Hollandic in the Middle Dutch Period Hollandic,…
1154 CE
Hollandic in the Middle Dutch Period
Hollandic, spoken in the County of Holland, was less influential than the other Middle Dutch dialects for much of the Middle Ages. The cultural and political centers of the Low Countries were in Flanders and Brabant, making Flemish and Brabantian the dominant dialects in literature, administration, and trade.
However, in the sixteenth century, Hollandic became increasingly important during the "Hollandic expansion." This period saw Holland rise as the economic and political heart of the Dutch Revolt (1568–1648), while the southern provinces were embroiled in the Eighty Years' War. With many Flemish and Brabantian speakers fleeing north, Hollandic gained prestige and influence, eventually forming the basis of Standard Dutch.