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To put healthy breakfasts in the spotlight, the National School Breakfast will be organised from 9 to 13 November 2026. This will be the 24th consecutive year, with primary schools throughout the Netherlands taking part.
Allow children shortly before, during and shortly after primary school age to use only social media that is suitable for them, under supervision and with guidance. That is one of the key recommendations of the Child Safety Online report, prepared for the European Commission.
Every child should be able to have a healthy lunch at primary school. LunchMaatjes, a foundation whose mission is to combat lunch poverty in primary schools, therefore provides self-serve lunches at various schools in Utrecht and the surrounding region. For an effective implementation of a healthy lunch, it is important not only to offer healthy options, but also to involve parents and align with existing educational materials. To properly embed this approach and enable responsible scaling, the Louis Bolk Institute and LunchMaatjes jointly developed three concepts.
In 2025, one or more BRC professionals were active at 50 percent of primary schools. Most of them were active at the school a few times a year. This is according to research by the Mulier Institute. A BRC professional (Broad Scheme for Combination Functions) is a professional, such as a community sports coach or cultural coach, who connects sport or culture with other sectors. Municipalities deploy them to encourage lifelong healthy and inclusive participation in sports and cultural activities among specific target groups.
Recently, a Never-Alone Stone was placed for the third time on the playground of a primary school in Arnhem. After the Johannesschool and De Troubadour, it was now De Laarakker’s turn. The Never-Alone Stone is an idea conceived by Jaece (11), a pupil at the Johannesschool in Arnhem, and is intended to combat loneliness and exclusion.
Healthy food is not a side issue, but a powerful driver of learning, well-being and equal opportunities. Especially in specialized education (sbo, so and vso), where health problems and overweight are more common, food education through experiential learning can make a major difference. That is why Jong Leren Eten has created a special page for specialized education.
How can you systematically address relationship and sexuality education in primary schools through a continuous learning pathway? The Seksuele Vorming website provides good examples. Part 1: A lesson on sexual diversity with a COC expert by experience.
The Smaaklessen lesson package by Fieke Franken & Team, intended for primary schools, has won the WUR Impact Award. The award is intended for an initiative that makes a genuine impact by contributing to solutions to global challenges. The WUR Impact Award 2026 was presented during the Wageningen Summervibes Festival on 18 June at Wageningen Campus. Smaaklessen has now reached 6,115 primary school locations.
By the end of the school year, three out of four primary school playgrounds on Schouwen-Duiveland had been greened. This is thanks to three factors: three years ago, the municipality decided to invest in it, there was a European grant, and—last but not least—the efforts of the schools themselves.
From 6 to 13 November 2026, Media Literacy Week will take place. During the campaign week, a healthy digital balance is central. The aim is to make people aware of their screen time and its impact on their health. During this period, the well-known serious game MediaMasters will be played in primary education, among other activities.
Zeeland is home to a great variety of inspiring, nature-rich outdoor play and learning spaces. Yet many children in primary schools hardly ever come into contact with nature in their own neighbourhood. To lower the threshold for primary schools and encourage them to make use of these outdoor learning spaces (outdoor classrooms), IVN Zeeland is developing a clear map. IVN Zeeland is therefore calling on people to register outdoor learning spaces.
Many parents, educators and professionals are concerned about the influence of social media on children’s well-being. Scientists are conducting extensive research into the possible effects. The Netherlands Youth Institute has summarised what is known about the role of social media, the effects it can have on well-being and why science finds it difficult to draw one clear conclusion. The overview is also interesting for education professionals.
Annabel Vaessen, Merel de Wit (knowledge brokers) and Esmée Lalihatu (answer specialist) answered this question for the Kennisrotonde of the Education Knowledge Institute.
From 7 to 13 September, the eighth edition of Waste-Free Week will take place: the perfect time to also devote attention to the theme of food waste in the classroom. Prof. Dr Erica van Herpen conducts research into this and introduces students to the topic using a poster with four fun, thought-provoking dilemmas.
Every year, the School & Safety Foundation organizes Anti-Bullying Week in September. The start of the school year is the perfect time to work on a safe and positive school climate. This year, the week will take place from 21 to 25 September 2026. The theme is “A place for everyone! Really?”. After all, a school is only safe when every student feels seen, heard and valued.
