[Medical science in the Dutch language].

Medical researchers consider a publication in English to be of a higher standard than one in a local language such as Dutch. An international publication in English is appropriate when the readers addressed belong to an international scientific community, but the mere fact that a publication is in English is no indication of its importance. Research of a national scope and of national consequences should be published in the national native language. In addition the use of the mother tongue allows deeper and more balanced thought in comparison to the use of a second language. The application of study results in clinical practice in the Netherlands is enhanced by their publication in Dutch, as is the national recognition of the research group. Finally, articles in Dutch provide all of the Dutch clinicians with the opportunity to read original scientific work and not via a (popular) translation. This contributes to science-based clinical medicine in the Netherlands.