Schools & Education

International or Dutch school?
Dutch education system
How to find a Dutch primary or secondary school?
Leerplicht - compulsory schooling

International or Dutch school?

For your school-age children, your search for a school will start with the choice of an international or a regular Dutch school, each with its own advantages. If you are planning to stay abroad for a short period, or if you will move on to another foreign country after your stay in the Netherlands, an international school might provide your child with continuity. But if you would like your child to mix in with the local culture, you might prefer a regular school.

An international school follows a curriculum that is more in line with the educational system and legislation of a different country. These schools are mainly attended by foreign children or Dutch children that will soon go abroad or have returned from being abroad.

Finding an international school
There are several websites which give an overview of international schools in the Netherlands, two of which are:
www.expatica.com "Finding an international school"
www.niederlandeweb.de "Internationale Schulen in den Niederlanden"
http://www.sio.nl/

Dutch education system

In the Netherlands children have the obligation to go to school when they are 5 years old. They first go to a Primary School (group 1-8) and then they will continue their education on a School for Secondary Education.

Primary School
In the Netherlands, children between 4 and 12 years old go to primary schools. These schools are funded by the government and parents are only asked for contributions for extra activities.
There are basically three types of primary schools:

denominational schools.
Most schools in this category are Roman Catholic or Protestant, but there are also Jewish, Islamic, Hindustani, Humanistic and so-called Free schools. Almost two-thirds of the children go to this category of school.

openbare school, or public school.
These schools are run under the authority of the municipality and are not based on any particular religious persuasion or other conviction. About one-third of school-age children attend public schools.

schools based on certain teaching and learning philosophies
such as Montessori, Jena Plan, Dalton and Freinet, are attended by a relatively small number of children.

special schools
For children requiring special care, there are ‘special’ schools in both the public and denominational categories.

Secondary education
After completing primary school, a child and the parents have to decide what type of secondary school the child should go to. The choice is mainly between three types of education: vocational education, senior general secondary education and pre-university education.

The curriculum for the first three years of all three types consists of general subjects. the difference between the three types becomes more clearly visible after the third year.

Vocational education
consists of a 4-year preparatory phase (VMBO) which can be followed by a 4-year phase of more in-depth vocational training (MBO).

Senior general secondary education (HAVO)
lasts 5 years and is intended as a preparation for studying at a university of professional education (comparable to a polytechnic college).

Pre-university education (VWO)
takes 6 years to complete and prepares the student to enter university education.

For more information on the Dutch education system here are a few links:
Expatica - Guide to Dutch education system
Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, The education system in the Netherlands 

How to find a Dutch primary or secondary school?

For finding a Dutch primary or secondary school in your new region the website of the council is probably a good place to start. Often this website will come up straight away in google and carries the words 'Officiële site van de gemeente'.
Unfortunately this website is likely to be in Dutch only. In order to still gain a list of schools in the region a list with useful terms is available to help you in your search.

Furthermore your employer might be able to help you with information on this subject. And once you are in the Netherlands, a good source to tap into are other parents with school-going children.

Leerplicht - compulsory schooling

Compulsory schooling in the Netherlands (leerplicht) applies to all children
aged 5-16. They must attend school. Compulsory schooling ends at the end of the school year in which the child turns 16. Because of this obligation on parents and children, schools will not give permission to take children on holidays outside the official school holiday periods.