The Netherlands is set to open nine new Islamic primary schools in 2026—the highest number in a single year to date. This will bring the national total to nearly 100, according to Dutch newspaper Trouw.

Approved by the Ministry of Education and set to receive public funding, the schools will open in cities including Arnhem, Gouda, and Groningen. This expansion follows a new education law that simplifies the process of founding private schools. Organizers now need just 200 digital signatures from local parents, easing previous requirements that made it difficult for religious groups, including Muslims, to establish schools.

Alongside the Islamic schools, two Protestant Christian and one public primary school have also been approved. The religious affiliation of two others is still unknown, and decisions on five more are expected this summer.

Initiatives to open Islamic secondary schools in cities such as Amsterdam, Almere, and Breda are also underway, though still awaiting approval.

Islamic schools continue to grow across the country—one in three new primary schools in the past three years has been Islamic. However, some municipalities have shown more resistance to their establishment than others.

The Netherlands currently has around 1,800 Protestant and a similar number of Catholic primary schools. The growth in Islamic schools marks a notable shift in the country's educational landscape.