About AvaLingua
Founder: Avalon
Hi everyone! I’m Avalon, I love to discover new cultures and different ways of thinking. I grew up close to the sea, which is one of my favorite places to be. I’m a Dutchie who has lived in many different countries. I'm passionate about languages. Dutch is my native language and next to that, I speak English and Spanish. Moreover, I have learned the basics of German, French and Bahasa Indonesia. Arabic is next on my list!
In 2014, I started organizing AvaLingua Exchange, a weekly language exchange in Nijmegen, Rotterdam, The Hague and later online, which ran successfully for eight years and brought together people from all over the world to practice languages, connect, and share cultures. Read more about these meetings below.
During the language exchange meetings I discovered that I enjoy teaching Dutch to foreigners. By then, I had already finished my bachelor and masters in Cultural Anthropology and worked in the development world. I decided to do a masters in teaching and a postgraduate degree to become a certified Dutch teacher to foreigners (NT2).
In the last few years, I have been teaching Dutch with a lot of joy in Rotterdam, Dordrecht, The Hague and online at different language institutions. A few years ago, I started AvaLingua and since then I have been teaching my own students too. The name 'AvaLingua' refers to my nickname 'Ava' and language is 'Lingua' in Latin. I just love the sound of the two words connected together!
Our team
Nowadays, AvaLingua consists of professional, certified and enthusiastic teachers. We create an environment in which you learn Dutch by experiencing the language right away. The classes are interactive, fun and gezellig and we will guarantee that you will speak Dutch from the very first class onwards. Are you ready to start with your Dutch language course? Let's talk!
The classes are interactive and we will guarantee that you will speak Dutch from the very first class onwards. Are you ready to start with your Dutch language course?
From AvaLingua Exchange to AvaLingua Dutch Language Courses
It all started in 2014, when I wanted to practice Spanish in Nijmegen and decided to organize a small language exchange meeting. To my surprise, many people showed up to that very first event, and because I’ve always enjoyed organizing and connecting people, I decided to make it a regular thing. That’s how AvaLingua Exchange was born.
What began as one small meeting soon grew into a weekly event in Nijmegen, Rotterdam and The Hague, and later also online during COVID-19. For eight wonderful years, people from all over the world came together to speak languages, share cultures, and connect. In 2024, after eight years of hosting these exchanges, we decided to close this chapter, but we look back with a lot of gratitude and great memories.
Through those years, one thing became clear: people learn best when they speak, when they feel connected, curious, and inspired by others. That experience shaped what AvaLingua is today.
At AvaLingua, we now continue that same spirit of connection through our Dutch courses. Our lessons are designed to help you speak with confidence, discover Dutch culture, and feel at home in the Netherlands. Whether in private lessons or small groups, our focus remains the same as it was during the Exchange: real conversations, real people, and real progress.
Check the video for the vibes!