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.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands promotes plain language through initiatives like Direct Duidelijk, supported by advocacy groups, government efforts, and shared language collaboration.
Italy
In Italy, “linguaggio chiaro” is gaining traction through regulators and industry guidelines, but complex legal and administrative language remains common despite growing plain language interest.
