Two established institutes for Dutch language research and policy, the Meertens Institute and the Dutch Language Union, recently concluded that Dutch is a “vital language with excellent chances of survival” [read: despite influences from English]. Dutch and Flemish Studies at the University of Michigan continues to do its modest part to expand the pool of Dutch speakers in the U.S.

2016–17 was another year of strong enrollment (140 student registrations, 65 in language and 75 in culture courses) and students celebrated the program with a lunch through the Germanic Faculty to Lunch Program, a night of “sjoelen” (Dutch shuffleboarding), and new Hup Blauw Hup (Go Blue) t-shirts. Many thanks go to David Baker and Mel Rolando for organizing.