Lokaal Nederlands was founded by Gratia Selier. She finished her 2nd grade Dutch teacher education. After this she continued her studies at the university, where she has completed her master’s degree in Dutch linguistics. She has experience as a teacher in secondary schools and higher education. After years of working at an ISK (internationale schakelklassen), where minor students learn Dutch, the idea of Lokaal Nederlands started.
The Dutch word ‘lokaal’ has two definitions: ‘classroom’ and ‘local’, the area where you live. Lokaal Nederlands started from the idea that learning a language does not only happen in a classroom (‘lokaal’), but also by using the language more and more in your own surroundings (‘lokaal’).