In this article an historical analysis is presented of spoken Dutch, especial Colloquial Belgian Dutch — the so-called tussentaal (literally: language-inbetween). When asked to hold an informal conversation in standard Dutch, most young people in the Netherlands and in Flanders will not use standard Dutch, but an intermediate variety between dialect, regiolect and standard Dutch. In the eyes of the young people the tussentaal is perfectly fit for all types of supra-regional informal communication. To their colloquial speech they will make a few adjustments — phonological, morpho-syntactical and lexical.
