Blog about learning Dutch for Children
Welcome to the Dutch for Children Blog!
Here, you’ll find many tips, insights, and stories to help you and your family navigate the exciting journey of language learning, education, and multilingualism.
Whether you’re supporting your child in learning Dutch, navigating the Dutch school system, or exploring the benefits of raising multilingual kids, our blogs inspire, inform, and guide you every step.
Our blog covers
Learning Dutch
Find practical tips, proven theories, and engaging learning themes to help your child succeed in learning Dutch. We also share helpful resources designed specifically for young learners.
Education in the Netherlands
Get to know the Dutch education system inside and out, including school holidays, key legislation, support for expat families, and resources for children with special needs.
Multilingualism
Explore fascinating research, personal experiences, and expert advice on raising multilingual children and celebrating the advantages of knowing more than one language.
Dutch for Children News
Stay informed with updates about our teaching methods, meet our dedicated team, and learn what makes Dutch for Children a trusted partner in language education.
Explore our blog and let us help you unlock your child’s full potential!
Why expat children struggle to make friends in the Netherlands
Expat children struggle to make friends in the Netherlands, and this is a real obstacle for expat families. How can you help them? You moved to the Netherlands with your family, full of enthusiasm about this new start. But soon, you notice that your child struggles to...
Maintaining their mother tongue is important!
Maintaining their mother tongue while living abroad is essential: Insights from a multilingual expat kid why this is important. For many expat families, the experience of moving to a new country can be exciting and challenging. One of the most significant challenges,...
IB Dutch: an explanation what it is
"IB Dutch: what is it?" parents at Dutch for Children regularly ask me. Ib nl, or international baccalaureate Dutch, is an international education program focused on the Dutch language and literature. Students can follow this at several (international) schools under...
Is Dutch a difficult language for your child to learn?
Is Dutch a difficult language for your child to learn? We are going to clear up the mystery of Dutch as a difficult language for your child in this blog. Have you ever been curious about what it's like for your child to learn the Dutch language? This language with its...
Testing in the Netherlands: more than numbers
Testing in the Netherlands in primary education is more than numbers. In Dutch primary education, students encounter countless tests, such as the well-known M test and E test. But what do these numbers tell us about your child? And how do we ensure that these tests...
Celebrating New Year’s Eve with children in the Netherlands
Celebrating New Year’s Eve with children in the Netherlands is a great way to learn about Dutch traditions and family ideas. New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands can be quite an experience, especially when you are celebrating it here with children for the first time....
How learning Dutch helps integrate expat children
Integrate expat children in the Netherlands How learning Dutch helps integrate? We experience it every day and want to share our experience with you. As a parent, you want to see your child happy, confident, and thriving—no matter where life takes you. But what...
The language and culture shock in children
The Language and Culture Shock in children is the hidden heartache of moving abroad with kids . Today, I want to discuss a topic close to my heart—and I think it might be close to yours, too. If you’re an expat parent, especially if you’ve recently moved or are...
Celebrating Sinterklaas Abroad: Ideas for Families 2026
Celebrating Sinterklaas abroad: Dutch traditions, language and ideas for families in 2026 If you live in the Netherlands, it is almost impossible not to notice that Sinterklaas is coming. Shops fill with pepernoten, children sing Sinterklaas songs at school, and the...
Learning Dutch: A great success on the hockey field!
Learning Dutch for children who came to the Netherlands from another country is enriching in so many ways. It is a shame that our son wants to leave field hockey. When we moved here a year ago, we thought it would be fun for him to get to know Dutch kids his age. We...
What is Prinsjesdag 2024: Great fun for children
What is Prinsjesdag: Explanations for children in 2024. Prinsjesdag 2024: It is the third Tuesday of September, which means it is Prinsjesdag! Prinsjesdag is a special day in the Netherlands when many important things happen. It is also a festive day where there is a...
A smooth start to the new school year: 7 tips for expat parents and children
With these tips for expat parents and children, a smooth start to the new school year is easy. For expat and international families, the start of a new school year brings excitement and challenges. As summer slowly gives way to autumn, children are ready to start a...
7 smart ways Dutch children’s television boosts Dutch language skills for expat children
Why Dutch children's television, children's radio, and podcasts can help your expat child speak Dutch When your child learns Dutch at an (online) language school or with a tutor, the most important thing is that he can use the language right away. Immersion in Dutch...
The best Dutch holidays of 2024!
Best Dutch holidays of 2024! When Dutch people live abroad, or expats with children from other countries temporarily stay in the Netherlands, it can be difficult to follow or even understand the local culture and traditions. Participating in the holidays celebrated...
Mother’s Day: When is it in 2024? Don’t Miss This Special Celebration!
Mother's Day: When is Mother's Day in 2024? Asked my husband, when I mentioned that I thought it would be fun to have lunch together. Yes! Mother's Day is coming up again. Don’t Miss This Special Celebration! As a mother, do you also get asked when it is again? For...
Dutch as a second language: the importance of immersion is underestimated
Dutch as a second language: the importance of immersion. Immersion in learning a second language has been scientifically proven to improve literacy, academic performance, thinking skills, and even cultural sensitivity. Immersion-based language learning works even...
Practice speaking skills in Dutch: Boost your child’s confidence today
Practice speaking skills in Dutch: Why is it essential to continue (or learn) to speak in Dutch? Speaking skills in Dutch consist of three main parts The pronunciation and the melody of sentences in Dutch. Grammar and vocabulary: Mastery of language rules. Knowledge...
Explore the Dutch Language and Culture with your kids: it is great!
Dutch Language and Culture with your kids! It is fun to explore cultural activities in the Netherlands and enjoy them together. As a parent, you would like to introduce your children to the Dutch language and culture. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun activities in...
Good NT2 education
What is the power of good NT2 education? The power of good education for children learning Dutch as a second language (NT2) lies in many vital aspects. One of the most essential and immediately underestimated factors is the attitude toward other languages and...
Code-switching by expat children
Code-switching by expat children is the switching of languages by multilingual within a single conversation. "He is bragging! This is a statement I frequently hear when expat children switch languages or use them interchangeably. Mixing languages is bragging,...
Learning Dutch NT2 as expat child: his key to succes
Learning Dutch NT2 as expat child can be challenging! Okay, it is fair to say that English has become the second language of the Netherlands. But many families that have made the move before, will agree that a more than a basic understanding of the Dutch language will...