Netherlands to open nine new Islamic primary schools amid legal reforms

The Netherlands is set to open nine new Islamic primary schools next year, marking the highest number approved in a single year. According to Dutch newspaper Trouw, this expansion will raise the total number of Islamic primary schools to around 100 by 2026.

The schools have received official approval from the Ministry of Education and will be located in cities including Arnhem, Gouda, and Groningen. The growth follows the implementation of a new law that simplifies the process of establishing private schools, requiring only 200 digital signatures from local parents supporting the initiative.

Alongside the Islamic schools, two Protestant Christian and one general primary school have also been approved, with additional applications under review. Several Islamic secondary schools are also being proposed in cities such as Amsterdam and Almere.

Currently, the Netherlands has about 1,800 Protestant and a similar number of Catholic primary schools, making the growth in Islamic education a notable shift in the country’s diverse educational landscape.