"Dutch-speaking" refers to individuals or communities that communicate using the Dutch language. This language is primarily spoken in the Netherlands and Belgium, where it is one of the official languages. It is also used in some regions of Suriname and the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. The Dutch language belongs to the West Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family. It has various dialects and is closely related to Flemish, which is spoken in the northern part of Belgium. Dutch is known for its unique sounds and vocabulary, making it distinct from other languages in the region.