Introduction
Earlier this year, One Earth Academy International joined the Welsh Government’s Export Wales – New Exporter Programme as part of our ongoing international expansion across Europe, including active delivery and partnership development in the Netherlands.
Over three days, our team worked alongside schools, municipalities, education networks and sustainability organisations across Amsterdam, Amersfoort, Haarlem and The Hague, from primary classrooms to national policy and circular economy programmes, strengthening existing relationships and building new delivery partnerships.
What is clear from our work in the Netherlands is this: global citizenship, climate literacy and sustainability education are not optional extras – they are legal, inspectable expectations for schools, embedded into national education policy and inspection frameworks.
This makes the Netherlands one of the most compelling reference markets in Europe for how sustainability education can scale through collaboration between schools, government and business.
A huge thank you to the Welsh Government and their export teams for their continued support in exporting our Climate Kids Academy across the globe. This blog explores what we are seeing across the Dutch education ecosystem, why it matters internationally, and how this collaborative model is shaping how we scale Climate Kids Academy across Europe and beyond.
Caption: The Greenhouse Amersfoort
Sustainability Education: The New Shared Language Across Sectors
Sustainability has become a strategic priority for education systems, governments and corporate leaders alike.
- Schools are under increasing pressure to deliver global citizenship, climate literacy and future-ready skills that align with evolving inspection and curriculum frameworks.
- Governments and municipalities are embedding sustainability into national education strategies, circular economy plans and community development policies.
- Businesses are committing to ESG, net zero and social impact targets – and are seeking credible, measurable ways to invest in education that deliver long-term value.
What unites all three is the recognition that education is the foundation for long-term sustainability impact.
Why the Netherlands Is a Blueprint for Collaborative Climate Education
The Netherlands stands out as a market where sustainability education is not treated as an “extra”, but as a core pillar of social and economic development.
During our recent engagement, we worked with organisations operating at every level of the ecosystem:
- Education networks and delivery partners shaping national sustainability and global citizenship priorities
- Municipal and government teams are embedding environmental education into city strategy and community programmes
- Primary schools integrating sustainability into daily teaching and learning
- Circular economy and climate organisations supporting real-world application and impact
This whole-system approach is exactly what makes sustainability education scalable.
The Dutch Standard: Global Citizenship Is a Legal Requirement (Not a Nice-to-Have)
One reason the Netherlands is such a compelling reference point is that citizenship / global citizenship education is not optional, it’s an explicit statutory expectation for schools.
In 2021, the Dutch government strengthened and clarified the legal “citizenship mandate” for primary and secondary schools through the Wet verduidelijking burgerschapsopdracht (Law clarifying the citizenship duty). The law requires schools to deliver citizenship education in a purposeful and coherent way, with clearer minimum expectations than previous legislation.
Crucially, the Dutch Inspectorate of Education actively oversees whether schools meet these legal citizenship requirements. The Inspectorate describes this as a legal duty (wettelijke opdracht) and confirms it monitors compliance with the statutory citizenship standards.
To support implementation, the Dutch government also publishes guidance on what schools are required to do now, and what changes may be coming next, reinforcing that citizenship education is a structured, inspectable expectation within the Dutch system.
And importantly for curriculum design, the Netherlands anchors expectations through nationally defined learning goals (“kerndoelen”). The national curriculum body, SLO, explains that these kerndoelen describe what the government expects schools to deliver, including for citizenship.
Why this matters for sustainability education
In practice, this creates a strong policy foundation for sustainability learning because:
- Citizenship education must be systematic (not one-off activities)
- Schools must show coherence across the curriculum
- The Inspectorate expects schools to demonstrate clear intent, implementation and impact in citizenship education delivery
That aligns directly with how high-quality sustainability and climate education should be delivered: embedded, measurable and connected to real-world social and environmental challenges.
How Sustainability Education Creates Value for Schools, Government and Business
For Schools
Sustainability education strengthens inspection readiness, curriculum relevance and student outcomes.
Through Climate Kids Academy, schools gain:
- Curriculum-aligned sustainability and global citizenship modules
- Project-based learning linked to real-world challenges
- Evidence and reporting to support inspection and quality assurance
- Professional development for teachers
This enables schools to demonstrate meaningful impact against evolving standards, whether under KHDA and ADEK in the UAE, or statutory citizenship expectations and inspection requirements in the Netherlands.
For Government & Municipalities
Education becomes a delivery mechanism for national and local sustainability goals.
By partnering with One Earth Academy, public bodies can:
- Translate policy into classroom practice
- Scale sustainability education across regions and school networks
- Measure impact against climate, circular economy and social development strategies
This ensures sustainability education is not symbolic, but operational, measurable and embedded.
For Business & Corporate Sponsors
Sustainability education offers a powerful, credible route to deliver ESG impact.
Through Climate Kids Academy, corporate partners can:
- Support thousands of students with climate and global citizenship education
- Align sponsorship with national sustainability priorities
- Generate measurable, reportable social and environmental impact
- Build trusted relationships with schools and the government
This transforms sponsorship from marketing spend into strategic sustainability investment.
Building an International Collaboration Model
What the Netherlands demonstrates, and what One Earth Academy is now implementing internationally, is a new collaboration model:
Schools + Government + Business → Scalable Climate Impact
Rather than working in silos, Climate Kids Academy acts as the bridge:
- Connecting curriculum with policy
- Connecting education with ESG strategy
- Connecting students with real-world impact
This is how sustainability education moves from aspiration to action, and how we are scaling meaningful climate education across Europe, the Gulf and beyond.
Conclusion
Sustainability education is no longer just an educational priority, it is a strategic platform for international collaboration.
The Netherlands shows what is possible when schools, governments and businesses work together around a shared sustainability vision, supported by clear national expectations around citizenship education and inspection oversight.
At One Earth Academy International, we are building on this model to scale Climate Kids Academy across Europe and the Gulf, supporting inspection-readiness, policy delivery, and corporate ESG impact through a single integrated education platform.
If you are a school, government body or corporate organisation looking to deliver real sustainability impact through education, we would love to explore how we can work together.
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