Understand: Probably, yes. Speak: No. Honestly it's really easy to notice when someone's from the southern part of the Netherlands or Belgium. But then again I have to add that ABN (Algemeen Beschaafd Nederlands - "Normal Civilised Dutch") is only spoken by people with an extensive education. In almost every part of the Netherlands people speak with some kind of accent. I mean I can pick out someone who's from my city (Gouda) in an instant and be 100% sure that that person is from Gouda. Earlier this day I was just watching TV and switching channels when I hear just one word and instantly thought "Hey, must be someone from Gouda." and that guy sure was from Gouda. Same goes for The Hague, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Arnhem, Groningen etc. The easiest distinction in accents is ABN vs. what's spoken is Friesland (Fryslân) but then again, Frysiân is even considered an actual language instead of just an accent. Usually the stuff on TV is in ABN or at least close to it, but when it isn't they usually put subtitles so everyone can understand what's being said. Sometimes people from the South, East and North complain about that but I think they should just get a grip and learn to speak proper Dutch. Hehe. I think most Dutch are capable of understanding other dialects although it really differs from dialect to dialect. Rotterdams, Amsterdams and Haags are pretty easy, but that might be just because I live close to those three cities. Brabants is sort of understandable just like Achterhoeks. However, the farther from the Western part of the Netherlands, the more difficult to understand. Limburgs is more like some kind of Belgian-German blend, Twents is pretty much incomprehensible just like Gronings. Frysian, like I told, is even considered a full-blown language so it's really hard. Even though my mother is Frysian and I actually address my grandparents as "pake" and "beppe" instead of "opa" and "oma". Most Frysians also speak Dutch though and better than most people from the other non-Western parts of the Netherlands.