Reading and writing is not everyone easily. 3 million Dutch people aged sixteen to 75 have difficulty with basic skills such as reading and writing. Almost 100,000 people live in poverty due to low literacy. “Talk to others about the problems you experience.”
Low literacy can have major consequences. People who have difficulty reading and writing are less able to manage in society. For example, they often have more difficulty looking and finding work and they cannot keep track of their finances. In many cases it leads to debts and poverty.
“We see that in practice there are many good initiatives. Think of the NOS Journaal in easy language or this week’s news about the pharmacist who provides medicines with labels in easier language,” says Hanneke Propitius of the Reading and Writing Foundation, who requires extra attention for low literacy during the week of reading and writing. “But many people run into all kinds of thresholds every day. They do not understand the letters from the Tax Authorities, the invoice of the energy supplier or the website of the municipality.”
According to Propitius, organizations should involve people who have difficulty reading or writing much more in communication. “Talk to experiential experts and ask if they understand the language, but also images that are used, for example.”
Low -literate people in the Netherlands can be distinguished in different groups. They are people who were born and raised in the Netherlands, but have insufficiently developed their reading and writing skills at school or at home. Or people who were born abroad and do not have Dutch as a native language.
Number of low -literate people was 1.5 million in 2005
“We have to embrace that our country is changing and that there are many people for whom Dutch is not the first language,” says Ralf Beekveldt director of Publishing Easy Communicating. The publishing house, for whom a large part of the target group consists of foreigners, redeem books. Bestsellers such as Romeo and Julia by William Shakespeare, Confettiegen from Splinter Chabot, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, we slaves from Suriname from Anton de Kom and the camino of Anya Niewierra are available in simpler Dutch.
Adjusting the books to a lower language level is not an easy job. “Keeping the story and style of the author is quite difficult. But even more difficult it is to get the books with the reader.” The publisher compares his work with that of someone who should sell refrigerators to people in the ice -cold Alaska. “We make books for people who don’t like to read because they don’t like it or don’t succeed.”
Despite the challenges, Beekveldt is committed to offering books in easy (B1), easier (A2) and super easy (A1) Dutch. “The group of low -literate people has increased enormously. In 2005 it was still about 1.5 million people,” says Beekveldt, who is mainly concerned about the younger generation.
“Young people only read short messages thanks to social media, while they are constantly distracted on their phone,” says the publisher. “You learn really reading by reading concentrated long pieces.” The most recent PISA research from 2023 shows that a third of young people in the Netherlands cannot read well enough to come to school.
Beekveldt is also concerned about the influence of AI on reading and writing skills. “B1 language level is the norm, but the question is how long we can maintain that level. Fighting low literacy is more than” helping a few poor people, “he says.” It’s about well-rested the future. “
Language decay plays with many elderly people
At the Reading and Writing Foundation they also see benefits of social media and AI. “For example, WhatsApp corrects language errors. And AI offers tools that make it easier to write letters. But there are certainly challenges,” says Propitius. “People must be able to assess whether texts are correct. In any case, it is certainly not the case that we no longer have to learn to read or write in the future.”
Reading and writing yourself remains important for young and old. For example, the elderly is a problem. “We see that people who retire skills such as reading and writing use less because they no longer work. The result is that they are less actively participating in society,” says Propitius. The expectation is that this problem will not decrease, given the aging population.
The good news is that there are various initiatives for people who want to work on their basic skills. For example, libraries are a place to learn. Previously it was all about the lending of books, but nowadays libraries have a language house where people can go for activities, courses and a collection of large letter books, audio books and newspapers in simple language. You don’t have to be a member of the library to participate in the offer. Via this link you will find a library nearby.
Is the library too high threshold? Then the Reading and Writing Foundation offers a helpline that can call people. “There is a lot of shame and people feel that they are the only ones who have difficulty with basic skills,” says Propitius. “Here too it starts with a conversation about the problems you experience.”
Reading and Writing is not easy for everyone. 3 Million Dutch People Between the ages of sixteen and 75 have diffgulty with basic skills such as reading and writing. Almost 100,000 people live in Poverty Due to Low Literacy. “Talk to Others about the Problems You Are Experiencing.”
