Schools in the Netherlands: A Guide for South African Families

Last updated: 24 September 2026

If you are moving from South Africa to the Netherlands with kids, school is probably the question that keeps you up at night. Good news first: Dutch public schools are free, generally good, and your children will very likely be speaking better Dutch than you within a year. The less good news: the system works quite differently from what you know back home, with no uniforms, no school fees in the usual sense, and a big decision about secondary school level made when your child is only 11 or 12.

This guide explains how the Dutch school system works, what it costs, when your child has to start, and how to choose between a local Dutch school and an international school.

Short answer: Children can start primary school (basisschool) the day after their 4th birthday and must be in school from the month after they turn 5. Dutch public schools are free apart from a voluntary parental contribution. Subsidised international schools cost roughly €4,000 to €10,000 a year, private international schools roughly €12,000 to €27,000. Most South African families who plan to stay long term choose a local Dutch school.

Jump to: How the system works | Ages and compulsory school | Costs | Dutch or international school | Newcomer classes | Secondary school levels | How to enroll | FAQ

How the Dutch school system works

Dutch education is split into three stages. Primary school (basisschool) runs from age 4 to about 12 and is divided into eight years called groepen. Groep 1 and 2 are like Grade R and a playful reception year, and formal reading and writing starts in groep 3, around age 6. Secondary school (voortgezet onderwijs) starts at about 12 and comes in different levels. After that, students go on to vocational college (mbo), a university of applied sciences (hbo) or a research university (wo).

A few things that surprise South African parents:

• There are no school uniforms. Kids go to school in normal clothes.
• Most kids cycle or walk to school, often on their own from about age 10.
• Children usually bring their own lunch, often a sandwich (boterham) and a piece of fruit. Some schools charge a small fee for lunchtime supervision.
• Many primary schools have a shorter day on Wednesday, and kids often go home at lunch or finish early one afternoon a week.
• There is less homework in primary school than you might expect, especially in the lower grades.
• The school year starts in late August or early September, and summer holiday dates are staggered between the north, middle and south of the country.

Ages and compulsory school (leerplicht)

Your child is allowed to start at a basisschool the day after they turn 4. Most Dutch children do, so starting at 4 is completely normal. Compulsory education (leerplicht) starts on the first school day of the month after your child turns 5 and runs until the end of the school year in which they turn 16. After that, young people have to keep studying until 18 unless they already have a basic qualification (startkwalificatie), such as a havo or vwo diploma or an mbo level 2 diploma.

The municipality has a compulsory education officer (leerplichtambtenaar) who checks attendance. This matters for holidays: you cannot just take your kids out of school for a week to visit family in South Africa. Extra leave outside the school holidays is only allowed in specific cases, for example when a parent’s job makes it impossible to travel during school holidays, and you must apply to the school head in advance. Unauthorised absence can lead to a fine. Book those Christmas trips home around the official school holidays.

What does school cost in the Netherlands?

Dutch public and publicly funded schools, including Christian and other faith based schools, are funded by the government and do not charge tuition. What they do ask for is a voluntary parental contribution (vrijwillige ouderbijdrage) for extras like school trips, celebrations and activities. It is usually somewhere between a few tens and a few hundred euros a year. As the name says, it is voluntary, and since 2021 a school is not allowed to exclude a child from activities because the parents did not pay.

Other costs to budget for are lunchtime supervision, school camp, a bike and a good rain suit. On the plus side, every parent living and working in the Netherlands can usually claim child benefit (kinderbijslag) from the SVB, paid every quarter. If you need daycare or after school care (BSO) for kids under 12, you may qualify for childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag). For the bigger picture of what a family budget looks like, see our cost of living in the Netherlands vs South Africa guide.

Dutch school or international school?

This is the big decision, and there is no single right answer. It mostly depends on how long you plan to stay and how old your children are.

Local Dutch school

A local Dutch school is free, close to home, and your child will make friends in the neighbourhood. Young children usually pick up Dutch surprisingly quickly, and kids who already speak Afrikaans have a real head start because so much of the vocabulary and grammar overlaps. Read our piece on Afrikaans vs Dutch to see just how close the two languages are. If you are planning to stay in the Netherlands long term or for good, a Dutch school is usually the most natural choice, especially for children under about 10.

Subsidised international school

The Netherlands has a network of state subsidised international primary and secondary schools, known as Dutch International Primary Schools (DIPS) and Dutch International Secondary Schools (DISS). They teach in English, usually follow the International Primary Curriculum and International Baccalaureate, and cost a lot less than fully private schools. Examples include the Amsterdam International Community School and the International School of The Hague. There are entry criteria: the family is usually expected to be living in the Netherlands temporarily, or the child must have been at school abroad and not speak Dutch. Schools check this at admission, and many have waiting lists, so apply early.