In 2026, schools in North Brabant will once again receive support to green their schoolyards. The Province of North Brabant, the Aa en Maas, De Dommel and Brabantse Delta water boards, and the North Brabant Cultural Fund have jointly invested €250,000 in the Future Schoolyards scheme. Nineteen primary schools and six secondary schools will receive funding to implement their plans.
According to Elsbeth Reitzema and Manouk Vermeulen of Rutgers, it is important to break the taboo surrounding menstruation. Menstruation is a normal part of life for approximately half of the population, yet it is still not always discussed sufficiently. Schools play an important role in this.
Eduye acquires GLOS Educatief. Founder Tilly de Jong of GLOS Educatief is convinced that her ‘baby’ is in good hands with Robert den Hollander and Yolanda van Hoorn of Eduye. Robert and Yolanda look forward to continuing Tilly de Jong’s work.
Not every child is given the same opportunities at home or grows up with the same chances of experiencing well-being. Yet well-being is an important prerequisite for being able to learn effectively. By well-being, we mean that a student feels comfortable in their own skin, feels socially connected, and is mentally and emotionally balanced. As a school, how can you ensure that all students have equal opportunities for well-being? Anna de Haan and Ines Roessink, advisers at Pharos and involved in Welbevinden op School, share insights and a number of tips in the blog below.
The Netherlands Youth Institute is calling for platforms and their business models to be addressed instead of imposing an age limit on social media. The NJi is responding to the United Kingdom’s decision to follow Australia, Greece and Canada in introducing a ban on social media for children under the age of 16.
The 2,860 children who have been exempt from compulsory education on the grounds of their religious or philosophical convictions must attend school after all. However, they will be given time for a careful transition. This is set out in the guideline published by Ingrado, the professional association for compulsory education professionals. Eva de Jong (NJi): "Parents decide, based on their convictions, that homeschooling is better for their child. But whether that is actually the case, no one knows except the parents themselves."
How can you ensure that pupils with the autoimmune condition coeliac disease can eat safely and take part as normal? The Dutch Coeliac Association has released two new practical tools specifically for this purpose: a poster and an agreement card.
A new school year is the perfect time to focus attention on tasty and healthy food at school. A healthy lunch and snack give children the energy they need to concentrate properly and get through the school day feeling fit. Unfortunately, it appears that not every child brings a well-filled lunchbox to school.
This year, Natuurschool Lauwersoog has joined the New Roots Project - Interreg Deutschland-Nederland, which aims to strengthen the connection between people and nature. For IVN Regio Noord, this means something concrete: at the beginning and end of each school day, pupils answer seven short questions about their connection with nature.
From 8 to 12 June, it is Healthy Youth Week. For the province of Zuid-Holland, this is a good reason to devote extra attention to the green schoolyard revolution in the province. The aim is for half of the schoolyards in Zuid-Holland to be green and healthy by 2030. This means more space for adventurous play, outdoor lessons, water retention and cooling at 575 schoolyards.
The summer holidays are approaching. For many students and staff, the summer holidays are a time to relax. Nevertheless, serious incidents can also occur during this period, such as a sudden death, a serious accident, fire or a missing person. At such times, it is important that a school acts quickly and carefully. Good preparation can make a significant difference. Read how to do this and what support the School & Safety Emergency Response Team offers.
The annual Mud Day takes place on 29 June. Mud Day is a nationwide day full of mud activities for children up to twelve years old. Childcare centers, primary schools and after-school care centers also participate in Mud Day. In the Netherlands, Mud Day 2026 is coordinated by IVN.
More than 140 classes and 3,300 pupils at primary schools and schools for special education took part in the seventh edition of Chef in the Classroom on 2, 3 and 4 June. During this special event, chefs gave an interactive cooking lesson. Participating classes received free groceries and educational materials.
Smaaklessen by Fieke Franken & Team is one of the five nominees for Wageningen University & Research's Impact Award! The WUR Impact Award 2026 is presented to an initiative that makes a real impact by contributing to solutions to global challenges. The WUR Impact Award 2026 will be presented during the Wageningen Summervibes Festival on 18 June at Wageningen Campus.
From 1 to 7 June, it is Mental Health Week. According to Marielle Balledux of the Netherlands Youth Institute, mental wellbeing among young people is about much more than reducing complaints. "It is about whether young people feel good, are able to develop, and feel that they matter."