NETHERLANDS Education in the
FAMILIES MOVING TO THE NETHERLANDS WILL HAVE A RANGE OF GOOD-QUALITY SCHOOLING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM. EDUCATION CONSULTANT ANNEBET VAN MAMEREN HAS SOME ADVICE FOR PARENTS ON CHOOSING THE ONE THAT BEST SUITS THEIR CHILD.
G
enerally, schools in the Netherlands offer high-quality education. The philosophy behind the country’s education system reflects the mentality of Dutch society as a whole, and aims to encourage pupils to live and learn in an open-minded, independent and creative manner.
INTERNATIONAL OR DUTCH SCHOOL? Both international and Dutch schools have their own
advantages. If you are planning to stay in the Netherlands for a short period, an international school may provide your child with some continuity. If you intend to stay longer and would like your child to mix with the local culture and learn the language, a Dutch school is probably the better option. Another factor to consider is the huge difference in cost. Apart from a few private, fee-paying schools, all Dutch schools are funded by the government. Parents pay a small contribution (between €50 and €800 per year), with which the schools pay for some extras.
A few international schools are partly subsidised by the Dutch government, or by the government of the country they are linked to. For these, the fees average €4,500 per annum. For a private international school, however, you pay at least €12,000 a year.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
Most international schools are located in bigger cities like Amsterdam, where many multinational companies are headquartered. The greatest selection of international schools is in The Hague, where many embassies and government institutions are located. Here you’ll find, among others, British, American, French, Japanese and European schools. Schools such as Eerde International Boarding School in Ommen, which follows the Cambridge Pathway and the IB Diploma Programme, also provide boarding facilities which can be a useful option for busy parents. Explains the school’s director and CEO, Nelleke Deelen-Geuze, “Living and learning at an international boarding school educates children in the broadest possible sense. And their parents can focus on busy work schedules knowing their children are in good hands. At Eerde, boarding students don’t just learn to pass exams, they develop into self-reliant, responsible young adults too.” Sending your child to a school where your native language is spoken will, of course, make it easier for them if and when you return to your own country.
DUTCH SCHOOLS
In Dutch schools, children usually start the day after their fourth birthday. Most schools combine children aged from four to six in one class. In these two years, the focus is on learning through play, social and motor skills, and gradual preparation for reading and writing.
All Dutch schools are obliged to adhere to the ‘core objectives’ set by the government. These specify what all pupils in all schools need to accomplish each year. Individual schools may fill in the details.
In the Netherlands, there are both ‘regular’ and ‘special’ schools. Regular schools are funded by the government and run by an independent foundation which has usually been set up by the government, whereas special schools have their own boards, usually consisting of parents or the foundation that set them up. Special schools should not be confused with special-needs schools that teach pupils with (severe) learning difficulties.
144 The British School in the Netherlands
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