Dutch exonyms
This website provides an overview of all exonyms that are commonly used in Dutch.
Information on this website
A list of Dutch names for countries and non-independent territories can be found in the site menu at the top of this page, under Alle Landen (All Countries). For each country and non-independent territory, the common country name (e.g. Algerije for Algeria), its official name (Democratische Volksrepubliek Algerije), the name of the capital city (Algiers), the adjective (Algerijns), and the demonyms (Algerijn, Algerijnse, Algerijnen) are listed in Dutch according to the official Dutch orthography. This is followed by a list of all the cities, regions, rivers, mountains, and other geographical features in the country or territory that have a common Dutch exonym. Dutch exonyms are provided in the left column and the corresponding endonyms are given in the right column. Names of historical features, obsolete Dutch exonyms and well-known former endonyms are grouped separately as historical names.
If no common Dutch exonym exists for a geographical feature, the endonym is used in Dutch. Endonyms are not listed on this website unless there is a corresponding Dutch exonym.
From the site menu, exonyms can also be accessed using the Continenten (Continents), Alfabetische lijst (Alphabetical List) and Historische benamingen (Historical Names) pages. The Wereld en wereldzeeën (World and Oceans) page contains Dutch names for oceans, submarine features and several key geographical features, such as Evenaar for the Equator. A list of generic terms used in geographical names in various languages and their Dutch translations can be found under Vertaalhulp (Translation Help). The search bar in the upper right corner of this page allows for direct searching of all exonyms and endonyms on this website.
Purpose and further information
The purpose of this website is to standardize the orthography and use of Dutch exonyms and foreign endonyms used in Dutch. More information can be found in the Explanatory Notes (only available in Dutch).
This website is maintained by the Commission on Geographical Names, which is part of the Nederlandse Taalunie (‘Union for the Dutch Language’). Questions, remarks and suggestions can be sent to info@taalunie.org.
Toponymic guidelines
More information in English can be found in the Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors for international use on how to use and render Dutch geographical names:
- Information about geographical names in the Netherlands and general linguistic conventions on geographical names in Dutch and Frisian can be found in the Toponymic guidelines for the Netherlands.
- Information about geographical names in Belgium can be found in the Toponymic guidelines for Belgium.
- Information about geographical names in Suriname can be found in the Toponymic guidelines for Suriname.
These documents, other Toponymic guidelines and more information about the international standardization of geographical names can be found on the website of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN).
Romanization systems
The romanization systems used on this website for the transcription and transliteration of endonyms from other scripts into the Latin script are listed on the UNGEGN Working Group on Romanization Systems website.
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