Taalhuis moving to a new location in the heart of De Pijp

Taalhuis: From the smallest language school in Amsterdam to a 750 square metre new location in the heart of De Pijp Twelve years ago, a little language school was started in Amsterdam with a dream to spread the love for languages. Two friends who studied Greek together kicked things off at a kitchen table by teaching Greek and Dutch. And so the journey of Taalhuis Amsterdam began…

Over the years, more languages were added and Taalhuis Amsterdam gradually became much more than a school, with additional offerings such as language events and trips to the countries where “their” languages are spoken. And now it is about to grow even further! In January 2025, Taalhuis Amsterdam is opening a new 750 m2 location in De Pijp, which will house their team of 60 language enthusiasts under one roof. How did this small language school with humble beginnings become a house for more than 10 languages?!

Myrte, one of the founders of Taalhuis Amsterdam, discovered her love for learning languages in a taxi in Greece, when she saw her father with a textbook on his lap making conversation with the taxi driver in Greek. She describes,

“I grew up with ancient Greek and Latin at home (our father being a classics teacher). At 17, I was in Japan for one year and enjoyed learning Japanese and seeing a new world and culture unfold along the way. I find language learning addictive; it’s pure magic—discovering the linguistics and connecting with entirely new communities. My roots in language learning, combined with the desire to share the love for languages with others, motivated me to make Taalhuis Amsterdam more than a personal project. Now we are a team of dedicated teachers that aim to create an ‘embassy’ for Mediterranean languages as well as for internationals learning the Dutch language.”

The very first lessons of Taalhuis Amsterdam started in the attic of Myrte's apartment in 2012. Later in 2013, they moved to a classroom at a community centre, until they rented their first permanent space of only 8m2, therefore becoming “the smallest language school in Amsterdam”. Myrte shares,

“It was all we had—and all we could afford! But it was perfect for those early classes. We had everything we needed: a kitchen table, a whiteboard, a kettle for tea and coffee—and, of course, some incredible students who became an essential part of our journey. They enjoyed their lessons and the teaching style. Word spread, and soon we also added other Mediterranean languages: Italian, Spanish, Arabic. The dreams to add more languages, initiatives and students at the school urged us to rent more spaces in different parts of the city.”

A major turning point in their journey came when Taalhuis Amsterdam ‘adopted’ the Italian courses of Studiolingua, a wonderful Italian language institute in Amsterdam. From there, Taalhuis Amsterdam continued to expand to include more languages in their offerings. While the school grew, the team also developed, incorporating a communicative and interactive teaching style and aligning their curriculum to the CEFR.

Spread over four locations, the school continued to build a community and started dreaming of bringing everything and everyone together at one location. So, when the opportunity arose to rent a gorgeous Neo-Renaissance-style monumental building in De Pijp—large enough to bring all their courses, teachers and students under one roof and even expand further—they decided to go for it.

The new Taalhuis Amsterdam building itself is full of stories;



it is welcoming and cosy, but also large enough for the classes and additional cultural events Taalhuis Amsterdam offers. The location is easy to reach, located right next to Albert Cuypmarkt, just a short walk from the tram and Noord-Zuidlijn. The new location also houses a café, a library, and a bookstore for its students and other language lovers. When there are no classes taking place, the spaces are available for rent, making it a hub for workshops, dialogue sessions, and other events. Taalhuis Amsterdam already hosts initiatives with meaningful partners like Het Schoolbureau, IES Abroad, and ASKV/Steunpunt Vluchtelingen. With all of these offerings, Taalhuis Amsterdam is a place to experience the love for languages in Amsterdam.

At the new location, the courses for toddlers and young learners (primary school-aged children) can also continue to grow. These classes are designed to help kids feel at ease in a second or third language, aiming to support families raising their children bilingually (or even trilingually) as well as those introducing their children to a new language for the first time. At Taalhuis Amsterdam people of any age and (almost) any level can find a suitable course and continue learning for as long as they need or like. Classes are taught in small groups, with one or two lessons per week, lasting between one and a half to two hours per week. Myrte explains,

“For our students this seems to be the perfect amount to accelerate the learning, without impacting already busy agendas. There are also options to book private and tailor-made courses for those who want one-on-one training or to learn with a small group of friends or colleagues. These programmes, offered across all our languages, are tailored specifically to your own schedule and preferences”.

At Taalhuis Amsterdam one can find classes in 10 different Mediterranean languages at every level as well as Dutch as a second language. The team includes 60 language enthusiasts, which include native speakers of Dutch, English, French, Spanish, Greek, Turkish, Italian, Egyptian, Moroccan, Levantine Arabic, Hebrew, and Farsi. If you want to know more about the classes, check out the website, or come and see the school at Gerard Doustraat 220 in De Pijp. The coffee machine is always on and their library is open! If you want to experience the lessons, don’t miss a day full of free trial lessons, during the next Taalhuis Open Day on Sunday, 15 December (and 17 December online). Book your spot in advance, and come explore the school and meet the teachers!