Primary school
In the Netherlands, children go to primary school (basisschool) from the age of three or four. It is important to register a child with the school of choice in good time as some schools have a waiting list.
Choosing a primary school
Although children from the age of three may attend school, they only come under compulsory education(leerplicht) after the age of five. It is advisable to look for a school soon after arriving in the Netherlands. It is possible to visit the school of choice. Most organise information days (voorlichtingsdagen) or accept private appointments.
Amsterdam has more than 190 primary schools. Twenty-eight of these are special education schools. Click here for a list of all the primary schools in Amsterdam (only in Dutch). A school guide (scholengids) can be obtained from your urban district (stadsdeel).
Specialised schooling
The are many special schools providing lessons based on a particular pedagogical vision or religious conviction. Examples of the former are the Montessori or Steiner educational systems. There are also schools based on Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and Islamic principles. Alongside special education there are also special needs schools, directed towards handicapped children or those with behavioural problems. There also a number of international schools.
Cost of schooling in the Netherlands
Every child in the Netherlands receives free education until the age of sixteen. The cost is borne by the government. Schools are permitted to request a contribution for a child, called a parental contribution (ouderbijdrage). This is used to fund school activities, such as school trips and swimming. In the Netherlands, primary school children are given swimming lessons (schoolzwemmen). The parental contribution is voluntary and varies per school.
School hours
The minimum number of lessons that a school must offer is governed by law. Children in the Netherlands go to primary school from Monday to Friday. Primary schools must provide 940 hours of tuition per year; how it is organised is their own responsibility. For this reason school times may vary. Most lessons take place between 08:30 and 15:00.
Children are often free for lunch from 12:00 to 13:00. They may go home, but schools are obliged to provide between-school care (overblijven). Most schools are closed after 12:00 or 12:30 on Wednesday afternoons. The education inspectorate (onderwijsinspectie) ensures schools provide the required number of tuition hours.
Contacts
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
(Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap)
Website: www.minocw.nl
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You can also reach us by phone:
+31 (0)20 254 79 99