Youth Literacy in Freefall as Netherlands Slides Below European Average

The Netherlands is heading toward a "class of mediocrity" as young people lose the ability to read and write properly, warns Jelle van Baardewijk, a university lecturer and author speaking on the WNL podcast Onze Eeuw.

His concerns are backed by hard data. International PISA studies show reading proficiency among Dutch 15-year-olds has plunged so sharply that the country now scores below the European average. Combined with the 2.5 million functionally illiterate adults already in the Netherlands, the implications for employment, education, and quality of life are severe.

Van Baardewijk, who lectures at Nyenrode Business University, argues that writing is the primary tool for gaining control over one's life. Organizing your thoughts on paper creates clarity and order. Strong literacy is linked to higher income, better life skills, and even longer life expectancy.

He warns of a widening societal divide between a verbal elite and a large, struggling middle group. Where older generations could effortlessly read literary masterpieces or books in foreign languages, a significant portion of today's youth struggles with even the most basic texts.

"The current trend is deeply concerning," Van Baardewijk said. While practically-minded people can certainly succeed without advanced literacy, the gap between those who command language and those who cannot is growing into a deep social chasm.