Education is central to Dutch society. Understanding school vocabulary is essential whether you have children in a Dutch school, are studying yourself, or simply want to discuss education topics. This guide covers everything from the classroom to the university.
Wist je dat?
Dutch children start school at age 4! By the time they finish secondary school, most Dutch students can hold a conversation in at least 3 languages — Dutch, English and either German or French.
🏫 The Classroom
| Emoji | Dutch | English |
|---|---|---|
| 🏫 | de school | school |
| 🏢 | het klaslokaal | classroom |
| 📚 | het boek | book |
| 📓 | het schrift | exercise book |
| ✏️ | het potlood | pencil |
| 🖊️ | de pen | pen |
| 📏 | de liniaal | ruler |
| 🎒 | de schooltas | school bag |
| 🖥️ | het bord | board |
| 🗑️ | de prullenmand | waste bin |
📖 School Subjects
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Nederlands | Dutch |
| Engels | English |
| wiskunde | mathematics |
| aardrijkskunde | geography |
| geschiedenis | history |
| biologie | biology |
| scheikunde | chemistry |
| natuurkunde | physics |
| muziek | music |
| tekenen / kunst | art / drawing |
| lichamelijke opvoeding (LO) | PE / physical education |
🎓 Education Levels
| Dutch | English | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| de basisschool | primary school | 4–12 |
| het vmbo | lower secondary vocational | 12–16 |
| het havo | higher general secondary | 12–17 |
| het vwo / gymnasium | pre-university | 12–18 |
| het mbo | vocational college | 16+ |
| de universiteit | university | 18+ |
Mijn favoriete vak is wiskunde maar ik vind ook Engels leuk.My favourite subject is maths but I also like English.
✏️ Practice
- I go to school → Ik ga naar school
- I study biology → Ik studeer biologie
- I need a pen → Ik heb een pen nodig
🔗 Continue Learning
- 👉 Professions
- 👉 Numbers — for grades
🎯 Ready to Test Your Dutch?
Take our free online Dutch level test — A1, A2, B1 or higher!
Take the Free Test at dutchenglish.com/test →