Kickstart School

Kickstart School has grown from one student in 1994 to serving over 1,500 learners annually, earning a 9.3 average rating from nearly 6,000 reviews on KlantenVertellen. Based on one of The Hague's canals, the school teaches Dutch, English, and Chinese through face-to-face, online, and hybrid formats.

Dutch courses span A0-C1 levels with exam preparation for Inburgering, NT2 Programme I, and NT2 Programme II. Small group classes cap at 8 students, and the team of 40+ freelance teachers brings diverse backgrounds from secondary education to corporate training.

Children and families are a real strength alongside the adult courses. The Dutch Kids Club helps international school children aged 5-9 learn Dutch in a playful environment, while private sessions support older children transitioning into Dutch schools.

For adults, Kickstart uses a flipped classroom approach: students prepare material before class, so lesson time goes to practice and conversation. Self-paced grammar refreshers and B2 conversation courses expand the options, and founder Josien Deknatel keeps adding new services, from au pair programs to corporate training.