Netherlands country report

The situation in the Netherlands is quite well organised. The only major issue is that we do not agree on all issues with governmental policy makers. For example on team interpreting. The interpreter must now work for two hours, and then be exchanged by a second interpreter, who then knows nothing about what just occurred in the first two hours. We are trying to change this situation, but this is quite challenging.

The cooperation between the deaf and interpreter association can still be improved, so there is still work that needs to be done.

One of the improvements is that in the last few years the society has become more aware of sign language interpreters.

Currently we are undergoing a system change in the funding where the budget for interpreting services in primary and secondary education will be handed over from the semi-government agencies to the deaf schools.