A summer course is a great opportunity to give your language learning a boost and put the language skills you have acquired into practice with other learners. Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced learner, join us for a week of language classes, cultural excursions and Low Countries related workshops! Places are limited, on a first come first served basis, and priority will be given to applicants enrolled or planning on enrolling in a Dutch language programme at a UK institution.
The 2026 ALCS Dutch Summer School takes place at University College London from 28 June until 4 July 2026. The theme of our 5th edition is 'Meerstemmige steden'.
Cities are never just one story; they are a symphony of diverse voices, histories, and futures. We will explore the vibrant, complex, and sometimes clashing dynamics that make up the metropolis and look into urban Anglo-Dutch-Flemish connections. The format offers language sessions in the morning followed by a mix of themed talks, excursions, and workshops in the afternoon/evening to explore how these 'voices' shape the places we live.
This Summer School is open to all learners of Dutch. We offer language tuition and workshops at a level appropriate for you.
Places are limited, but we have a good number available. Priority will be given to applicants who are currently enrolled or plan on enrolling in a Dutch language program at a UK institution. Please express your interest using this form.
As part of our 75 Years of Dutch, we welcomed the ALCS Summer School at Sheffield. Twenty-four students from all over the UK, five language tutors, four guests and many excursions all packed into an exciting week of hard work.
We were jolly pleased to organise the third edition of the Association for Low Countries Studies Dutch Summer School in Sheffield from 30 June to 6 July 2024. This event is supported by the Taalunie, the Netherlands Embassy and Flanders House.
Echt Gebeurd
The idea is simple: each morning consists of two integrated Dutch language and culture classes offered at three levels (A2, B1/2, C1), followed by a project session that cuts across different language levels. The sessions are informal and informative with specific emphasis on building confidence in speaking.
This year's project sessions were led by our Sheffield Artist in Residence Paulien Cornelisse and our favourite podcaster Chris Bajema.
Working on our 'Echt gebeurd' story with Paulien Cornelisse
Cornelisse's sessions centred around story telling, in the style of the well known cycle, 'Echt Gebeurd'. In small groups each participant worked on a 'real life' story in Dutch. What makes a good story? The sessions culminated into a stage presentation at the end of the week along the 'Echt Gebeurd' format: in Dutch and no notes. Does that sounds scary? Our participants smashed it!
Our 'Echt Gebeurd' team
Our theme: Rivers
The afternoon sessions are reserved for excursions and workshops. This year we visited the Sheffield Archives where we looked at the representation of the Sheffield Flood of 1864, we visited the exhibition 'Sheffield: City of Rivers' in Weston Park Museum followed by a workshop with Carrot Stick Art. We went 'drainspotting' with Hidden Sheffield and we made our own river object in the workshop of FLOD. Water and rivers proved a rich theme: these important arteries have shaped life in the Low Countries and in Britain alike.
Drawing with Carrot Stick Art on the steps of Weston Park Museum
All the teachers were very enthusiastic, engaging and well-prepared. They chose interesting material, appropriate for the level of the group.
Participant
Feedback ALCS Summer School
"Can I come to you?"
We were particularly fortunate to welcome comedian and author Claudia de Breij and literary translator Jonathan Reeder to Sheffield as part of the Summer School. Together we worked on a translation of De Breij’s well-known song ‘Mag ik dan bij jou’. To fuse meaning, mood and music was a great and wonderful challenge. Claudia sang the English translation in a private performance on Wednesday afternoon.
Translation with Claudia De Breij
The whole team of teachers are impressive, enthusiastic and a credit to Sheffield Uni. Thank you all of you.
