Learning the Dutch language

Learning Dutch is important when you live or work in the Netherlands. If you learn Dutch, you can hold better conversations with your colleagues, your neighbours, and people at your GP’s practice and city hall. It also makes it easier to do everyday things such as shopping or talking to your child's school. 

Children and learning Dutch 

Children learn Dutch at school. In the Netherlands, all children aged between 5 and 16 must go to school. This is called compulsory attendance. This requirement also applies to children who have only just arrived in the Netherlands. 

Has your child not learned to speak Dutch yet? 

There are special language classes for children who cannot speak Dutch yet. In these classes they focus on learning Dutch. Once their Dutch is good enough, they join a normal class. Children aged between 16 and 18 must also go to school if they do not have a diploma yet.  

Read more about learning Dutch here.