Compare Dutch Curriculum International Schools in Netherlands

The International School Hilversum Alberdingk Thijm is a long‑standing IB World School on a single campus in Hilversum, between Amsterdam and Utrecht. The language of instruction is English, and the school offers the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, plus a bilingual Internationaal Tweetalig VWO stream for ages 4 to 18. The community gathers students and staff from more than 45 nationalities, creating an internationally oriented campus environment. Facilities on Emmastraat 56 include an on‑site library with Kindle access for clubs, ICT‑driven learning spaces and dedicated STEAM areas, and a canteen awarded a Gold plaque by the Dutch Nutrition Centre for healthy options. The curriculum emphasizes inquiry and diversity, with extensive co‑curriculars such as Model United Nations (ISHMUN and THIMUN), STEAM projects and a Book Club. Student life features a Student Council, Sustainability Committee, and clubs including Rainbow Alliance, Photography and Baking, plus Arts Week and a music showcase.

International School Het Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest (ISRLO) is an IB World School embedded in the Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest campus, serving students aged 11 to 18. The curriculum combines the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for 11–16 with the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in the final two years. MYP spans five years, and students may receive the IB Middle Years Certificate or a Record of Achievement on completion. The DP offers six subjects from Groups 1–6, with Higher Level and Standard Level options, together with Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS. Languages of instruction are English, with Dutch, French and Spanish taught as separate language lessons. The campus hosts about 1,400 pupils, including around 350 ISRLO students, and provides a media library, ICT support, and a healthy canteen. Notable activities include Model United Nations, annual theatre productions, and language immersion events. The school emphasises practical inquiry, collaboration, and inclusion.

Winford Bilingual Haarlem is a private Dutch primary school (B3) serving children aged 4 to 12. It provides a totally immersive bilingual education in Dutch and English, combining the Dutch National Curriculum with the UK National Curriculum and linking closely to the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). All core subjects are taught in both languages, with two fully bilingual teachers in every classroom to support personalised learning. The program uses IPC projects and field trips to reinforce real-world learning and cross-language thinking, while a diverse cultural programme celebrates Dutch and English traditions. Class sizes are small, with no more than 20 pupils per class. The school prepares pupils for transitions to Dutch secondary education and offers pathways in British, Dutch, or international education. Located centrally in Haarlem within easy reach of bus and train services, it also provides daily lunch and snacks. Winford Haarlem is part of the Winford group today.

Located in the Netherlands, Lighthouse Special Education is an international primary school for children with complex special educational needs, offering education in English. The school serves ages 3 to 13 in two small classes (5–8 and 8–13), each with up to eight pupils, and a preschool class, Three Little Ships, for ages 2.5 to 5. Curriculum combines the British National Curriculum, the International Primary Curriculum (UK), and the Dutch Primary Education Curriculum, with an individualized program for every student. For 5–13 year olds, it emphasizes basic skills in communication, reading, spelling, language and maths, using Edmark Reading Program and Numicon, and supports progress through tailored IEPs reviewed twice yearly. Learners access iPads with age-appropriate apps; therapies—speech and language, physiotherapy, sensory integration, and occupational therapy—are provided on-site by English-speaking, qualified therapists. The school focuses on social and emotional development, independence, and preparing students for school life within a supportive, multilingual environment.

Sondervick International School sits on a green, modern campus in Veldhoven, near Eindhoven, and is part of Sondervick College, a long-standing Dutch secondary school. It delivers an English-language curriculum with six hours of Dutch each week to support integration, complemented by NT2 Dutch language instruction and culture. ESOL support assists students learning English as an additional language, and home-language resources plus multilingual activities help maintain linguistic roots. The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme is offered for students, with the school's age range typically 12 to 17. The diverse student body includes American, Spanish, Indian, and Chinese backgrounds. Facilities include a modern academic block and a well-equipped sports complex. Throughout the year, students take part in sports days, company visits, and school trips (including abroad). Extra-curricular life also encompasses cultural and language activities, social and hobby clubs, and lifestyle-wellbeing programs that foster integration between international and Dutch students. It supports diversity.

Winford Bilingual Amsterdam is a private Dutch B3 school offering a 50/50 bilingual Dutch-English program for ages 4 to 12. The curriculum blends the Dutch National Curriculum, the UK National Curriculum, and the International Primary Curriculum, with all core subjects taught in both languages throughout the day. The school operates multi-age classrooms—Panda (4-6), Zebra (5.5-8), Giraffe (7-10), Eagle (10-12)—each with two native-speaking teachers and approximately 20 students, ensuring personalized attention. Pupils can follow either Dutch or International secondary education paths after age 9, depending on family choice. IPC themes run across subjects, linking learning in both languages. Facilities are central in Amsterdam's Museumplein, and field trips to libraries and Nemo Science Museum enrich IPC projects. Nutritious lunches are prepared in-house. After-school offerings include Mindful Minds: Sensory Lab, Textile Club, and The Crafty Creators Club. The school's bilingual approach supports fluency in both languages while preparing pupils for diverse futures globally.

