If you read or speak Dutch, the Bible App™ and the YouVersion.com website are excited to welcome you to the YouVersion family, no matter where you live in the world. While we currently offer Het Boek (HTB) and Statenvertaling (SV1750) both on the YouVersion versions page and inside the Bible App™ (look under “Nederlands”), we’re working to secure agreements to bring you additional excellent translations in Dutch in the near future.
YouVersion’s simple mission has always been to make the Bible freely available to as many people as possible, no matter where they live or what language they prefer. But Bibles in your heart language are just one small part of that vision. Just as important are all the many ways you use YouVersion’s tools and engage with its community—the entire user interface (buttons, menus, and controls), interactions on social networks (like Facebook and Twitter), email exchanges, reading plans—even full technical support! It’s a worldwide community of passionate volunteers who make it all possible, recently completing the massive undertaking of translating the entire YouVersion experience into easy-to-understand, everyday Dutch, now equally suited for any of the following:
Dutch Speakers “at Home” in the Netherlands. The World Factbook describes the Netherlands as the 60th most populous nation in the world, with 16.8 million people, 96% of whom claim Dutch as their mother tongue. In fact, according to Wikipedia, Dutch is a first language to some 23 million people—as well as a second language to another 5 million.
Dutch Speakers Around the Globe. The YouVersion community is constantly adding more Dutch speakers, with the Bible App installed on devices that list Dutch as their default language from literally all over the world. Besides the Netherlands, Dutch is also the native language of Belgium and Suriname, two neighbors which, together with the Netherlands, make up the three states of the Dutch Language Union. And as many as half a million more native speakers of Dutch are dispersed throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. YouVersion truly comprises a global community, and Dutch speakers everywhere are important members of that family.
Now, for the first time, you can engage with God’s Word every day entirely in Dutch. Just imagine: no matter where you happen to be, the Bible is literally as close as your mobile device. And it’s always 100% free, with no hidden charges or in-app add-ons to pay for later. Simply download it and set your device’s default language to Dutch or, on some platforms, even specify Dutch directly within the Bible App!
If you speak or read Dutch, we’re excited to welcome you into our YouVersion family! Whether you already love the Bible or you’re just exploring it for the very first time, your language of choice shouldn’t be a barrier that makes it hard for you to enjoy. We’re looking forward to sharing in your journey and discoveries in God’s Word!
This post is also available in: Dutch