Starting School in a New Language in the Netherlands: Tips for Multilingual Families

Entering the Dutch school system is a major milestone, but for multilingual families, it often sparks concerns about language "attrition" at home. In this fan-favorite revisit, Eva and Maren sit down with Eowyn, the expert behind On Raising Bilingual Children, to take a warm, honest, and direct look at navigating bilingualism during the school years.Eowyn shares practical strategies for maintaining fluency in your home language while your child is fully immersed in Dutch at school. We discuss how to foster linguistic growth without burnout, tips for supporting a child starting school in a completely new language, and how to balance cultural identity within a structured school environment. Whether you are worried about your child’s Dutch or desperate to keep your own language alive, this episode provides the expert insights and confidence you need to nurture a thriving, multilingual home.