The Netherlands, November 11, 2025
Photo: expatica.com
Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, Orthodox Christianity can be taught as an official subject in Dutch public schools through a new three-year pilot program. Parents can now register children ages 6-12 for weekly Orthodox Christian religion classes held during regular school hours, reports the Basilica News Agency.
To establish a class, at least three students within the same school must sign up, and the school principal must then contact the Center for Formational Education (Het Centrum voor Vormingsonderwijs), which coordinates between schools, the Ministry of Education, and officially recognized religious denominations.
This development is possible due to Orthodoxy’s status as the eighth officially recognized denomination in the Netherlands. The classes will meet once weekly for 45-minute sessions during school hours, and children from other religious backgrounds may also participate. Parents can register their children online at www.vormingsonderwijs.nl or www.orthodoxopschool.nl.
The Orthodox Sending Authority handles teacher accreditation for these positions. Prospective teachers must have a degree from an Orthodox theological faculty, complete a Level I psycho-pedagogical training module, demonstrate Dutch language proficiency at a minimum B2 level, and possess at least two years of teaching experience.
Currently, only two teachers are accredited—far too few to meet anticipated demand nationwide. Plans include establishing a pedagogical committee to develop teaching methodology and coordinate recruitment efforts.
At a recent meeting of OKiN (the Orthodox Church in the Netherlands), chaired by Metropolitan Athenagoras of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, representatives from all Orthodox Churches with a presence in the Netherlands agreed on initial steps for organizing the classes, emphasizing promotion in parishes and conducting demonstration lessons in churches.
Fr. Ion Iuga, who represents the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe in the OKiN Consultative Council, acknowledged both the opportunity and the challenges ahead. “There will be a need for a great deal of information at the parish level, for identifying and preparing teaching staff, and for drafting an adapted methodology—but above all, awareness from parents and children regarding the need for this religion class will be required,” he told Basilica.ro.
“That is why the religion class calls for consciously assuming a choice,” Fr. Iuga added. “For them, it may become a barometer of their own spiritual values in a world where they increasingly need authentic reference points.”
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