The Netherlands places significant emphasis on plain language across various sectors. The largest initiative is called "Direct Duidelijk," which targets all government organizations. This campaign includes a website, training sessions, workshops, webinars, and more. Many government bodies have established Direct Duidelijk departments to ensure clear communication.
Numerous companies specialize in making communication more accessible for everyone. The Dutch Language Union (Taalunie) collaborates with Flanders (Belgium) to strengthen ties in this area, as both regions share the same language. While the law doesn't require to use plain language, there is considerable pressure from entities like the National Ombudsman. Various advocacy groups, especially those representing people with low literacy skills, actively promote clear communication.
Several official resources are available in plain language: Gebruiker Centraal, Taalunie on Understandable Government Language, and Taalunie on Understandable Legal Language.
The Netherlands doesn't have any plain language laws. The ISO Plain Language Standard hasn't been translated into Dutch or adopted in the Netherlands.
Sweden
In Sweden, plain language in the public sector has a history of more than 50 years. Already in 1713, the king Charles XII ordered official documents be written in “clear Swedish.”
South Africa
South Africa adopted multilingual policy after 1994, embedding plain language in law, consumer protection, and public communication, with ISO adoption in 2024.
