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Stichting Lezen & Schrijven (Reading & Writing Foundation) is an initiative of H.R.H. Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands. The Foundation was launched on 27 May 2004, its objective being to devote attention to the 1.5 million members of the Dutch population who, due to literacy related problems, are unable to participate fully within society. Stichting Lezen & Schrijven aims to stimulate discussion about this problem and to contribute to its alleviation.
Dutch reading and writing lessons
We encourage anyone with difficulties in reading, writing or numeracy, or anyone who knows someone with problems in these areas, to call the toll-free telephone hotline to obtain information on where to join a course : 0800-023 4444 (available 24 hours, only for Dutch reading and writing lessons).
+ 31 (0)800 023 44 44
“Literacy for Development” is the theme of the Eighth E-9 Ministerial Review Meeting to be held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 21 to 24 June 2010. The meeting is being jointly organized by UNESCO and the Federal Government of Nigeria. Princess Laurentien was Keynote speaker at this conference. Read more>>
Princess Laurentien, Keynote Speaker at CONFINTEA VI
“It is more urgent than ever before that literacy for children, young people and adults are moved up the list of national priorities”. This is the key message of H.R.H. Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, invited in her role of UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development, to hold a keynote speech at CONFINTEA VI. Read more>>
LitCam Conference 2009: "Literacy and Media"
This year, the two-day international conference was placed under the theme "Literacy and Media". It explored the interaction between the two fields, but most of all the ways in which media can bring about changes to literacy. Read more >>
National Literacy Week 2009
Literacy Week took place from Monday 7th September to Sunday 13th September. "Laten we open kaart spelen" (Dutch expression for "Let's speak out") was this year's theme. Read more >>
Princess Laurentien keynote speaker at EU Conference
On Thursday 9th of July 2009, H.R.H. Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands was keynote speaker at the EU Conference on the health of young people (Be healthy, Be yourself). Please refer to her speech on literacy and health.
Princess Laurentien UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development
Princess Laurentien has been committed to the cause of literacy for more than 20 years. On March 24th she became UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development worldwide. Read more >>
The Reader nominated for Golden Globes
The film The Reader has been nominated for the Golden Globes. The film tells the story about teenager Michael Berg who begins an affair with Hanna, an older woman. Hanna likes to be read to and that is what Michael does for her. One day, Hanna disappears, leaving Michael behind with a broken heart. Read more >>
Towns are not (yet) accessible to all
On their websites, towns generally do not take sufficient account of people who have difficulty reading. This becomes clear in a report presented today to Annemarie Jorritsma, chairman of the Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten (VNG) (Union of Dutch Towns). Read more >>
Harry Mulisch for low-literate people
‘Nederland Leest’ (The Netherlands read) has become the biggest reading campaign in the country this year. This time, the action targets an even more diversified group of readers. The book Twee vrouwen (Two women) by Harry Mulisch – the main feature of the campaign ‘Nederland Leest’ – is published in six different editions. The total edition amounts to 1.030.500 copies. This was stated today in The Hague, where minister Plasterk received the first copies of Twee vrouwen from Harry Mulisch himself. Read more >>
Literacy and integration – Languages as a Key to Intercultural Dialogue.
That is the theme of the year at the two-day LITCAM Conference (Frankfurt Book Fair Literacy Campaign) held on 14th and 15th October 2008. Read more >>
Princess Laurentien at White House Symposium
In the framework of the White House Symposium on advancing Global Literacy, H.R.H Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands has been invited by Mrs. Laura Bush to take part in the panel discussions. The Symposium’s theme revolving around “Building a foundation for freedom”, Princess Laurentien had the opportunity to express the importance of literacy with regards to personal and social freedom.
Advancing towards Global Literacy, as resulting from UNESCO’s Regional Conference in Baku (Azerbaijan), implies first acknowledgment by each State of its illiteracy rate. In the words of Princess Laurentien, some challenges need then to be faced globally: adapting efforts against illiteracy to the needs and functions of illiterate persons; implementing a “literacy chain”, for prevention and reduction of illiteracy are equally important; mobilizing the society “to create a broad sense of co-responsibility”; and building a “literacy marketplace”, placing the issue in “the core functioning of all organizations”. Read more>>
International Literacy Day 2008 - Worldwide
“Literacy is the best remedy.” That is UNESCO’s slogan for the International Literacy Day 2008, under the theme “Health and Literacy”. This year with a special focus on the importance of literacy for healthy societies, i.e. a knowledge society built around information on epidemics and communicable diseases. International Literacy Day involves literacy and learning actors from all over the world. Read more>>
Princess Laurentien at UNESCO conference
On Wednesday 14th May, Princess Laurentien was keynote speaker at the UNESCO conference in Baku, Azerbeidzjan. Please refer to her speech about illiteracy.
Fighting illiteracy part of Priority Points 2008 AmCham
On Wednesday 14th May, AmCham, the American Chamber of Commerce, presented the Priority Points of 2008. The American Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands is a non-profit, non-governmental, non-political, voluntary organisation of companies and individuals who invest in and trade between the United States of Amercia and the Netherlands. The Priority Points are part of a program to improve the investment of climate in the Netherlands. Read more >>
New titles in series in Leeslicht (Reading Light) 25-04-2008
On Friday 25th April, Femke Halsema, chairwoman of the parliamentary party GroenLinks, received the first copy of the book ‘Anne Frank, haar leven’ (Anne Frank, her life) from TV anchorwoman Catherine Keyl. The festive presentation took place at the Anne Frank house. The biography of Anne Frank is part of the Leeslicht series, targeting people who have difficulty with reading and writing. Other books which have appeared in this week in the series are ‘Moeder worden, moeder zijn’ (Becoming mother, being mother) by Daphne Deckers and ‘Het beste Nederlandse elftal van alle tijden’ (the best Dutch football team of all times). Read more >>
On Monday 14th April, Princess Laurentien delivered a speech in Paris upon the international start of Amsterdam World Book Capital 2008.
The UNESCO has declared Amsterdam World Book Capital 2008. The presentation took place at the UNESCO head quarters. The Princess is patroness of Amsterdam World Book Capital. Read more >>
After half a century, still a lot of information cannot be read 17-04-2008
In February 2008, it was precisely 50 years ago that the first audio paper in the world appeared for the visually challenged. “In the meantime, there is a huge collection of audio versions of newspapers, magazines, leisure books and school books”. This is what Frans Middelkoop of Dedicon says. “But much information such as issued by hospitals is still not accessible for the visually challenged.” And Dedicon wants to change this as quickly as possible. Read more >>
