Do you suddenly see different characters on the screen in Windows than you type in on your keyboard? Then chances are that wrong keyboard language is set.
Different languages on your PC
Keyboards can be divided into several formats. In the Netherlands, for example, we work with a QWERTY layout and in Belgium AZERTY is common where Germany also has qwerty but some characters are different Who accidentally activates another language can suffer from this: suddenly the characters you enter do not match what you see on the screen.
Customize Keyboard Language
Annoying when the keyboard is acting weird, but fortunately it is quickly fixed. Press the Ctrl and Shift keys simultaneously. Do the weird or strange characters remain? Then do the following:
- click on the Start button
- click on Settings (cogwheel icon) > Time and language.
- For Windows 10 click on Language. For Windows 11 on Language & region.
- Open the language options:
- In Windows 10, under “Preferred Languages,” click Dutch (Netherlands) > Options.
- In Windows 11, click behind “Dutch (Netherlands)” on the icon with the three dots > Language Options.
- Under ‘Keyboards’ are one or more keyboards. The correct keyboard is “United States (international) Qwerty.
- Is this keyboard not there? Then click Add a keyboard and then click the appropriate keyboard.
- Do you have two keyboards standing? Remove the wrong one so that only “United States (International) Qwerty” is left there. In fact, this prevents you from accidentally changing keyboard settings.
- In Windows 10, click on the wrong keyboard > Delete.
- In Windows 11, behind the wrong keyboard, click the three dots > Delete.
For Belgium (AZERTY) you may have to select the French language, please also remove the Dutch format immediately , otherwise you will have to select another language at the bottom of the bar.
Should you still need help after this explanation we can always help you further, and provide remote support with teamviewer if desired.
For info on teamviewer we have here more info
🖥️ Keyboard settings: Dutch vs. US (QWERTY)
Are you hesitating between a Dutch or American (US) keyboard? The difference is mainly in the layout of special characters such as @, ” and €. Below we explain it with visual examples.
🇳🇱 Dutch Keyboard (International)
- Enter key: Vertical
- Shift key (left): Small
- Backslash (): Below the Enter key
- € sign: Alt + 2
- Tilde (~): To the left of the 1
🇺🇸 American Keyboard (US QWERTY)
- Enter key: Horizontal
- Shift key (left): Large
- Backslash (): Top right of the Enter key
- € sign: Not readily available
- Tilde (~): Above the Tab key
🖼️ Visual Comparison
Image: Comparison of keyboard layouts Dutch (top) and American (bottom).
💡 What do you choose?
- Dutch keyboard: Convenient for everyday use with Dutch characters.
- American keyboard: Suitable for international software or if you work a lot with English keyboard shortcuts.
🔧 Customize Settings
Want to change your keyboard setting? Follow these steps:
- Windows:
- Go to Settings > Time & Language > Region & Language.
- Click Add Language and choose Dutch or English (United States).
- Set the desired layout.
- macOS:
- Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources.
- Add Dutch or English (US) and set as default.
🔄 Modify shortcut keys
In Windows, you can quickly switch between keyboard layouts with the keyboard shortcut Shift + Alt or Windows key + Spacebar. On macOS, use Control + Spacebar.
