Dutch Summer School

Dutch Summer School runs 10-day immersion programs at the Bart de Pau Language Campus in Drenthe, combining intensive classroom instruction with on-site accommodation. Founded by Bart de Pau, the school draws 300-350 participants annually from around the world — half expats in the Netherlands, half traveling from abroad specifically for the course.

The program targets higher-educated adults (English proficiency required for beginner levels) and offers seven proficiency levels from complete beginner through B2. The Language Campus concept removes the distractions of daily life: classrooms sit within walking distance of the housing at a Drenthe holiday park, with accommodation from shared rooms to private en-suite bedrooms.

The school developed its own textbook series (Het Lesboek), integrated with the online #dutchgrammar materials, using a flipped classroom method — students prepare content beforehand and spend class time on conversation, role plays, and speaking exercises. Course access includes a month of e-learning before and after the program.

The school holds NRTO membership, CRKBO certification, and is a registered CNaVT exam institution. For those who can't attend in summer, identical programs run in January, April, October, and November as the Dutch Winter School.