If you are planning to make the Netherlands your home for a longer period, and want your children to grow up feeling at home with Dutch as a language as well, a new development by the American School of The Hague (ASH) could be exactly what you are looking for.

From the coming academic year ASH will be offering a new learning initiative: the Dutch-English Dual Language Pathway, a groundbreaking programme providing students with the unique opportunity to develop proficiency in both Dutch and English.

Early beginnings 

Beginning in kindergarten for the 2024-2025 academic year, students enrolled in the Dual Language Pathway will not only learn Dutch and English but will also benefit from the full ASH experience and be a vital part of a vibrant school community where children from more than 70 nationalities learn and grow.

“Students in our Dual Language Pathway will experience everything that we provide at ASH,” says elementary school principal Dr Michelle deKam Palmieri. “We are offering an academic experience that includes the rigor of the curriculum that all ASH students experience – through language proficiency in Dutch.”

Dual language curriculum

Led by native Dutch and English-speaking teachers, the Dual Language Pathway is fully integrated into the ASH approach, providing opportunities to build strong student communities, engage in outdoor learning, and experience the breadth of the school’s specialist offerings including STEM, art and music, and physical education.

Teaching will begin primarily in Dutch, gradually introducing English at each grade level. This, the school says, ensures balanced dual language immersion, seamlessly integrating Dutch and English throughout the curriculum with a strong emphasis on literacy development in both languages.

Deepening connections to Dutch life

“As we reflect on the school’s 70 years in the Netherlands, the introduction of the Dual Language Pathway is more than an essential educational opportunity; it’s a bridge that directly connects our international community to the heart of Dutch life,” says director Dr Courtney Lowe.

The Dual Language Pathway is designed for international and Dutch families alike, broadening opportunities to those families seeking a blend of local and global university opportunities and providing a unique educational experience that transcends cultural boundaries.

Families interested in the Dual Language Pathway are invited to inquire about the programme, schedule a visit, or begin the application process. Applications for Kindergarten are now being accepted.

You can also attend a virtual information session and ask your questions directly. Register and make a note in your diary for Tuesday, April 23 at 12:00 noon or Tuesday, May 7 at 12:00 noon

Expanding opportunities at ASH

American School of The Hague is an international school located in Wassenaar, educating students from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12.

The school places particular emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) education across the entire curriculum, as well as vibrant, visual and performing arts instruction in and out of the classroom. It also offers more than hundred clubs, activities, and competitive athletic teams, providing countless learning opportunities for students of any age.

ASH offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and is the sole provider of the College Board Advanced Placement pathway in the Netherlands, equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in higher education and beyond.