As children Erasmus and his older brother Pieter, attended the parish school, also known as the Latin school, which was build in 1407 on this site. It was replaced in the nineteenth century by the current building Arti Legi.

Their uncle Pieter Winckel was their tutor. Erasmus’ parents decided the brothers would be better off at another school and sent them to the reputable Lebuinnusschool in Deventer, accompanied by their mother, Margaretha.