Private international school

Private schools such as the International School of Amsterdam, the British School of Amsterdam and the American School of The Hague cost roughly €12,000 to €27,000 a year per child, plus enrolment and building fees. They make most sense if your employer pays the fees or you are only here for a few years and want to move on to another international school.

How to decide

• Staying 5 years or more, kids under 10: a Dutch school is usually the best fit.
• Staying 2 to 4 years, then moving on: a subsidised international school keeps things consistent.
• Teenagers close to final exams: an international school with the IB, or a bilingual (TTO) Dutch secondary school, can make the switch less painful.
• Unsure: visit both. Dutch schools hold open days (open dagen), and most are happy to show you around.

Newcomer classes for kids who do not speak Dutch

If your child does not speak Dutch yet, many municipalities offer special newcomer classes. At primary level these are called nieuwkomersklassen or taalklassen, and they usually last about a year before children move into a regular class. At secondary level, teenagers can go to an International Transition Class (Internationale Schakelklas, ISK) for one to two years, where the focus is on learning Dutch quickly before moving to the right secondary level. Ask your municipality or the local school board what is available where you will live. For very young children, especially Afrikaans speakers, going straight into groep 1 or 2 is often enough.

Secondary school levels: VMBO, HAVO and VWO

This is the part that confuses South African parents the most. In the final year of primary school (groep 8), the school gives each child a school advice (schooladvies) for which level of secondary school suits them. Children also sit a national test (the doorstroomtoets). If the test result is higher than the advice, the school has to reconsider it. The advice decides which level of secondary school your child starts at.

Moving between levels is possible, and there are routes from vmbo to havo and from havo to vwo, but it takes extra time. If your child arrives in the Netherlands at 11 or 12 without Dutch, talk to the school about how the advice will account for language. A newcomer or bilingual route can prevent a child being placed at a lower level simply because their Dutch is still catching up.

How to enroll your child

1. Register at your municipality and get your BSN. Schools need your child’s BSN. See our guide to getting a BSN and a Dutch bank account.
2. Find schools near your new home. Use the Scholen op de kaart website to compare schools, their results and inspection reports.
3. Check the admission rules. Some cities, including Amsterdam, Haarlem and Utrecht, use a central registration system for primary schools with priority for schools close to home, and you may need to register a child well before they turn 4.
4. Visit schools and ask about their approach to newcomers who do not speak Dutch.
5. Register with the school or the central system. For international schools, apply as early as possible because of waiting lists.
6. Bring paperwork: the BSN, previous school reports translated if possible, and any records of special learning needs.

Housing and schools are closely linked, so if you are still house hunting, check where the schools are before you sign a lease. Our guide to renting in the Netherlands as a South African covers the rental market.

Tips from the South African parent perspective

• Get your child on a bike as soon as possible. It is the key to independence here.
• Buy proper rain gear. Nobody gets driven to school because it is drizzling. Our first Dutch winter guide has more on surviving the weather.
• Expect a much more relaxed approach to discipline and a lot of emphasis on the child’s own opinion. Teachers are addressed by their first name.
• Celebrations like Sinterklaas are a big deal at primary school. Read Sinterklaas explained for South Africans before your first December.
• Keep Afrikaans or English going at home. Children lose a home language faster than you think.

Frequently asked questions

At what age do kids start school in the Netherlands?

Children can start primary school the day after their 4th birthday, and school becomes compulsory from the first school day of the month after they turn 5.

Are Dutch schools free?

Yes. Public and publicly funded schools do not charge tuition. They ask for a voluntary parental contribution for extras, and your child cannot be excluded from activities if you do not pay it.

Can my South African child go to an international school?

Yes, but subsidised international schools have entry criteria, usually that your stay is temporary or that your child has been at school abroad and does not speak Dutch. Private international schools accept anyone who can pay, space permitting.

Will my child cope in a Dutch school without speaking Dutch?

Young children usually adapt quickly, especially if they speak Afrikaans. Older children often start in a newcomer class for a year or two before joining a regular class.

Can we take the kids out of school for a trip to South Africa?

Only during official school holidays, unless the school head grants special leave for a valid reason. Unauthorised absence can lead to a fine.

Moving your whole family is a big step. For the rest of the paperwork, start with our guide to visa options for South Africans moving to the Netherlands and Dutch health insurance. Children under 18 are covered for free on a parent’s basic health insurance, but you still have to register them with your insurer.

Useful links: Government.nl on compulsory school attendance, Scholen op de kaart, SVB child benefit, I amsterdam on Dutch schools for expat families.