Why is the notation in date fields English or American?

Since the arrival of HTML 5, browsers can show their own date selector. Because the browser can now optimize the date selector for smaller screens, date selectors have become much more accessible. This development entails that the language and location settings of the browser are used to determine the notation of the date. Be default, the browser will use the language and location settings of your operation system. Genkgo cannot interfere with these settings.

If the language and location settings of the browser are British English or American English, the date will be formulated in accordance with this language. Developers cannot interfere with these settings. Only the user can change the date notation by changing the language and location settings of the browser. Therefore, when a website is in Dutch but the browser is set in another language, the date notation will be adapted according to the browser settings.

How do I change the language and location settings of the browser?

You can change the language and location settings in the settings of the browser itself. Links to instructions for Firebox, Chrome, Edge and Safari are included below.

• Firefox – The settings can be edited inthe general settings of the browser.
• Chrome – Only possible (at the time of writing) for Windows and Chromebook in the advanced settings.
• Edge – Settings can be changed in the browser settings.
• Safari – This is not possible. Changing the language and location settings is only possible in the settings of the Mac.

Why doesn’t Genkgo use their own date selector?

Technically, it is possible for Genkgo to create their own date selector that follows the language settings of the website instead that of the browser. However, there are legitimate reasons why we choose not to do this. Currently, websites are most often visited on mobile devices. Between the options of 1) the date notation adapting to the language of the website and 2) having an accessible date selector that adapts and is even optimized for all devices including mobile devices, Genkgo considers the last one to be more important. We hope that eventually the HTML standard will adapt in such a way that it becomes possible for developers to influence the date notation.

So why is there a separate selector for dates with times?

The HTML standard doesn’t have a (widely supported) method for selecting dates with times yet. Therefore, Genkgo must apply a custom selector specifically for dates with times.