Final answer:
Dutch is classified within the Low Franconian group, a subgroup of the West Germanic languages, sharing close relations with English and German.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Dutch language is part of the West Germanic group of languages, which is one of the three major language families in Europe. Dutch is closely related to English and German, with all these languages tracing their roots back to the same linguistic family. It is particularly classified within the Low Franconian group, which is a subgroup of West Germanic languages. This classification cements Dutch's position in the sprawling Indo-European language family and its key role in the cultural and historical fabric of Europe.