Editing Dutch Language Union (section)

===Member states===
The basis of the Taalunie is a treaty between the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]] and the [[Belgium|Kingdom of Belgium]], the two sovereign states that constitute the Union. For the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the treaty is only applicable to its [[Netherlands|European territory]].
The treaty allows for two types of extensions:
* membership of other sovereign states through an "association membership"<ref name=verdrag>{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBV0002947/geldigheidsdatum_16-04-2011|title=Verdrag tussen het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden en het Koninkrijk Belgie inzake de Nederlandse Taalunie, Brussel|date=9 September 1980|language=nl|work=Netherlands government portal}}</ref>
* extension to other territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (presently: [[Aruba]], [[Curaçao]], [[Sint Maarten]], and the [[Caribbean Netherlands]]).<ref name=verdrag/>

In 2004, Suriname signed an "associative treaty" with the Taalunie.<ref name="Suriname"/> From 27 November 2013 the treaty also applies to the [[Caribbean Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/trb-2013-253.html|language=nl|title=Tractatenblad 2013, 253|date=19 December 2013 |publisher=Kingdom of the Netherlands|access-date=21 December 2014}}</ref>
The three autonomous Caribbean countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, [[Aruba]], [[Curaçao]], and [[Sint Maarten]], are designated as candidate member states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://taalunieversum.org/taalunie/wie_zijn_wij/|language=nl|title=Wie we zijn: Drie landen, één taal|publisher=Nederlandse Taalunie|access-date=30 October 2013}}</ref> Additionally, [[Indonesia]] and [[South Africa]] are considered "special partners" of the Dutch Language Union.