A review of the status of English language instruction in the Netherlands begins with an overview of the role of English in the society in general, and outlines the status of English use and instruction in the educational system at the secondary and postsecondary levels, the characteristics and training of English language instructors, the type and availability of instructional materials, educational administration and planning in relation to English teaching, English outside the educational system, British and American support, commercial opportunities related to English instruction, creative writing, language research, and other sources of information. There is a healthy willingness in the Netherlands to examine the aims and methods of English teaching and a strong movement toward the communicative approach. Roughly a quarter of the preservice teacher training program is devoted to pedagogy and methodology, producing better-equipped secondary school teachers. However, there is also resistance among teachers to extensive inservice training that adds to their already heavy workloads. (MSE)