Two years after Dutch schools removed smartphones from the school day, teachers and education officials are reporting calmer corridors and sharper attention in class.
Devices including phones, smartwatches and tablets are now kept out of classrooms, hallways and cafeterias across the country as part of a nationwide agreement reached with schools, parents and teachers rather than through new legislation.
At Amsterdam’s Cygnus Gymnasium a bright yellow notice reminds students to put phones in lockers or leave them at home.
Staff say that removing devices has reduced classroom disruptions and eased day‑to‑day management.
Pupils give mixed reactions.
Some teenagers find the rule annoying at first but say it has made them more present during breaks and lessons, while others still feel strongly attached to their feeds and messages.
Early government‑commissioned results back up these impressions: roughly 75% of 317 secondary schools reported improved concentration, about 65% saw a better social atmosphere and roughly a third noted gains in academic results.
Other studies also point to declines in online bullying when devices are excluded from the school environment.
The Dutch debate has moved beyond classroom policy to focus on social media access.
The government advises that children under 15 should avoid social platforms, and the governing coalition is pushing for an EU‑level minimum age of 15 for services such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, backed by age verification.
That proposal faces political hurdles: the three parties in government control 66 of 150 parliamentary seats, so any binding measure would need broader support and likely negotiation at the EU level.
Still, public sentiment appears to be shifting.
A UNICEF survey of more than 1,000 Dutch young people found 69% in favor of banning social media for under‑18s, and nearly 30% said platforms should be off‑limits for children under 12.
A separate study of 16‑ to 28‑year‑olds showed support for an age limit rose to 60% from 44% in a year.
Critics and some researchers warn of possible side effects.
The Dutch Research Council is investigating whether excluding phones during the school day could increase anxiety about missing out or lead to more intense use outside school hours.
For now, many teachers report fewer interruptions and a more relaxed school culture when devices are kept out of sight.
Whether the next step will be legally restricting social media for younger teenagers remains a contentious issue — one that could influence other countries watching the Dutch experiment.
