Frequently Asked Questions

Why opt for Dutch education in Brussels?

• An extended education offer close to home or on the way to work

  Anyone living in Brussels is close to one of more than 120 kindergartens and elementary schools. And anyone on the way to work will come across the N light panel of a Dutch speaking school.

  With well over thirty secondary schools and eighty main subjects, Brussels offers any direction you can imagine.

  The Dutch speaking education network includes schools for special education, boarding schools, schools for adult education, centres for student counselling, etc. And those wishing to perfect their artistic talents after school hours can go to the part-time art education for music, word and dance.

  In addition, Dutch schools are easily within reach by public transport, even for students from outside of Brussels. Link to > available courses



• Quality education

  Well supported teachers make sure all students in the Dutch education system in Brussels receive equal learning opportunities. The Flemish Community Commission and the Flemish Community have developed a range of initiatives to provide support for students, teachers and schools in their education assignment in the Brussels metropolitan context.

  Students in the Dutch education in Brussels must meet the same development goals and final attainment level as students in Flanders. The Flemish Community carries out the same quality controls in the Dutch education in Brussels and in the Flemish schools.

  The blue green logo bearing an N and supported by all Dutch speaking schools in Brussels, has developed into a quality label.



• Diversity

  The Dutch education in Brussels enjoys quite some success. Ever more French speaking and foreign speaking parents send their children to a Dutch speaking school. They do so, because they consider bilingual or multilingual skills a key factor for their children’s future.

  Brussels is a multicultural city. The fact that your child can enjoy an education in this environment is an asset, allowing your son or daughter to grow into a mature adult and find his or her way in the multicultural society.



• Extra attention to languages

  Naturally, the Dutch education in Brussels also devotes its attention to other languages. After all, more than anywhere else in Belgium the second language is of paramount importance in Brussels.

  Choosing for a Dutch education in Brussels is therefore a step to multilingualism, a key element for valuable social opportunities in Brussels.

  The fact that your children are growing up in a multicultural environment automatically means they are in contact with other languages. An asset for sure. They have less difficulty to learn foreign languages and have plenty of opportunities to practice them.

I speak little or no Dutch with my child (kindergarten – elementary school) at home. How can I support my child?

• Learning Dutch requires an effort from your child. Support your children!

  You and your child have chosen for a Dutch speaking school in Brussels. All teachers in Dutch schools put their best leg forward to offer your child a quality education.

  Of course speaking more than one language is a considerable enrichment, but it also requires a considerable effort. An effort which must be made by your children, which is not always self-evident. To keep this up, they can certainly use some extra encouragement and help.

  In order to guarantee a successful school career for your child, it is important that you support both your child and the teacher.



• The native language is important!

  As a parent you are laying the groundwork for your children’s language. A child’s native language is the basis for its further development. Language and thought are very closely related. Therefore, it is important that children have a profound knowledge of their native language. If you take pride in polished speech, you will set the right example. When your children become fluent in their native language, they will have a stronger basis to learn other languages.



• Native language, home language, French in the streets, school language. How many languages can a young child learn?

  You will have heard of the rule 'one parent, one language’. It is always best for both mother and father to speak their own native language with your child, enabling it to easily learn both.

  When both parents have a different native language, they often choose to communicate with each other in one of those languages. The child will generally learn that language.

  Sometimes both parents have a different native language and speak a third language amongst themselves, exposing the child to three languages at home! At school Dutch will therefore be the fourth language. That really complicates matters. Learning too many languages at once is a recipe for failure. Your child can always learn languages later.



• Should I, to help my child, speak only Dutch at home?

  The language spoken at home is the child’s native language. The more fluent a child is at his native language, the better it will be at learning other languages. Adequate skills at the native language are the first condition for success at learning Dutch. Here are some practical tips:

  Children like to listen to stories. Read to your children in their native language before bedtime.

  Tell them what you have been doing all day. Ask your children to tell you about their day.

  Talk about what you are doing, while you are doing it.

  Your child will learn all sorts of words in Dutch at school which it doesn’t know in the language you speak at home. 'Puppet show', ‘cutting figurines', 'playing in the sandbox', ... are things it will discover in Dutch. For the child’s language development however, it is crucial to know these words in the native language as well.



• How can I support my children in their Dutch?

  Even if you do not speak Dutch yourself, you can still help your child to learn Dutch at home. Here are some tips:

  • Have your child watch Dutch television programmes.
  • Borrow, rent or buy videos, cassettes, DVDs and CDs in Dutch.
  • Borrow or buy Ducth books and comic books.
  • Borrow, rent or buy computer games in Dutch.
  • Does your child have Dutch speaking friends to write letters or exchange e-mails?
  • Is your child still an infant? Have him or her sing Dutch songs.
  • Have older children read to the younger ones. Try to keep track. While you are cooking or ironing, you can easily keep track of their reading skills.
  • Ask them to repeat the story to you. Even if they repeat it in your language, it will still stimulate them to better understand the whole.
  • Do your children sometimes speak Dutch to each other? Can they practice at home? Do you sometimes have them tell you something in Dutch? Do you pick up any words from them? That will undoubtedly stimulate them to improve their Dutch.
  • Show them that you are proud of their progress.


• How can I help the school to support my children’s Dutch skills?

  Your children need your support. Your interest in what happens at school is a considerable incentive to them. There are several ways to stay informed of school activities:

  Schools often pass on notes through the children. Read them together with the children.

  There are parent teacher meetings and open house days. You are always welcome!

  For school festivities or a visit to the library, schools are often short of help.

  When you greet someone in Dutch, you set an example for your children. "Good morning, good day, thank you and good bye" are kind words which you can easily learn. Not only Dutch speaking people appreciate when you put in the effort, your children will also notice your effort to use Dutch.



• How can I support my children’s Dutch skills in their free time?

  Brussels offer numerous sport and play activities in Dutch in which your children can participate. There too they can practice Dutch while playing. Here are some more tips:

  There are countless Dutch cassettes, CDs, videos and books available.

  A large number of libraries and community centres will welcome your children in Dutch.

  Most movies are also available in a Dutch version.

  Let the children tell you about it in your own language. At school they can talk about it in Dutch.

  Surf to www.digitaalbrussel.be. Where you will everything about activities where Dutch is spoken: youth movements, holiday camps, sport activities, theatre performances and much more.



• Should I learn Dutch myself as a parent?

  Try to learn words through your children. "Good day, thank you, please and see you later" are just some of the words you can use at school.

  Perhaps you are bold enough to take courses yourself. If you are learning Dutch with your children, they will find a true support. That will definitely improve their chances of success.

  When you speak a little Dutch, you will feel more at home in what goes on at school. It will be easier to discuss practical arrangements. But remember not to mix languages with your children, that would only confuse them.