Low literacy can have major consequences. People who have difficulty reading and writing are less able to cope in society. For Example, they of Have More Difficulty Finding and Finding Work and Cannot Keep Track of Their Finances Properly. In many Cases it leads to debt and poverty.
“We see that there are good initiatives in practice. Think of the nos journale in Simple Language or the news this week about the pharmacist who provides medicines with labels in Simpler Language,” Says Hanneke Propitius of the Reading Foundation, Whooing Lowing Foundation, Whoing Lowing Foundation, WhoTention, Who. And Writing Week. “But many people face all kinds of obstacles on a daily basis. They do not understand the letters from the Tax Authorities, the Invoice from the Energy Supplier or the Website of the Municipality.”
Accordance to Propitius, Organizations Should Involve People Who Have Difficulty Reading Or Writing Much More In The Communication. “Talk to people with lived experience and ask if they understand the language, but also for example images, that are used.”
Low-Literate People in the Netherlands can be distinguished into Different Groups. They are people who were were born and raised in the Netherlands, but whose reading and writing skills have not leg sufficiently developed at school or at home. Or people who were born abroad and do not have dutch as their mother tongue.
Number of Low-Literate People was 1.5 Million in 2005
“We must embrace that our country is changing and that there are people for whom Dutch is not the first language,” Says director Ralf Beekveldt of Publishing House easily communicate. The Publishing House, For Whom a Large Part of the Target Group Consists of Non-Dutch speakers, Retanslates Books. Bestsellers Such as Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Confettiegen by Splinter Chabot, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, we slaves from Suriname by Anton de Kom and the Camino by Anya Niewierra Can be obtained in Simpler Dutch.
Adapting the books to a Lower Language Level is not an easy task. “Keeping the Story and Style of the Author Alive is Quite Difficult. But it is even more diffcomed to get the books to the reader.” The Publisher Compares His Work to that of Someone Who has to sell refrigerators to people in ICY Alaska. “We make books for people who don’t like reading, because ity don’t enjoy it or it Doesn’tn’t work well.”
Despite the Challenges, Beekveldt Continues to Work to Offer Books in Easy (B1), Easier (A2) and Super Easy (A1) Dutch. “The Group of Low-Literate People HAS Increased hugeouly. In 2005 IT was Still 1.5 Million People,” Says Beekveldt, WHO is a particularly Concerned about the Younger Generation.
“Thanks to Social Media, Young People Only Read Short Messages, While They Are Constantly Distracted On Their Phones,” Says the Publisher. “You really Learn to Read by Reading Long Passages in A Concentrated Way.” The most recently pisa survey from 2023 shows that a third of young people in the Netherlands Cannot Read Well Enough to Keep Up in school.
Beekveldt is also concerned about the influence of ai on reading and writing skills. “B1 Language Level is the norm, but the question is how long we can maintain that level. Combating low literacy is more than” helping a few poor people, “he says.” It’s about being well equipped to face the fauture. “
Language Decay Plays a Role in Many Old People
At the reading and writing foundation, they also see the benefits of social media and ai. “For example, whatsapp corrects spelling errors. And ai sacrifices tools that make it asier to write letters. But there are certainly challenges,” Says Propitius. “People must be able to Assess Whether Texts are correct. In any case, it is Certainly not the case that we will no longer have to learn to read or write in the future.”
Reading and Writing Yourself Remains Important, For Young and Old. For Example, Language Decay is a Problem Among Older People. “We see people who are retire use skills such as reading and writing less because they no longer work. As a result, they participate less actively in society,” Says Propitius. It is expected that this problem will not decrease, given the aging population.
The good news is that are Several Initiatives for People who Want to work on Their Basic Skills. For example, libraries are an excellent place to learn. Previously It was about Lending Books, But Nowadays Libraries Have A Language Center Where People Can Go For Activities, Courses and A Collection of Large-Print Books, Audio Books and Newpapers in Simple Language. You do not have to be a member of the library to participate in the sacrifice. Via this link you will find a library in the area.
Is the Library Too Inaccessible? Then the reading and writing foundation sacrifices a Helpline That People Can Call. “There is a lot of shame and people feel that they are the only ones who have difficulty with basic skills,” Says Propitius. “Here too, it starts with a conversation about the Problems you are experientcing.”