Modular classrooms: a proven part of the Dutch school infrastructure

Throughout the Netherlands, school buildings are aging faster than municipalities can replace them. According to the VO-raad and PO-Raad, the average school building is 40 years old, more than half are eligible for renovation, and the renovation cycle is proceeding twice as slowly as necessary.

At the same time, fluctuating student numbers make long-term planning difficult. In Almere, the number of primary school students is expected to rise from 20,400 in 2024 to over 22,000 in 2030, while Rotterdam expects a decrease of nearly 3,000 over the same period. For fast-growing neighborhoods, waiting years for new construction is therefore not an option.

Portakabin’s modular school buildings are deployed throughout the Netherlands to create extra capacity and allow education to continue during renovations. The buildings are produced off-site, specifically designed for education, and installed with minimal disruption.

The quality of a school building has a direct impact on learning. Research by Kennisrotonde shows that air quality, daylight, temperature, and acoustics are related to learning performance. According to the PO-Raad, 80% of Dutch primary schools struggle with poor air quality, and 44% of the buildings are primarily designed for traditional classroom teaching.

Modular classrooms must meet the same legal requirements as permanent buildings. Portakabin develops spaces with flexible layouts, controlled ventilation, and acoustic features.

Julius Rakhorst, Education Specialist at Portakabin, says: “Ventilation, acoustics, and the indoor climate all influence how students feel and perform. These are important technical considerations, not incidentals. Every classroom supports the quality of the learning environment from day one.”

Fast delivery is also important. The installation is scheduled around the school calendar, with carefully chosen access routes so that existing buildings can remain operational.

At the Gemini College in Ridderkerk, four extra classrooms were needed while the new building was still eighteen months away. Portakabin delivered four fully equipped modular classrooms on the existing school grounds within two months, allowing education to continue without interruption.

CSG de Lage Waard in Papendrecht urgently needed extra space due to growth and renovation. Within six weeks, Portakabin installed a two-story school building with ten classrooms, including acoustic panels and a ventilation system.

The pressure on Dutch school buildings will not disappear anytime soon. The VO-raad and PO-Raad estimate that the backlog in new construction will require a structural investment of €21 billion over the next thirty years. Modular classrooms offer schools and property managers a way to respond more quickly to growth and renovation, without compromising continuity or learning quality.