How to Advocate for Your Child in Dutch Schools Without Speaking Dutch
Practical strategies for non-Dutch-speaking parents to navigate OPP meetings, enforce Zorgplicht, and advocate for special education support in the Netherlands.
Blog
All articles about Netherlands Special Education Blueprint.
Best Dutch Special Education Guide for Families Transferring from a US IEP or UK EHCP
Moving to the Netherlands with a child who has an IEP or EHCP? Here's the best guide for translating your existing plan into the Dutch Passend Onderwijs system.
Alternatives to Young Expat Services (YES) for Special Needs in the Netherlands
Looking for alternatives to YES's €1,150-€1,590 Special Needs Package? Compare educational consultants, free state mediators, and self-advocacy guides for Dutch special education.
Can a Dutch School Refuse or Expel a Child with Special Needs?
Dutch schools cannot simply refuse or expel children with special needs without fulfilling their Zorgplicht duty of care. Here is what the law actually requires.
Dutch Special Education Guide vs Hiring an Educational Consultant
Should you buy a self-advocacy guide or hire a Dutch educational consultant? Honest comparison of cost, speed, and outcomes for expat parents navigating Passend Onderwijs.
Best Special Education Resource for Short-Term Expat Families in the Netherlands
On a 2-5 year posting in the Netherlands with a child who has special needs? Here's the best resource for navigating Passend Onderwijs without years of trial and error.
Moving to the Netherlands with a Special Needs Child: What to Do First
Practical steps for expat families relocating to the Netherlands with a child who has SEN — from school registration to navigating Passend Onderwijs before you arrive.
How to Prepare for a Dutch Special Education School Meeting
A practical preparation guide for expat parents facing OPP, MDO, or TLV meetings in Dutch special education — what to bring, what to ask, and what to sign.
Parent Rights in Dutch Special Education: What the Law Actually Gives You
What legal rights parents have in the Netherlands for special education — Zorgplicht, instemmingsrecht, disability discrimination, and reasonable adjustments explained.
International Schools and Special Needs in the Netherlands
What expat families need to know about SEN support at Dutch international schools — the legal differences between DIS and private schools, and what Lighthouse offers.
Dutch School Tracking Anxiety: What Expat Parents Need to Know About VMBO, HAVO, and VWO
Why expat parents fear the Dutch academic tracking system, what the schooladvies really means for special needs children, and how to protect your child's pathway.
Navigating the Dutch School System as an Expat with a Child Who Has Special Needs
A practical guide for expat families to the Dutch school system, SO school types, and common problems navigating Passend Onderwijs as a non-Dutch speaker.
Special Needs Schools in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven
A city-by-city guide to special needs school options in the Netherlands' major expat hubs — Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven.
Special Needs Schools in the Netherlands: SBO, SO Clusters, and How to Choose
Guide to Dutch special education school types: what SBO and SO schools are, the four SO clusters explained in English, and how placement decisions are made.
MDO Meeting Netherlands: How to Prepare and What to Expect
What an MDO (multidisciplinary meeting) in a Dutch school actually covers, how to prepare as an English-speaking parent, and what advocacy looks like in the Dutch system.
Transferring a Foreign IEP or EHCP to the Netherlands: What Actually Happens
US IEPs and UK EHCPs have no legal force in the Netherlands. Here is how to translate your child's foreign plan into the Dutch system and secure support.
Free Support Resources for Special Education in the Netherlands (English)
Onderwijsconsulent, Ouders en Onderwijs, Ouder- en Jeugdsteunpunt — the free Dutch SEN support services explained in English for expat families.
Dutch School Tracking System Explained: VMBO, HAVO, VWO and Special Needs
How the Dutch school tracking system (VMBO, HAVO, VWO) works for children with special needs — including the doorstroomtoets, schooladvies, and accommodations expat parents need to know.
ADHD and Dyslexia Support in Dutch Schools: A Practical Guide
What accommodations Dutch schools provide for ADHD and dyslexia, how funding works, and how expat families can secure the right support.
Thuiszitters and School Refusal in the Netherlands: What Parents Can Do
What to do when your child with special needs is refusing school or sitting at home without a placement in the Netherlands. Steps, rights, and escalation paths.
SON-R Test Netherlands: What Expat Parents Need to Know About Nonverbal Assessments
How the SON-R nonverbal intelligence test protects expat children in Dutch schools from misplacement due to language barriers. What to request and why.
Passend Onderwijs Explained: The Dutch Special Education System in English
Clear English guide to passend onderwijs — the Dutch special education law — for expat parents navigating special needs in the Netherlands.
The Dutch IEP Equivalent: Ontwikkelingsperspectief (OPP) Explained in English
What is the OPP in Dutch education? The ontwikkelingsperspectief is the Netherlands' equivalent to an IEP — here's how it works and what parents can legally require.
Jeugd-GGZ Netherlands: Getting Child Mental Health Services as an Expat
How to access Jeugd-GGZ in the Netherlands, get ADHD medication for your child, and navigate GGZ referrals as an English-speaking expat family.
Geschillencommissie Passend Onderwijs: How to Use the Dutch Education Disputes Committee
The geschillencommissie passend onderwijs (GPO) resolves Dutch special education disputes for free. Here's what it handles, how to file, and what to expect.
Dutch Special Education Terminology Explained: HGW, SOP, SWV, and the Intern Begeleider
Plain-English explanations of the key Dutch special education terms expat parents encounter — handelingsgericht werken, SOP, samenwerkingsverband, and more.
How to Appeal a School Decision or File an Education Dispute in the Netherlands
The official escalation pathway for Dutch education disputes — from school complaints to the Geschillencommissie Passend Onderwijs — explained in English.
Autism School Netherlands: What Expat Parents Need to Know
How Dutch schools support autistic children under Passend Onderwijs — the school types, support process, and what expat parents should do first.
Zorgplicht Netherlands: What Dutch Schools' Duty of Care Actually Means
Zorgplicht explained in English: what duty of care means for Dutch schools, what it requires them to do, and how expat parents can use it.
What Is a TLV in the Netherlands? Toelaatbaarheidsverklaring Explained
The toelaatbaarheidsverklaring (TLV) is the declaration of admissibility required to enter Dutch special education. Here's what it is, who can apply, and the key risks to avoid.
What Is a Samenwerkingsverband? Dutch Special Education Consortia Explained
Samenwerkingsverband explained in English: what these regional consortia do, why they control your child's special education support, and how to work with them.
Dutch Special Education Terms Explained in English: Orthopedagoog, IB, SOP and More
Plain-English guide to the key Dutch special education roles and documents: orthopedagoog, intern begeleider, schoolondersteuningsprofiel, and what each one means for your child.