The Most Similar Languages to Dutch

Dutch is a West Germanic language primarily spoken in the Netherlands and Belgium. It shares many linguistic similarities with other languages in the Indo-European family. According to the eLinguistics.net analysis using specific software modules to assess linguistic relationships, the five languages most similar to Dutch are Flemish, German, Swiss German, Swedish, and English. Please note that Afrikaans would have made this list, but it is too similar to Dutch to be considered its own language.

1. Flemish (94.4)
   Flemish is often considered a dialect of Dutch rather than a separate language. It is spoken primarily in the northern part of Belgium and shares nearly identical grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation with Dutch. The main differences between the two lie in regional variations and spelling conventions.
2. German (86.5)
   Germany borders the Netherlands, so it is no surprise that German is closely related to Dutch. While they share a common ancestor, they have evolved independently over centuries, resulting in distinct vocabulary and grammar. Nevertheless, the core structures of the two languages remain similar. Many of their words are similar.
3. Swiss German (85.3)
   Swiss German is a collective term for a group of Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland. It is closely related to both Dutch and German, but with its own unique characteristics. While Swiss German shares many similarities with Standard German, its pronunciation and vocabulary often diverge significantly.
4. Swedish (79.3)
   Swedish, a North Germanic language, might seem like an unlikely companion to Dutch, but they share a common Indo-European ancestry. Although the two languages have developed independently for millennia, they exhibit similarities in grammatical structures and some vocabulary, particularly in older word forms.
5. English (78.2)
   English belongs to the Germanic language family, although it has French influences. Old English is closely related to Old Frisian, a language once spoken in the Netherlands. While English has undergone significant changes due to vocabulary imports, its core Germanic structure remains evident.

(to be considered for the list, the language must be spoken by at least one million people)