· updated monthly
The five schools Amsterdam parents researched most this year, chosen from the 26 international schools in the city. Ranked by how many families opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026, then the full picture on curricula, class sizes and fees.
The 2026 ranking
Ranked purely by parent interest — the number of families who opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026.
Gifted Minds International School (GMIS) is the international school in Hoofddorp, adjacent to Schiphol Airport, serving ages 3 to 16. It offers International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) with Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary curricula. The medium of instruction is English, with Dutch or French language classes taught twice weekly. The campus covers about 2,000 square meters in former office building converted into a learning environment for students. GMIS emphasizes inquiry-based learning across age groups and runs three Learning Pathways—Vermeer Learners, Rembrandt Learners, and Piet Mondrian Learners—to balance academic study with creativity. Facilities include a library with books in nine categories and specialist teachers in PHE, Art, Music, Library, STEAM, IT, EAL and Drama. Extracurricular activities take place on Wednesdays, offering sports and arts such as Zumba, Pottery, Mosaic Art and Film Production. A 12:1 student‑teacher ratio operates. The school embraces inclusivity and supports neuro-divergent learners within its wellbeing framework.
De Nieuwe Internationale School van Esprit (DENISE) is a Dutch bilingual school for primary and secondary education with an international focus, located at Piet Mondriaanstraat 140. It serves students aged 4 to 18 and offers IPC primary (Dutch-English bilingual) and IMYC secondary (groups 9–11), with the English-language International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB-DP) in the upper years. In the Dutch system, the upper secondary track also includes VMBO-TL and HAVO exams alongside the IB-DP. DENISE has been an IB-World School since 2018 and is part of Esprit Scholen. A brugklas bridge program supports transition in lower secondary. The renovated building houses science classrooms and other modern facilities to support the curriculum, including EOA/ISK/Language classes. Bilingual instruction in primary is three days Dutch and two days English; the DP is taught in English with Dutch as a mandatory subject. Extracurriculars include Debate in theatre, DENISE Oscars Night, DENISE tree, and Participation Council.
The British School of Amsterdam provides education for ages 3 to 18, combining Early Years Foundation Stage with British National Curriculum. The school teaches in English and follows the National Curriculum for England, with EAL support and Dutch language provision for Dutch speakers. In Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) students study subjects including English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Computing, PE, Music, Art, Drama and PSHE, and choose two languages from French, Spanish, German or Dutch. Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11) offers GCSE program in English Language and Literature, Mathematics and Science, with four additional subjects chosen by pupils. The Sixth Form (Years 12–13) offers A Levels with a comprehensive PSHE core and electives. The school is housed in a building on Havenstraat with wings for phase; facilities include a theatre, sports hall, science labs and music rooms. Extra-curricular activities include sport, music and drama, plus MUN and Duke of Edinburgh.
International School Almere is an IB World School serving ages 2 to 18. It offers the IB programmes PYP, MYP and DP, plus CP and BTEC qualification. The MYP and DP are IB-authorised and CIS-recognised, with MYP classes capped at 24 students and a DP core comprising Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity and Service. The CP provides a candidacy pathway for 16+ students, pairing two DP subjects with CP Core and BTEC Level 3 International Diploma in Information Technology. The campus on Breskensweg 5 in Almere. Facilities include two gyms, the Beehive Library Learning Centre, science laboratory, a workshop, and a cafetorium; Primary and Secondary occupy separate wings but share a vibrant campus life. English is the language of instruction with Dutch taught as Host Country Language, and International Mother Language Week is celebrated. Extracurriculars include ALMUN, Dungeons & Dragons, and Yearbook, along with sport, orchestra, and drama.
Amity International School Amsterdam is an IB World School offering the full IB Continuum — Primary Years (PYP), Middle Years (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) — for students aged 3 to 18. Classes are taught primarily in English, with Dutch taught weekly as the host country language and French offered as an additional language. The school follows an inquiry-based approach designed to cultivate independence, curiosity and critical thinking, aligned with the IB Learner Profile. The on-site Forest School and surrounding parks enable outdoor learning as an integrated part of the curriculum. Facilities include large flexible learning spaces, an indoor gym, a music room, a well-stocked library and up-to-date science labs. The campus is located on a private island in Amstelveen, providing green surroundings and natural light. Amity is NEASC-accredited, a CIS member and offers LAMDA exams for middle-year students, international field trips, and on-campus camps and care services for families.
What’s on offer
The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 26 schools. Many offer more than one curriculum, so totals run higher than the school count.
Number of schools teaching each curriculum.
Number of schools teaching in each language.
Size & classes
School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.
Schools grouped by total enrolment.
Average school size is 473 students · based on the 22 schools that report enrolment.
Schools grouped by typical class size.
Average class size is 20.3 students · based on the 22 schools that report it.
What it costs
Fees shown are one year for a 12-year-old (or the closest age available), excluding one-time enrolment costs.
Across the 20 schools that publish a price for a 12-year-old. All figures in EUR.
How many schools sit in each annual-fee range.
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