Just like the dialects, modern Dutch and Flemish surnames show a lot of regional variation. Most family names are geographically spread in a particular region, where the origin of the name is located. Whoever is called Dijkstra is most likely a Frisian or has Frisian ancestors. Typical West Flemish surnames are Vandenbussche, Florizoone etc. In surname geography, the spatial distribution of types of surnames is scientifically investigated.
This online atlas of surnames in the Dutch-speaking area (AFNeT) aims at the digital publication of name maps in which the geographical distribution of types of Flemish and Dutch surnames anno 2007 is documented and commented on. In order to linguistically explore the rich variety in these surnames, the name maps with contrasting types of surnames deal with four types of variation: orthographic variation (spelling), phonological variation (sounds), morphosyntactic variation (forms) and lexical variation (vocabulary).
The observed contrasts reveal striking structural differences, which reflect historical fault lines within the Dutch language area. These have been partially uncovered in my geographic research on surnames, on which I have been publishing steadily since 1991 (see Bibliografie), but there are still many new things to discover!

Ann Marynissen
Institut für Niederlandistik
Universität zu Köln
https://niederlandistik.uni-koeln.de/personen/professoren/prof-dr-ann-marynissen