What is an “anti-pestcontract” in Dutch schools?

An anti-pestcontract is the no-bullying classroom contract Dutch primary and secondary teachers typically present at the start of the schoolyear. Students sign it as a public commitment, and the symbolic weight of having signed-and-shaken-hands becomes the framework for any later complaint. The practice is rooted in Dutch programs like Kanjertraining and De Vreedzame School, which formalize anti-pest pedagogy across thousands of schools nationwide. It’s optional but quietly mainstream, and the contract is often co-designed with the students themselves.

In this Quinn en Aaron sketch, a teacher unrolls the contract: “In mijn lokaal wordt er niet gepest... Heb ik dit contract. Die moeten jullie allemaal tekenen.” A student fawns: “U bent fantastisch bezig. Ik support dit.”