Primary School Debating Competition

Teaching children how to substantiate their standpoints and express these well. That is the aim of the Madurodam Primary School Debating Competition, organised annually by the Dutch Debating Institute Foundation (Stichting Nederlands Debat Instituut). Madurodam is the main sponsor and the competition is therefore named after the park.

The Madurodam Primary School Debating Competition is a national, celebratory debating programme that has been organised since 2007. Every year, around eighty groups in the last two years of primary school (groups 7 and 8) are chomping at the bit to participate.

Developing talent

Joris van Dijk, Director of Madurodam, talks about our support: ‘The cooperation with the Dutch Debating Institute Foundation puts into effect Madurodam’s charity objective and fits with our aim to support children of primary-school age in the discovery and development of their talents. Debating is an essential skill for everyone, so you can’t start working on it too soon. Firstly, the pupils learn to speak, listen and reason. This gives them self-confidence and the necessary skills to participate fully in society. Secondly, the children learn to view, question and understand standpoints from different perspectives.’

Want to find out more?

For more information, take a look at the Dutch Debating Institute Foundation's website.

Overjoyed winners of the Madurodam Debating competition 2016 and 2017