Education and schools for expats in the Netherlands | KOCH Moving Logistics

Moving to the Netherlands presents families with many challenges, especially when it comes to their children's education. The Dutch school system differs from the German education system in many ways – above all in its strong school autonomy, the high proportion of private schools, and the early division into different educational levels. In this article, we take a look at the Dutch education system, the best international schools in cities such as Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht, as well as options for younger children, so that you can emigrate to the Netherlands well‑informed and prepared.

For families moving to the Netherlands, international schools offer an excellent opportunity to provide their children with a high‑quality and familiar education. Especially in the larger cities, there are numerous top‑tier international schools that teach according to Western curricula and use English or other foreign languages as the language of instruction. International schools in the Netherlands are either state‑subsidised Dutch International Schools (DIPS) or private institutions. Both offer a wide range of curricula, often the International Baccalaureate (IB), but also British (IGCSE, A‑Levels), American (AP) or French qualifications. State‑subsidised schools charge significantly lower fees than private schools, but often have longer waiting lists and are generally intended for families only staying temporarily in the Netherlands. School fees vary by age and school in the following ranges: Early Years (approx. 3–5 years) between €10,000 and €20,000 per year; Primary (approx. 6–11 years) between €15,000 and €25,000 per year; Upper secondary and IB Diploma (approx. 17–18 years) between €22,000 and €33,000 per year. Additionally, families should budget for one‑time registration fees (approx. €500–2,500), school transport (€1,500–4,000) and other ancillary costs.

The international city of peace and justice is home to several renowned international schools. These include the American School of The Hague, the Dutch branch of the European School, the International School of The Hague (ISH) as an IB World School, and The British School in the Netherlands (BSN). The German International School of The Hague is the oldest German overseas school in the area and offers both a German and a mixed international curriculum.

The port city of Rotterdam has a well‑filled offering: Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS) is a public school with an international focus and bilingual programme. Wolfert Bilingual School is one of the leading schools in multilingual education. In addition, Rotterdamse Montessorischool offers a Dutch‑English environment for younger students.

Amsterdam is home to most of the country's international schools. The most renowned include the International School of Amsterdam (ISA), which as the first school worldwide offers the complete IB continuum (Primary, Middle and Diploma years), as well as the Amsterdam International Community School (AICS) with an IB curriculum. The British School of Amsterdam follows the British National Curriculum, while the Lycée Français Vincent van Gogh offers the French curriculum. A special feature is the state‑funded De Nieuwe Internationale School Esprit (NISE) with a bilingual Dutch‑English IB programme; here school fees for EU citizens are only around €1,500 to €3,000 per year.

The university city of Utrecht is also a popular choice for international families. Here, the International School Utrecht (ISU) offers a continuous IB track from kindergarten to the Diploma Programme, also with bilingual education. The International School Hilversum near Utrecht is also distinguished by its high pedagogical quality with IB‑certified teachers.

Dutch schools – whether public or denominational – are generally state‑funded, open their doors to all children, and are of very high quality. Expat families staying in the country long‑term should consider this option – not only for financial reasons but also for better integration. Compared to Germany, Dutch schools are much more relaxed – there are no school uniforms, no caps, no stiff forms of address, and yet the standards are more than excellent by international comparison.

The Dutch school system is known for its high quality, strong school autonomy and inclusive ethos. It provides financial support for all schools, including denominational and pedagogically specialised schools (e.g., Montessori, Dalton, Waldorf), so that almost everyone has a free choice according to conviction and religion. Compulsory schooling in the Netherlands begins at the age of five, although almost all children start school at four. A special feature of Dutch school enrolment is its flexibility – unlike in Germany, where all six‑year‑olds start school together, in the Netherlands each child may start school the day after their fourth birthday – without a big ceremony, but with individual attention from the teacher.

Compared to the German school system, some differences are particularly noticeable:

 

– LATER STREAMING AND LONGER PRIMARY SCHOOL: While primary school in Germany lasts only 4 years (up to grade 4), children in the Netherlands attend primary school for 8 years – accordingly they are two years older when choosing a secondary school, which allows for a more mature decision about their educational path.

 

– INDIVIDUAL ENROLMENT AND GREATER FLEXIBILITY : Children in the Netherlands start school continuously throughout the year as soon as they turn four – in Germany, enrolment takes place locally on a fixed cut‑off date (usually summer). This allows for more individual support at the start.

 

– STRONG SCHOOL AUTONOMY: Dutch schools have greater freedom in designing their concepts than schools in Germany, with teachers often able to decide many detailed questions of instruction themselves.

 

– LANGUAGE CHALLENGE: Dutch is the language of instruction in public schools. For newly arrived children whose mother tongue is not Dutch, many schools offer support classes (schakelklassen) or special language learning programmes.

 

– EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND INCLUSION: The school system is less selective than the German one and offers greater permeability between educational tracks, making transitions between VMBO, HAVO and VWO easier.

For families with young children planning a move to the Netherlands, there is a wide range of childcare facilities. Early childhood education covers a broad spectrum: day care centres (kinderdagverblijf) for children aged 0 to 4, playgroups (peuterspeelzaal) for children aged 2 to 4, as well as integrated preschools.

International preschools in the Netherlands play an important role in early childhood education. They often use a playful approach to support children in a multicultural environment. Facilities such as the International School of Amsterdam (ISA) offer Early Years programmes from age 3 following the IB Primary Years Programme. The Amsterdam International Community School (AICS) also offers an Early Years programme for children from age 4. The British School of Amsterdam also looks after children from age 3 in the Foundation Stage following the British curriculum (Early Years Foundation Stage).

Full‑day care is widespread in the Netherlands; most primary schools (basisscholen) offer care before (voorschoolse opvang) and after (naschoolse opvang – BSO) school hours. In this respect, provision is similar to the situation in western German federal states, but with different cost models.

Moving to the Netherlands requires careful planning, especially with regard to your children's education. It is important to find out about the various options early on – depending on the region and the individual needs of your family. KOCH Moving Logistics is at your side to make the transition to the Dutch educational landscape for your children a positive experience.