A year of anxiety. A year of uncertainty and urgent prayer. A year of pleading with administrators and magistrates to uphold their rights under the slimmest of exceptions—just to teach their own children from the sanctuary of home.

The Hinrichs family endured all this and more during a 12-month quest to legally homeschool in the Netherlands. But they didn’t face the ordeal alone. HSLDA was with them every step of the way and assisting them throughout the entire process, which culminated in a favorable court ruling in August.

“It was such a relief,” Jessica said, recalling all the bureaucracy she and her husband Heiko had to navigate—psychological evaluations, an investigation from the country’s equivalent to child protective services, the RVDK (Raad van de Kinderbescherming), and finally an appearance before a judge to defend their Christian convictions.

“We couldn’t understand what we were feeling,” she said after it was over.

HSLDA advocates for homeschool freedom around the globe, so we are pleased to have helped the family deal with the complicated education law in the Netherlands. Only about 2,000 children are being homeschooled there, but at least it is an option. Several other European nations, including Germany and Sweden, have all but banned homeschooling.

It Started in Singapore

The Hinrichs’ journey to a Dutch courtroom began on the other side of the planet. Heiko, who is German, and Jessica, who is Indian, met while the two of them were working in Singapore. After they married and had their first two kids, Heiko took a new job which brought them to the Netherlands.

In the Netherlands the Hinrichs also experienced a conversion to what they describe as Bible-based Christianity. This growth in faith led them to reconsider how they planned to educate their children.

“I explored the idea of homeschooling,” Jessica said. “But I needed to be convinced that I could do it.”

They enrolled their oldest daughter Zoe in a public Christian Reformed school. The parents soon discovered the school was teaching values that conflicted with their own beliefs.

When the COVID-19 Pandemic prevented students from attending classes in-person, Heiko and Jessica realized how much they enjoyed having their children at home and decided to look into homeschooling once again.

That’s when they ran into the restrictions of the law.

Homeschooling is permitted in the Netherlands under two narrow exceptions. Students who demonstrate certain health needs may homeschool. The other exception is meant to accommodate religious beliefs. If a family whose children have been attending a religious school move, and there is no similar school within a certain distance of their new residence, a family may request an exemption from compulsory education and permission to homeschool.

Fortunately for the Hinrichs, they were able to apply under the latter exception. They sold their house in the city and moved to a home in the countryside which fulfilled the distance criteria.

New Hardships

Two developments fouled their plans. Two other families in their new neighborhood applied to the local compulsory education officer for exemption from compulsory education at the same time. The municipality apparently regarded this as an alarming trend and the officer decided to make it difficult for the Hinrichs. Then, officials at Zoe’s school refused to disenroll her so they could homeschool.

The Hinrichs attempted to patiently work within the system, keeping Zoe in school while they met with officials and tried to make them understand their reasons for being lawfully entitled to this exemption.

Meanwhile, their grueling new schedule began to take a toll on Zoe. Every weekday morning their daughter rode in a car for nearly an hour with her father. He would drop her off at school, then proceed to work. After school, Zoe rode her bicycle to Heiko’s office. After work, the two traveled another hour home.

By December Zoe had burned out and was missing many days of school. Worried about Zoe’s physical and mental well-being, the Hinrichs notified the school of her withdrawal and decided to begin homeschooling.

“She changed completely after she stopped going to school,” Jessica recalled. “She was herself again.”

The 13-year-old not only began enjoying her studies once more, but she also found the leisure to take up gardening.

“She was just thriving,” Jessica said. “We knew we had done the right thing.”

Under Investigation

Local officials didn’t agree. Despite having filed a psychological evaluation stating that Zoe was better off being homeschooled, the Hinrichs came under investigation by RVDK and received a court summons to answer allegations related to truancy.

During this time, HSLDA Staff Attorney and Director of HSLDA International Kevin Boden continued assisting the family, offering suggestions on how to respond to the various investigations and helping secure a lawyer to represent them.

“It helped to get advice while we were caught up in a really emotional situation,” Heiko said. Jessica concurred.

Answering frustrating emails from officials, preparing for meetings, compiling documents for RVDK and the lawyer—“It was just mentally exhausting,” she said. But there was a positive side. “We were praying a lot, and we definitely grew in our faith and as a family.”

As it turned out, the Hinrichs soon witnessed a very positive development arising out of something they were deeply dreading—a visit from RVDK.

Zoe had agreed to meet the investigator in person. When the official arrived at the Hinrichs’ home, she and the teen had a pleasant time together touring the garden and reviewing the homeschool curriculum. The investigator ended up writing a glowing report that Heiko believes helped sway other authorities.

But they still had to make it past their court date.

Jessica worried about how to adequately explain her Christian convictions. Her attorney gave her sound advice.

“He said, ‘Speak from your heart,’” Jessica recalled.

She did just that, telling the judge, “We want a Bible-based education.”

Zoe testified as well, outlining how homeschooling had benefited her personally. The judge ruled in favor of the family, freeing them to continue on their chosen educational journey one year after they first formally announced their intention to homeschool.

Bright Future

Now,  their homeschool program is in full swing. They’ve ordered a new curriculum, loads of books, and have begun exploring the philosophy of 19th-century educator Charlotte Mason, who believed instilling virtue forms the basis for all other learning.

They are also looking to connect with other homeschooling families, and to simply appreciate being together.

“I get to enjoy my children in a very different way,” Jessica said about homeschooling. “It is a big task, but it is definitely worth it.”