Unlike the common expectations, Islamic primary schools can contribute to the integration of Muslims in the Dutch society. This article is a reflection of Dr Beemsterboer’s doctoral research and asks what this conclusion can say about other religion based primary schools.

Since the introduction of the Primary Education Act in 1985, all Dutch primary schools are obliged to teach religious movements as a subject, to make children aware that they are growing up in a multicultural society. Although many schools endorse the idea of education in spiritual movements, recent study shows that currently only 14% of the Dutch primary schools teach all religious movements without focusing on one tradition. This article discuss what the legislator had in mind with the obligation to educate religious movements, what it became in practice and the opportunities schools see for education in religious movements.