the Centrum Groninger Taal & Cultuur (CGTC).
• materials for Gronings, including assignments, songs, stories, poems, and games for all ages in primary education (groups 1-2 (ages 4-6); groups 3,4,5 (ages 6-10); groups 7-8 (ages 10-12). Created by Levende Talen Nedersaksisch.
• Lespakket Van Old noar Jong: Aan de slag met de Groninger taal [Lessons “From old to young: get started with the Groninger language]. This package is aimed for primary school, groups 7-8 (ages 10-12). It encouraged pupils to discuss and discover more about Gronings within their family and environment. It includes a game, assigments, and instructions for the teacher. Created by the University of Groningen.

The use of Gronings is allowed, but not a compulsory part of pre-school education. Therefore, pre-School locations can decide if they want to use the regional language, next to Dutch ⁴³⁾.

Similarly to preschool, it's allowed, but not mandatory to include Gronings in education. Primary schools thus may decide whether or not they want to use Gronings in class ⁴⁴⁾.

Some primary schools use Gronings but it is not yet structurally implemented ⁴⁵⁾ When schools integrate Gronings they often do this in the course of a project ⁴⁶⁾. An example is the primary school De Regenboog in Bedum, which includes Gronings from group 4 (ages 7-8) and onwards by means of the “Groninger gallery”⁴⁷⁾. Around 80 primary schools in Groningen requested the magazine Wiesneus in 2025 ⁴⁸⁾.

In July 2025, the new initiative MOI: Meertalig Onderwijs in Grunnen en Drenthe was launched, which aims for primary schools to include Gronings (see institutional support). It will offer teaching materials, in-service teacher training, and tools in order to include Gronings and Drents in a multilingual setting within regular lessons. Schools can sign up to participate in the project in the school year 2025-2026⁴⁹⁾.

CGCT has a programme developed of ten weeks for students in secondary school ⁵⁰⁾, but it is not clear whether there are secondary schools which include Gronings.

CGCT organises various courses for adults to learn Gronings, for examoke, beginners' speaking skills, advanced speakning skills, and writing skills. In March 2025, CGCT also launched an online beginner course, the MOOC Gronings ⁵¹⁾

In 2018 the University of Groningen introduced a professor by special appointment of Low Saxon/Groningen Language and Culture. ⁵²⁾ This appointment is tightly connected to the Faculty of Arts and the Centrum Groninger Taal & Cultuur (CGTC). The special appointment aims at strengthening the position of Gronings within the province and also in academia.

• Centrum Groninger Taal & Cultuur. The Centre for Groninger Language & Culture (CGTC) is a centre for heritage and language of Groningen. It organises adult language courses and cultural and/or language events, creates learningmaterials, does research and has initiated the digital dictionary WoordWaark.
• Levende Talen Nedersaksisch the teacher association Levende Talen with the department for Low Saxon
• The chair of Low Saxon / Groningen Language and Cultureat the University of Groningen, with the professor by special appointment on behalf of the Stichting Groninger Universiteitsfonds.
• Grunneger Cultuurcentrum The Groninber Cultural Centre hosts three Groninger organisations: the Stichting t Grunneger Bouk [The association for the Groninger Book], De Boukenkist [a book store], and the magazine Toal en Taiken.
• Meertens Instituut. Meertens Institute with Research of the Dutch language and culture, including regional languages.

• WoordWaark. The online dictionary for Gronings
• Klunderloa. The digital learning materials for primary education
• Levende Talen Nedersaksisch.Materials for Gronings for primary education.
• MOOC Gronings Beginner course Gronings.
• Electronische Woordenbank van de Nederlandse Dialecten (eWND). An electronical word data base of the Dutch dialects