Home | Dutch Speaking Academy | Mariska van der Meij

When NOT speaking Dutch is no longer an option...

You started learning Dutch with so much motivation— but then life happened. Sleepless nights, raising little ones… and Dutch?

That fell to the bottom of the list.

But now, your child is thriving in Dutch at school or daycare, and you feel the gap growing.

In that 10-minute parent-teacher meeting, you want to ask questions in Dutch—but the words don’t come. At pick-up, the other moms chat effortlessly, while you hesitate. On the playground, you want to step in, but you’re stuck.

And that feels… frustrating. Maybe even lonely.

But here’s the truth: you’re not alone. And I can help.

I have a special video for you with my 10-stappenplan to finally start speaking Dutch with confidence—step by step.

Perfect for school situations, but just as helpful for work, your buren, or even your schoonfamilie.

Get the free video here. 👇🏼

‘After signing up I will send you awesome and exclusive Dutch inspiration to your inbox every week’

What’s happening at the Dutch Speaking Academy?

Nog 1 plekje vrij voor maart!

Bootcamp | Start direct!

Start dinsdag 18 maart

Zaterdag 15 maart

woensdag 12 maart

Start woensdag 26 maart

New event coming soon

Zet jezelf hier op de wachtlijst voor de volgende live dag!

Volgt

Speak Dutch with Confidence

‘Hallo, hoe gaat het?’

This might be one of the first sentences you studied when you were new to Dutch, toch? But why doesn’t anyone use it then? The only thing you hear Dutch people ask each other is: ‘Hoist?’ or ‘Hogattie?

Ja, je wilt graag Nederlands leren, maar dit is gekkenhuis (madness)!

And studying also competes with many other priorities on your to-do list, too. Plus, a lot of people speak English here in Nederland.

Maar het voelt niet meer goed. Je bent hier nu een paar (a couple of) jaar, en je wilt graag beter integreren, en meer contact maken met de Nederlanders om je heen (around you).

But you don’t want to take another regular course, because you don’t learn what you actually need there!

Enter: Dutch Speaking Academy.

I designed a program for international parents like YOU, who want to:

Speak with confidence during parent-teacher meetings and truly understand how your child is doing.

Actively participate in school life—join school trips and connect with other parents.

Show your child the courage it takes to learn something new—and that asking for help is OK.

In Dutch for Parents, you’ll learn the Dutch you need for those (big and) little moments around your child.

You’ll practice with other international parents who get it.

You’ll finally feel relaxed in situations that require Dutch.

You’ll feel connected to your child’s world—reading books together and singing school songs.

You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here to support you. Let’s make this journey easier—together in Dutch for Parents.

Mijn stijl - My style

Learning a new language shouldn’t feel like a chore or an uphill battle—it should fit into your life in a way that feels natural, engaging, and even fun.

I’ve seen too many smart, capable people lose their enthusiasm for Dutch after struggling through traditional courses. They start to believe they’re “too old,” “too busy,” or that learning Dutch isn’t even necessary because “everyone speaks English.”

But let’s be real—those thoughts keep you stuck.

Language isn’t just about words; it’s about connection. It’s about understanding what’s happening at your child’s school, joining conversations without hesitation, and stepping into Dutch life with confidence.

That’s why my approach is different. Personal, easygoing, and fueled by humor—because making mistakes isn’t failure, it’s how you grow.

My job? To make sure you feel strong, capable, and ready to speak Dutch in real life.

In 10 stappen meer Nederlands spreken in je dagelijks leven. Download de gratis video hier.

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Hallo! Welkom bij de Dutch Speaking Academy

Mijn naam is Mariska, moeder van Cato (7), Hugo (4) en Elli (2) en getrouwd met (married to) Pieter. Together we live in Diemen, right next to beautiful Amsterdam.

I’ve been a teacher since 2013 and helped hundreds of students to improve their Dutch. I still love it every day. My mission is to remove any stress and fear about learning a new language from the equation, so you can actually start speaking Dutch! We deal with enough stress as it is, let’s not make Dutch another stressor. Learning can be a fun and relaxing activity—if you have the right teacher.

Why do I do what I do? Because I believe that learning a language opens the gateway to the heart of a culture. And because I believe that it takes a bit of time to get to know the Dutch and their peculiarities, but the effort is 100 percent worth it.

What others say about me

Mariska is reliable, flexible and what I would call a "teacher for adult adults." I had my goal (e.g. inburgeringsexamen) and she was able to assist and guide me with this process. She is balanced, calm and pushes the student within the respectable limits. She acknowledges the importance of my work and is not overly upset for no homework (or that I forgot the word for the 50th time!). And she also always gets back to Dutch whenever I try to switch to English ;)

I am very pleased with Mariska’s teaching and would highly recommend her to anyone that would like to learn Dutch! Her flexible, effective and fun way of teaching helped me to learn Dutch at the level that I could pass my inburgeringsexamen and handle some basic daily conversation. Mariska rocks!!!

I found Mariska and her lessons fun, creative, never boring, and bringing personal touch. She related to me on a personal level and that made me more comfortable and relaxed during our classes, so the atmosphere was very supportive and stimulating for me, to learn and to spend my time on it.

Mariska is a very energetic and cheerful person, she is always in good spirits and infects you with a good mood, which is very important! It is an easy-going learning process with her. Mariska motivates you with good vibes.