Register now for the 2023-2024 school year!
Canada's first official Dutch school
Dutch classes for everyone
Dutch culture events
Our core values
Sharing the Dutch language 
Connecting with heritage 
Bringing families together 
Building a strong community Our Programs
Classes
Timing aligns with Elementary lessons.
Aligns with Dutch Education system.
Dutch lessons for adults and teenagers of all levels.
Taylor-made lessons for individuals or small groups at your house, office or online across Canada.
Dutch as a 2nd language, students don’t need to speak or understand Dutch
De Esdoorn would like to start a Dutch language program for teenagers
De Esdoorn
We are Canada’s first Dutch school accredited by the Foundation for Dutch Education Worldwide (NOB – Stichting Nederlands Onderwijs in het Buitenland) — a non-profit organization commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science to promote and support high standards of Dutch education for Dutch-speaking children around the world.
De Esdoorn is more than just a language school — we are a community who celebrates our traditions together!
Our News
Register now for the 2023-2024 school year!
Registration is open for Vancouver, Fraser Valley, North Shore and online across Canada.
Join a class today!
Our happy families
When I enter De Esdoorn, everything has a Dutch twist to it. Our children have never lived in the Netherlands, and every week at De Esdoorn our their knowledge of the Dutch language and culture grows.
We are a Dutch-Canadian family who lived in the Netherlands for 10 years. When we moved back to Canada, we were worried that our two young children would loose their Dutch language and culture. We worried that forcing them to speak Dutch at home would turn them off the language. At De Esdoorn learning Dutch is fun for them, and they get to enjoy learning with other children their age!
We arrived in Vancouver three years ago, and since then our 3 children have been taking lessons at De Esdoorn. We are so grateful that there is a Dutch school in Vancouver, so that our children not only get Dutch culture from home, but also every week at school.
FAQ
When a family is interested in joining a De Esdoorn lesson, we make an appointment for an intake between the parents, child, Director and teacher. During this appointment, we explain what De Esdoorn can offer and what the family’s needs are. We also get an idea of what level your child’s Dutch language skills are.
We offer a wide range of lessons, and fees are tied to the number of lesson hours, course material, etc. Our online 10-week courses of 1-1.5 hours per week generally cost around $300-$400 per term, while our school year courses of 2.25 hours per week plus 5 Dutch Cultural Days on weekends cost $1250-1750, and have early bird rates. Private lessons cost between $40-$80 per hour, depending on the number of students. See Lessons and click on the different types of lessons for specific costs.
Yes, absolutely. A trial class is a great way to get to know each other. It’s also a great opportunity for the teacher to see if the student is in the right class.
You can’t learn a language without learning its culture! The Dutch Cultural Days are an essential (and fun!) part of our school year curriculum for preschool, kindergarten and primary school groups. Students who are not part of our school year program may also attend, contact info@esdoorn.ca if you’re interested in joining a Dutch Cultural Day and we will see where the best fit is.
You can’t learn a language without learning its culture! The Dutch Cultural Days are an essential (and fun!) part of our curriculum. Students who are part of the group lessons are in principle expected to be present at all cultural days.
The NOB is the Foundation for Dutch Education Worldwide (Stichting Nederlands Onderwijs in het Buitenland). The NOB falls under the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
In 2019, De Esdoorn became the first school in Canada to be accredited by the NOB. We benefit from their wide range of expertise and knowledge, and high educational standards.
