Since this school year, all primary schools in the Netherlands have been allowed to teach up to half of their lessons in a language other than Dutch, such as English, French or German. This approach is known as bilingual education (tweetalig onderwijs). Previously, schools could only offer a small portion of lessons in another language. Basisschool De Lanteerne in Nijmegen has been part of a pilot and has taught nearly half its lessons in English for years. The change gives schools more freedom to choose a bilingual approach.
What this means if you are learning Dutch or new in the Netherlands
If your child attends a Dutch primary school, they may now receive a significant share of lessons in English, French or German. This can be helpful if your child is already comfortable in one of those languages, but it also means less exposure to Dutch during the school day. For parents learning Dutch, the school's language policy is worth asking about. Schools are not required to offer bilingual lessons, so availability varies. Dutch remains the main language of instruction and daily school life, so children will still hear and use Dutch regularly. If you are new to the Netherlands, check with individual schools about their language approach and how they support children who are still learning Dutch.