Appropriate Education Denied in Netherlands — Your Rights

What's happening?

Since 2014, the Netherlands has had appropriate education law (wet passend onderwijs) which stipulates that every child has the right to education that suits them. Yet it still regularly happens that schools refuse to provide necessary support. This can have various reasons: lack of resources, insufficient expertise, or simply unwillingness to take responsibility. Some schools try to convince parents that their child would be better off at another school. The result is that children with additional support needs don't receive the help they're entitled to under Dutch law.

What does Dutch law say?

The Appropriate Education Act (Wet passend onderwijs) places clear obligations on schools and cooperation partnerships in the Netherlands. This Dutch law ensures that every child, regardless of their disability or support needs, has the right to good education. The principle is that children should attend mainstream schools as much as possible, with appropriate support. Only if this is genuinely not possible can a child attend special education.

What are your rights?

As a parent in the Netherlands, you have strong rights regarding educational support for your child. These rights are legally established under Dutch law and enforceable.

What can you do now?

There are concrete steps you can take to ensure your child receives appropriate support in the Netherlands. It's important to work step by step and document everything properly.

Template letter

A well-drafted letter to the school can make all the difference in your case. MijnRecht.AI can help you draft a professional letter clearly expressing your concerns and requesting action from the school. We ensure all important points are covered and that the letter has proper legal foundation under Dutch education law.

Where can you get help?

If you have problems with appropriate education in the Netherlands, various institutions can help you. The Legal Counter (Juridisch Loket) provides free legal advice and can refer you to specialists. The appropriate education cooperation partnership in your region has a complaints procedure you can use. In serious disputes, you can bring a case to court, but this is usually the last step after exhausting other options under Dutch law.