Standard Dutch (Dutch: Standaardnederlands) is a standardized variety of Dutch taught in schools and used by authorities and media in the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.
The Netherlands, Flemish, and Surinamese governments have entrusted the monitoring and description of Standard Dutch to the Dutch Language Union. The Language Union publishes works that lay down the standards of Standard Dutch in the field of spelling. The Dutch Language Union also provides advice on grammar and word choice. However, this advice has no legal basis and is therefore not mandatory. However, it is largely followed in Standard Dutch.