On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Direct Dutch Institute celebrated its 40th anniversary at Hoeve Essesteijn in Voorburg. The date was chosen deliberately: March 21 is World Poetry Day, and poetry was at the heart of the celebration.

The event

The gathering brought together current students, teachers, and former staff members from the early years, some returning decades after their time at the institute. The atmosphere was festive and, as Direct Dutch describes it, "heel erg gezellig."

The centrepiece of the evening was the presentation of Dicht Nederlands met mij!, the multilingual poetry anthology created by students, staff, and friends for the anniversary. Each contributor had translated a favourite poem from their native language into Dutch, producing a collection where emotions cross all borders.

40 years of teaching Dutch to expats

Direct Dutch Institute was founded in 1985 by Ruud Hisgen. Over four decades, it has grown from a small language school into one of The Hague's most recognised institutions for teaching Dutch to highly educated expats and professionals. The institute gained national recognition in 2013 with the "Spreek Nederlands met mij!" campaign, encouraging Dutch people to speak Dutch with non-native speakers rather than switching to English.

The anniversary marked not just longevity but a continued commitment to the idea that language is more than communication, it is the key to culture, connection, and feeling at home.

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