School life
In a Netherlands classroom
Local school customs vary. The best way to learn about a class's day is to ask them directly.
All country briefings
Europe · Country briefing
Netherlands
A child-friendly mission briefing for 20 November - capital, climate, school day, languages, fun facts, native animals, and five questions to ask the class on the other side of the world.
- CapitalAmsterdam
- Population~18 million
- Time zoneEurope/Brussels (UTC +1)
- Currencyeuro (EUR)
Netherlands, with Amsterdam marked
loading map…
Climate in November: Cold autumn moving towards winter; short daylight in the north.
The capital
Amsterdam
Photo · Wikimedia Commons
Fun facts
What makes Netherlands a bit special.
Tulips and the great Tulip Mania
Flowers from Turkey that became more expensive than houses
Open lesson
Windmills and the 19 of Kinderdijk
Giant machines that pump water out of fields
Open lesson
23 million bikes for 17 million people
A country where bikes outnumber people
Open lesson
Living below the sea
One third of the country is lower than the sea - so the Dutch made the rest
Open lesson
King's Day - the whole country in orange
Koningsdag, 27 April: street markets, music and an ocean of orange
Open lesson
The spoonbill
A snow-white bird with a beak shaped exactly like a spoon
Open lesson
Tap any card to open a class-ready mini-lesson - for the teacher to walk through, or an older child to read aloud.
Native animals
Wildlife your partner class might know best.
- 🐄
The Friesian cow - black-and-white and famous
The cow that helped feed the world
Open lesson
- 🐰
The European hare
Longer, faster and lonelier than a rabbit
Open lesson
- 🦅
The common buzzard
Dutch skies' most familiar bird of prey
Open lesson
- 🦆
The eider duck
A sea duck with the world's warmest feathers
Open lesson
Tap any animal to open a class-ready lesson about it.
Greetings to learn
Say hello like a local
- Hello!Dutch
Five questions to ask
Conversation starters
- 01What does your school day look like?
- 02What do you eat at lunch?
- 03What games do you play at break?
- 04What's the weather like today?
- 05What do you wish more children around the world knew about your country?
What not to assume
Friendly cautions
- ℹNetherlands has many regions and communities - there is no single experience.
- ℹClimate, food, and traditions can vary widely from one part of the country to another.
Culture
Food, music, sport, festivals.
Food
Sport
Festivals
Tap any chip to open a class-ready lesson - what it is, why it matters, fun facts.
Reflection prompts
- “What's something you'd love to share about your school day?”
- “What's the most surprising thing you'd love to ask the other class?”
Could your class meet Netherlands?
Choose Netherlandswhen you register - we’ll show you the time-zone feasibility.