International Education for Expats
This article explains different Netherlands international school types: private, public and special, schools teaching in English and various baccalaureate degrees offered.
Most private primary international schools in the Netherlands follow a standard American, British or European educational program or one that follows their country’s own national curriculum (in the case of international schools that teach in a language other than English).
‘Dutch’ international schools are categorized as public since the cost is subsidized by the government. The schools follow a Dutch ‘international stream’ curriculum.
Secondary education international schools in Netherlands offer degree programs equivalent to the American high school diploma and the British GCSE. Many offer more intensive educational programs based on the International Baccalaureate, European Baccalaureate or English Baccalaureate curriculum. Baccalaureate schools typically offer advanced placement courses as well.
The IBCP (International Baccalaureate Certificate Program) was introduced in 2014 as an alternative to the IBDP program. It combines two IBDP subjects with a career training program.
Further information about a specific baccalaureate and its respective curriculum can be found here:
NETHERLANDS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL TYPES
EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
The European School network provides education to the children of parents employed by an EU governmental agency, such as Eurojust and Europol. If class spaces remain after accommodating all eligible children, they may be offered to children of parents not employed by an EU agency. Any such students must pay tuition fees. The cost is between that charged by Dutch public international schools which are higher than These students must pay tuition. The cost is higher than that charged by Dutch public international schools but significantly below private international school prices.
The main difference between an international school and a European school is language. Whereas international schools teach in one language, usually English, European Schools teach in multiple languages, which allows students to be taught in their native language.
There are two types of European Schools – those that are owned by the European Schools organization (which is funded by the 6 countries where the original 13 schools are located) and those which are ‘accredited European Schools’. The European Schools organization has its own educational curriculum and standards which must be followed by accredited schools.
Here in the Netherlands, both types of European Schools exist. The European School Bergen (in North Holland) is one of the original 13 schools while the newer European School The Hague is an accredited, Dutch-owned school that follows the set European School curriculum. The Dutch school-management group ‘Het Rijnlands Lyceum’ is responsible for administration and operations of European School The Hague.
More information about European Schools
DUTCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
There are 29 Dutch ‘public’ international schools (or international streams within a Dutch school) in the Netherlands. Some offer both primary and secondary education programs while others offer one or the other. Since these schools are government-subsidized, tuition cost is low in comparison to private international schools.
Dutch international schools are open to the children of international expat parents who are in the Netherlands for a limited time (generally less than 2 years), as well as children of Dutch expat parents returning to the Netherlands from abroad where the child has been educated in English with little knowledge of the Dutch language OR the children of Dutch parents who are planning a move abroad and need to prepare their child for future education in English.
If all eligible students have all been accommodated and openings remain, the schools may admit children of international parents living in the Netherlands indefinitely.
More information about Dutch International Schools
PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
Large private international schools in Netherlands that teach in English typically accept students from all countries as long as the child has a basic knowledge of the English-language. International schools that teach in a language other than English, such as the Lycee Francaise Vincent Van Gogh (French), Deutsche Internationale Schule Den Haag (German) and Japanese School of Amsterdam (Japanese), are open to children with a basic understanding of that particular language.
Most private international schools in Netherlands include basic Dutch language training as part of their curriculum.
NL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS BY THE NUMBERS
DUTCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS: 29
Primary Education: 22
Secondary Education: 17
EUROPEAN SCHOOLS: 2
Primary Education: 2
Secondary Education: 2
PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS: 18
Primary Education: 18
Secondary Education: 12
Additional information about each international school in the Netherlands, its location and the education curriculum it follows.
Related information…