Dutch people are from the Netherlands, a country in Western Europe. The Dutch are an ethnic group native to this region, sharing common ancestry, culture, and the Dutch language

. Historically, the area now known as the Netherlands was inhabited by a mixture of pre-Germanic and Germanic peoples, including Frisians, Saxons, and Franks, who converged in the delta region of western Europe around the 7th and 8th centuries

. Over time, these groups formed the basis of Dutch ethnicity. The term "Dutch" in English originally referred more broadly to Germanic peoples but came to specifically denote people from the Netherlands, partly due to linguistic and historical developments within the Holy Roman Empire and English usage

. The Netherlands itself was historically part of the Low Countries and became an independent nation in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, the Dutch population is multicultural, including descendants of immigrants from former Dutch colonies and other countries, but the core ethnic identity remains linked to the Netherlands

. The Dutch are known for their rich cultural history, including famous painters like Rembrandt and Van Gogh, and their society is noted for its liberal values and diversity

. In summary, Dutch people originate from the Netherlands, a historically complex and ethnically mixed region in Western Europe that has developed its distinct cultural and national identity over centuries