Huis van het Nederlands sees surge in Brussels visitors

The Huis van het Nederlands is experiencing a significant increase in visitors and enrollments in Brussels. Director Patrick Manghelinckx reported that between mid-August and late September, approximately 5,000 people visited the center, a nearly 70 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Total visits reached 15,380 by early October, with 7,471 people enrolling in Dutch language lessons. Projections suggest the center will see 18,000 visitors by the end of the year. This growth is attributed to rising interest among students, civil servants following the Brussels Region's Masterplan for Bilingualism, and parents seeking information due to tightening priority requirements in Dutch-language education starting in the 2027-2028 school year.