Dutch Schools Phone Ban Boosts Student Focus and Well-being

Wed Mar 25 2026 10:20:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

With smartphones banned in Dutch schools, reports indicate improved concentration and a better social climate among students, prompting the government to consider broader restrictions on social media.

In the Netherlands, a nationwide ban on smartphones in schools has resulted in notable improvements in student behavior and focus. Data suggests that three-quarters of schools observed better concentration since the ban was implemented two years ago. Teachers report a calmer atmosphere, and students say they feel less pressure. The government is now exploring potential restrictions on social media for younger users, building on the success of the phone ban.

Two years ago, Dutch schools banned smartphones to reduce distractions, enhance student concentration, and encourage better academic performance. Since then, mobile phones, smartwatches, and tablets have been exiled from classrooms, corridors, and canteens across the Netherlands.

Now, the Dutch government wants to go further, pushing to restrict social media for under‑16s and calling for an EU‑wide 15+ age limit for apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.

At Amsterdam's Cygnus Gymnasium school, a fluorescent yellow sign on the school gates warns pupils streaming in on their bikes: Attention: from this point on, your phone must be in your locker. Thank you. The catchy slogan – Telefoon t'huis of in de kluis (Phone at home or in the locker) – now applies nationwide.

Rather than passing a law, the government opted for a national agreement with schools, parents, and teachers, arguing this would secure buy‑in and bring in the rules quickly without a lengthy legislative battle.

In the school corridor, outside an English classroom decorated with artwork depicting various Shakespeare plays, friends Hena and Fena confide they have mixed feelings about the ban. Since the ban we have to watch out for the teachers, so they don't take the phones, they say. I think it's annoying but not like it's violating our rights or something like that. Maybe now we are a little bit more in the moment. In the break no one is really on their phones.

Their teacher, Ida Peters, notices the difference too. As a teacher you're always trying to get kids' attention. It's always a challenge to get that focus in class, and now their phones are less present, that certainly helps. Early data backs up her impressions. A government‑commissioned study of 317 secondary schools found that about three‑quarters reported better concentration since phones were banned.

Almost two‑thirds said the social climate had improved, and around a third saw better academic performance. Other surveys suggest less bullying when devices are taken out of the school day.

The debate has already moved onto social media. The Dutch government officially advises that children under 15 should stay off social media, and the new government coalition wants a Europe‑wide, enforceable 15+ minimum age backed by age‑verification. They argue that if states can restrict alcohol or gambling, they should also act when platforms are designed to be addictive.

A Unicef survey of more than 1,000 Dutch children and teenagers found that 69% favored a social media ban for under‑18s. There's growing evidence that heavy social media use is bad for mental health and social interaction, with children being more distracted and anxious when they have access to devices.

For Dutch children, scrolling on smartphones is no longer a part of school life. The next question for the Netherlands, and perhaps, soon, for the UK, is whether access to the social media apps should be consigned to history too.