Dialectatlas van het Nederlands

The book is largely praised for being highly informative and educational, introducing readers to a wealth of new linguistic knowledge. Reviewers particularly appreciated learning about etymologies and the evolution and distribution of various linguistic structures, which were described as engaging history lessons. The text is generally found to be easy to read and accessible, with one reader highlighting a specific chapter as particularly new and interesting, making complex linguistic topics understandable for a broader audience.

However, some readers expressed a desire for more depth and rigorous, detailed explanations on certain topics. It was noted that the book, while accessible, occasionally sacrificed accuracy for simplicity, especially when discussing phonetic aspects. There were also wishes for additional content focusing on areas such as place names, historical and social developments, or urban dialects. One particular chapter, concerning names, was found to be less engaging, with parts described as merely filling pages by detailing maps rather than providing substantial insights. Overall, the book is sometimes characterized as offering a broad "tapas menu" of linguistic knowledge rather than an in-depth exploration.

In conclusion, this book serves as an enjoyable and accessible introduction to various facets of linguistics, particularly within the Dutch language area. It is ideally suited for general readers with an interest in language who are seeking an informative yet easy-to-digest overview of linguistic phenomena, rather than an exhaustive academic study. Readers who appreciate learning new facts about language in a broad, introductory format, and who are new to certain linguistic concepts, are likely to find this book engaging and enriching.