The Dutch government will ban smartphones from schools at all times on campus, including during lessons and breaks, under a measure called “At Home or in the Vault” that is set to take effect January 1, 2027. State Secretary Willemijn Aerdts says many schools already follow this approach and the new regulation aims to bring the remaining schools into line by removing a major source of distraction and better protecting children in environments where concentration and learning are priorities. The ministry is coordinating implementation with the education sector to ensure consistent enforcement.
The smartphone ban is one element of a broader children’s online safety package that also pushes for EU-wide rules. The Netherlands and Spain propose a European minimum age for social media with few exceptions and want tech companies to prove their services are safe and compliant before permitting child access. The government backs the European Commission’s EU Kids Act proposal, which sets minimum ages and stricter digital design rules to proscribe addictive features. Regulators are assessing platforms and services such as Netflix, YouTube, Roblox, Fortnite, ChatGPT, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok for compliance, citing risks from addictive algorithms, unwanted contact and harmful content.
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