# Van Dale

Van Dale Great Dictionary of the Dutch Language (Dutch: Van Dale Groot woordenboek van de Nederlandse taal, pronounced), called Dikke Van Dale (, lit. 'Thick Van Dale') for short, is the leading dictionary of the Dutch language. The latest edition was published in April 2022.

## History

Van Dale's dictionary was first published after the death of Johan Hendrik van Dale, who had started work on his New Dictionary of the Dutch Language (Nieuw woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal) in 1867. This was built upon the original same-named 1864 dictionary of I.M. Calisch and N.S. Calisch. Van Dale did not see the new work published in his lifetime, as he died in 1872. It was finished by his student Jan Manhave. Today it is published by the private company Van Dale Lexicografie.
Commonly nicknamed Dikke Van Dale ("thick Van Dale") and Grote Van Dale ("big Van Dale") due to its size, the dictionary is published in three volumes (A-I, J-R, S-Z). It is usually updated every 7–8 years, and the 15th edition was published in 2015. Today there are compilations, pocket editions, electronic editions on CD-ROM and an online edition on the Van Dale website. The online edition includes a free version for the more common words, and a subscription-based professional version with access to the full 90,000-word dictionary.

## Position

The Van Dale Dictionary is a private endeavor, to be distinguished from the government-published "Green Booklet" that lists the official spelling mandated for schools and government employees. Van Dale includes the official spelling of the words as well, but it further provides their definitions. The position of the editors is clear: the actual use is decisive. Disapproved words are marked as such, but not omitted. The purpose is to inform the reader, therefore the responsibility of using certain words lies solely on them.

## Editions

| Edition | Year | Editors | Notes |
| 1st edition | 1864 | I. M. Calisch en N. S. Calisch | Nieuw woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal; in one volume. |
| | 1872 | J. H. van Dale | Facsimile-reprint 1992 |
| | 1874 | J. H. van Dale | |
| 3rd edition | 1884 | J. Manhave | |
| 4th edition | 1898 | H. Kuiper jr., dr. A. Opprel en P. J. van Malssen jr. | New title: Van Dale's Groot woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal. |
| 5th edition | 1914 | P. J. van Malssen jr. | |
| 6th edition | 1924 | P. J. van Malssen jr. | |
| 7th edition | 1950 | dr. C. Kruyskamp, dr. F. de Tollenaere | |
| 8th edition | 1961 | dr. C. Kruyskamp | |
| 9th edition | 1970 | dr. C. Kruyskamp | For the first time in two volumes (A-N, O-Z). |
| 10th edition | 1976 | dr. C. Kruyskamp | |
| 11th edition | 1984 | prof. dr. G. Geerts en dr. H. Heestermans, with collaboration of dr. C. Kruyskamp | For the first time in three volumes (A-I, J-R, S-Z). |
| 12th edition | 1992 | prof. dr. G. Geerts en dr. H. Heestermans | Republished in 1995 with the new official spelling. |
| 13th edition | 1999 | prof. dr. G. Geerts, drs. C. A. den Boon [nl] | Also appeared on CD-ROM, edited by prof. dr. D. Geeraerts. |
| 14th edition | 2005 | drs. C. A. den Boon, prof. dr. D. Geeraerts | Used the new official spelling of 2005. New title: Van Dale Groot woordenboek van de Nederlandse taal. |
| 15th edition | 2015 | drs. C. A. den Boon, Ruud Hendrickx [nl] | Published on 23 September 2015. |
| 16th edition | 2022 | drs. C. A. den Boon, Ruud Hendrickx | First edition with a gender-neutral "x" for several words which refer to non-binary people. |