Dutch Education System

We have managed to offer extremely advantageous employment contracts for many workers and specialists. And many of them found the Netherlands to be the most suitable country for their specialisation, for their developmental desires, and even for the needs of their children. Many of those who choose to go to the Netherlands to work eventually choose to relocate their family to the Netherlands as well, because they want to settle permanently in this country.

But before you bring your child or children with you to the Netherlands, it is very important to know what the school conditions are in the Netherlands, how the education system in this country works, and what you should expect before enrolling your child throughout this educational process.

General information about the Dutch education system

The education system in the Netherlands is one of the best in Europe, and Dutch children are among those who receive the best education. In order to enrol your child in the school curriculum in the Netherlands, you need to know the age at which you can enrol them, what this process looks like, and what you need to do to ensure that each of your children has a secure place for education.

The minimum age to enrol your child in a school program in the Netherlands is 5 years. However, there are some schools that also accept 4-year-olds. Here is a guide consisting of a few very simple steps to go through if you want to enrol your child in school.

1. Check the website of the school or school where you want to enrol your child

There are schools in the Netherlands that can give you a tour to see absolutely all the facilities of the school. These tours are dedicated to parents and will help you decide which is the best school for your child.

2. Registration. The state will send a notification notice by post to parents of children born in the Netherlands. This notice is usually sent when your child turns 3 years old. For children from other countries, the procedure is different.
3. If you want to enrol your child in a private school or an international school, you will need to follow the school's internal enrollment process. Depending on the number of places, you will know if the registration has been approved or not.

Dutch Education system for foreign children

You have to be very careful when enrolling your child in an international school in the Netherlands. These are the most common, and are usually of two types. Private schools that are supported by fees and tuition fees, or the government budget, and religious schools where the curriculum and lessons tend to be slightly different given that the methodology follows religious principles.

The first thing you need to know about schools for foreign children is that they do not teach English and that, although most students come from other countries, the courses will be taught in Dutch. According to school representatives in the Netherlands, children manage to adapt to this style of teaching fairly quickly, and the Dutch language becomes a very comfortable thing as time passes and they adjust to the style.

Accommodation courses in Dutch 

These accommodation courses, known as schakelklas or nieuwkomerkslas, are held for about a year before an expat child is transferred directly to a regular school, in a class with students his age. Some international schools have their own accommodation programs, but this is quite rare.

The structure of the Dutch education system

The school in the Netherlands is quite similar to the one practised in the rest of European countries. However, each system has its own rules. In short, here is the structure of schools in the Netherlands:

Preschool or Preschool - Dutch Education system

Also called voorschool, it starts at the age of two and includes some very beneficial activities for young children. These courses extend over periods of 3 days, for a total of 15 hours of activities. Until the age of 4, parents can choose to use babysitting services from public or private institutions. They can leave their children for five days a week in the care of specialists, obviously in exchange for a fee.

Elementary dutch education system

Here we are talking about the first serious and important form of education that your child receives. Here you will be able to choose whether your child should attend a government-funded education program or a religiously based school. In this part of the education process, children will have almost no homework, a lot of physical activities, and the opportunity to try many sports.

Elementary education is very important for the Dutch. Here, children will learn what traffic means, how to behave in society and a lot of good manners.

School in the Netherlands and Wednesday

Every Wednesday, the school program ends around 12:30. This gives children time to participate in extracurricular activities, to go to birthdays and to take lessons in certain sports.

The final exam or Cito-Toets

The final exam that the child will have to take in the Netherlands is the Cito-toets. This is a compulsory examination which is governed by Dutch law. The results of this test will determine the next step in the child's education. Depending on how high this test is, children will be assigned to one of three types of educational programs available:

VMBO - A 4-year study program that aims to prepare every child for a career that suits them

HAVO - A 5-year study program for children who get a slightly higher test score.

VWO - A 6-year study program that prepares children for university studies.

The study philosophy you choose for your child

Parents need to choose what kind of school their child will attend. In this sense, they will be able to choose certain schools and teaching methods. Montessori schools will teach your child to be independent and work at their own pace. Dalton schools also encourage teamwork. The style of Jenaplan schools is based more on the role of the community.

Is school in the Netherlands based on grades?

When it comes to monitoring children and the progress they are making, you need to be aware that the Dutch system focuses heavily on remote monitoring of children. They do not receive many grades. The test results are discussed in private meetings with parents.

It is very common for a child to repeat or go through one or more years of study. The children will take aptitude tests, and based on these tests, which take place 2 or 3 times a year, the children will be assigned to school programs suitable for them.

Conclusion

The education system in the Netherlands is full of opportunities and methodologies that help children choose the right path in their career. They are encouraged to take part in programs appropriate to their character and to have the best possible career and social life