Have you ever noticed school bags dangling on flagpoles outside of Dutch homes? If yes, then someone in that house has recently found out that they’re going to graduate! 🎓
This cultural tradition of hanging your school bag means that a Dutch student has passed the final exams of their studies and can finally celebrate! 🎉
What is it?
Dutchies typically hang their school bags during the second week of June. This is usually around the time the summer holidays begin and students receive their final exam results (eindexamenuitslag).
Sometimes, Dutch families will not only hang school bags, but also notebooks. They might even go for a banner which says geslaagd (passed), just to make it very clear to the public.
Why do they do it?
Households in the Netherlands simply enjoy announcing the good news about their children’s successful education — trotse families (proud families).
READ MORE | 7 ways raising a child in the Netherlands is different
The Dutch put their school backpacks or satchels outside their window to show that these bags have served them well. 🎒
But also, their academic worries are now “outside the window” too (unless they plan on going into third-level education, of course.) 😉
Why is it quirky?
This tradition of hanging school bags (and other academic supplies) on flagpoles only exists in the Netherlands!
Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands passed her high school final exam cum laude at the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet.
— Gert's Royals (@Gertsroyals) June 10, 2021
Per Dutch Tradition, the Princess raises the Netherlands Flag with her school bag attached.
📸 RVD pic.twitter.com/cHjwiwKzun
If you come across a dangling schoolbag in any other country, you may worry that some poor schoolchild has fallen out the window. Or maybe a very patriotic family has lost their flag and opted for an interesting alternative.
Should you join in?
Definitely! It’s a great way to announce that you’ve passed your exams to others without overly flaunting it.
Of course, you are also very welcome to be loud about your big achievement if you want to. 🎓
Sling up that school bag and paint the town red, you smarty pants!
What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!
Image: DennisM2/Flickr/Public Domain
I flew the USA flag on a pole with her USA College bag when my daughter came for a visit in Lisse, after graduating from GSU. We got lots of “bekijks” from the neighborhood (bekijks = looks).