Dutch government continues reading program after promising experiment

Caretaker Education Minister Eppo Bruins (NSC) is continuing a program to promote reading after a satisfactory experiment. From 2025 to 2028, the caretaker Minister will allocate 850,000 euros annually for this program.

Organizations can use this money to apply for subsidies for activities that promote reading, like reading clubs and creative writing workshops. Non-profit organizations can apply to the Dutch Foundation for Literature for a subsidy of between 25,000 and 50,000 euros.

During the experiment in 2024, the fund was surprised by the number of applications. Among other things, the money was used to organize the Utrecht Deaf Theater and reading festivals in Aruba, Sint Maarten, and Curacao.

There have been concerns about Dutch children’s reading level for some time. In May, the Education Inspectorate warned that many children still leave school with insufficient language skills to understand a letter from the government or follow a news report. Reading for fun is a proven way to improve literacy skills.