Drupal Multilingual Setup Workflow (English → Dutch)

Overview

This guide explains how to safely add Dutch to an existing English Drupal site.

Steps:

Add Dutch language
Enable translation modules
Make content translatable
Configure fields
Add language switcher
Test with real content

Step 1 — Add Dutch language

Go to:

Configuration → Regional and language → Languages

Click Add language
Select: Dutch (Nederlands)
Save

Drupal will automatically download translations.

Step 2 — Enable required modules

Enable the following core modules:

Language
Content Translation
Interface Translation

(Optional but recommended):

Configuration Translation

Step 3 — Enable translation for content type

Go to:

Structure → Content types → YOUR CONTENT TYPE → Edit

Open Language settings
Enable:

 * ✔ Make this content type translatable

Save.

Step 4 — Configure translatable fields

Go to:

Structure → Content types → YOUR CONTENT TYPE → Manage fields

For each field:

Make translatable

Description
Note
Link (especially link title)

Usually NOT translatable

IDs
Technical/system fields

Rule of thumb:

If humans read it → translatable
If system uses it → not translatable

Step 5 — Configure language settings

Go to:

Configuration → Regional → Content language

Enable translation for your content type
Set default language:

 * English

Save configuration.

Step 6 — Add language switcher

Go to:

Structure → Block layout

Add block:

 * Language switcher

Place it in:

 * Header or sidebar

Save block placement.

Step 7 — Test with one content item

Open an existing node
Click the Translate tab
Add Dutch translation
Fill in translated fields:

 * Description (NL)
 * Note (NL)

Save.

Step 8 — Translate interface elements

Go to:

Configuration → Regional → Translate interface

Translate:

Field labels
Help texts
UI elements if needed

How it works

Each content item becomes:

English version (default)
Dutch version (translation)

Users can switch language using the language switcher.

Important notes

If no Dutch translation exists:

 * Drupal may show English (fallback)

If translation exists:

 * Drupal shows translated content

Recommended approach

Keep English as default language
Add Dutch as translation
Test with a few nodes before full rollout

Editorial workflow

Create content (English or Dutch)
Click Translate
Add second language
Save

Summary

Drupal multilingual is stable and powerful
Always translate entire content items (not separate fields per language)
Start simple and expand gradually