Dutch coalition agreement confirms: all schools going smartphone-free

The new coalition agreement makes it official: smartphones are no longer allowed during the entire school day. At home or in a locker.

On January 30, 2026, the new Dutch cabinet presented its coalition agreement. And it includes a passage we at Loek had been hoping for: all schools will be fully smartphone-free. Not just during lessons, but the entire day. Devices must stay "at home or in a locker."

From voluntary guideline to legal standard

Since January 2024, a nationwide guideline already discouraged smartphones in the classroom. Many schools enforced it, but it was not legally binding. Some schools were strict, others let it slide.

The coalition agreement changes that. If parliament approves, it becomes a legal requirement. No exceptions, no half-measures. The smartphone stays in a locker all day or stays at home.

What this means for students

For students, this changes more than you might think at first:

No more distractions - No TikTok or Instagram during breaks disrupting your focus for the next class

More real interaction - Talking, playing and collaborating with classmates instead of staring at a screen

Better concentration - Research shows that even having a phone in your bag is distracting

But there is a practical problem: how do you check your schedule or homework?

The schedule problem

This is exactly where it gets tricky. Schools want smartphones out of the building, but Somtoday - the system students use to check their schedule, homework and tests - is only accessible via an app or website.

Students are stuck: they cannot use their phone at school, but need it at home to know what they have to do tomorrow. And let's be honest: once the phone is in hand for the schedule, the temptation of social media is always just a swipe away.

Loek solves this

Loek was built for exactly this problem. A small e-ink screen on your desk that shows your schedule, homework and tests. No apps, no notifications, no distractions. Just the school info you need.

Always up to date - Loek automatically syncs with Somtoday

No smartphone needed - Works independently via WiFi

Parents can see along - The display is visible to everyone at home

3 months battery - Thanks to the e-ink display

With the new coalition agreement, the smartphone is definitively banned from schools. But the need for school information does not disappear. Loek bridges that gap, without the downsides of a smartphone.

The Netherlands leads the way

The coalition agreement goes beyond smartphones at school. The cabinet also wants a European minimum age of 15 for social media, with privacy-friendly age verification. Additionally, platforms must be transparent about their algorithms and addictive design will be addressed.

The Netherlands is setting a clear course: children and young people deserve a digital environment that protects them rather than exploits them.

Want your child to be ready for a smartphone-free school?

Discover Loek - School info without a smartphone.

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Source: Coalition agreement, January 30, 2026. Loek helps students focus on learning by displaying school information without smartphone distractions.