Frisian language at risk, says science academy

KNAW urges more research investment in Netherlands’ official second language to help preserve cultural heritage

The current state of Frisistics—the study of Frisian language—in the Netherlands is worrying, according to a report from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). A decline in university programmes and a drop in the number of people studying Frisian, which holds official national language status in the Netherlands, have led to a fragile situation, the report concludes.

The report, led by philosopher and historian of science Keimpe Algra, emphasises the importance of a fully fledged Frisian undergraduate programme to preserve this unique cultural and linguistic heritage, and bring stability and visibility to this field.