Amsterdam Liberal Art & Sciences Academy (ALASCA) is a secondary school offering vwo+ and havo. It operates as an IB World School, delivering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme from year 5, alongside a Dutch curriculum for exit qualifications. ALASCA uses a school-wide, interdisciplinary curriculum that blends subjects such as philosophy, ethics, design, science and mathematics, with an emphasis on English and international perspectives. From the International Profile Year 4–6, students pursue core IB elements (Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, Extended Essay) and IB subjects including Dutch and English literature, Dutch ab initio, Psychology, Design Technology, Maths Applications and Interpretation, and Visual Arts. The school places emphasis on metacognitive skills, research, and essay writing, while maintaining traditional subject study for exams in later years. Facilities are modern, and service-learning projects foster citizenship. An international exchange with ies Manacor, and language offerings in Dutch, English, Spanish, and German, support engagement.

Elckerlyc International School is a private international school in Leiden Leiderdorp, partly funded by the Dutch government to keep education affordable for expat families. It serves students aged 3 to 11 and is a member of The Dutch International Primary Schools (DIPS) and part of Stichting Montessori Onderwijs Zuid-Holland. The curriculum combines IEYC (early years) with IPC (primary), alongside elements of British and Dutch curricula. IPC uses inquiry-based, thematic learning across science, art, design technology, geography, history and health and wellbeing, with Mileposts from Groups 2–7 developing increasingly sophisticated skills. Language support is provided via English Language Learners and Dutch as an Additional Language; ICT devices are in every room. Facilities include a small gym for the early years, De Bloemerd sports hall, a multilingual library, and regular learning excursions plus a three-day camp for Groups 6–7. Music and performing arts feature in concerts. Secondary links exist with Rijnlands Lyceum.

Winford Bilingual Primary School The Hague is a private Dutch school offering bilingual education for ages 4 to 12. Dutch National Curriculum provides the base, with the UK National Curriculum running alongside it and linked through IPC. All core subjects are taught in both Dutch and English, with IPC material delivered in both languages. A Dutch-only pathway remains available from age 9 for families who prefer it, while many students continue bilingual study to secondary education. Each classroom contains two teachers, one Dutch and one English, supporting small classes of about 20 pupils. Located in Bezuidenhout, Den Haag, facilities include a school garden for experiential learning, and after-school activities through Amforça, with transport to Overbosch for swimming and sports facilities. The program emphasizes field trips, IPC projects, sports, music, arts, and robotics.

Theodore International Startup Academy (TISA) in Leiden is an international primary school catering to students aged 3 to 12. Following an English and Dutch bilingual approach, TISA is a candidate school for the IB Primary Years Programme. The school uniquely integrates the TISA MBA program—a 24-module business curriculum where students design entrepreneurial projects and pitch them at the school’s startup fair. Students also choose between specific professional tracks: STEM, focusing on robotics, coding, and 3D modeling, or CAD, emphasizing graphic design, drama, and music. The campus features distinctive resources, including an on-site petting zoo with alpacas, goats, and rabbits to teach animal care. Additionally, the school provides a branded Tesla transfer service for students commuting from nearby areas. Daily schedules feature organic meals prepared by an in-house cook and mandatory sports sessions like jiu-jitsu, ensuring students engage directly with practical skills and hands-on projects.

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.

International School Eindhoven (ISE) is a Dutch international non-profit school delivering three curricular pathways across two campuses near Eindhoven. The Primary International Department (ages 4-11) follows the English National Primary Curriculum through a project-based, thematic approach, while the Primary Dutch Bilingual Department (ages 4-12) delivers the Dutch Kerndoelen with about 30% of lessons in English, taught by EFL teachers. The Secondary Department (ages 11-18) offers the International Baccalaureate framework, with the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme. EAL and Dutch Additional Language support, plus a Home Languages Programme, help language learners. The Sparrow Building houses a theatre and exhibition spaces; a dedicated library anchors the campus. Facilities include Promethean boards, BYOD for secondary, VR projects, and collaboration with Eindhoven University of Technology. Rich after-school activities, student councils, and community projects foster leadership, arts, sport, and service among more than 60 nationalities. The school emphasises inclusivity, curiosity, responsibility.