Schools
School Search Netherlands
Ask relocating parents what keeps them awake and it is rarely the visa. It is the school. International or Dutch? Bilingual? How long are the waiting lists, and what happens to a nine-year-old who speaks no Dutch on her first Monday? These questions deserve better answers than a forum thread.
We guide you through the real landscape: international schools, Dutch schools with newcomer classes, bilingual programs and the waiting-list realities of each. We shortlist schools that fit your child, arrange the visits and come along to them, and steer the enrollment paperwork through to a confirmed place.
Who this is for
- Families choosing between international and Dutch education
- Parents of children who will arrive speaking no Dutch
- Expats whose posting length makes the school choice complicated
- Families relocating mid-school-year and worried about placement
What families need to know first
School places, not housing, are usually the real constraint on when a family can move. Plan this before anything else.
- Education is compulsory from age five, and most children start at four.
- International schools in the Rotterdam region have limited places and waiting lists, and popular year groups fill a year ahead.
- Dutch international schools fall into two categories: subsidised Dutch international schools, which are far cheaper but require a demonstrable international background, and private international schools.
- Children who do not yet speak Dutch usually spend a year in a nieuwkomersklas before entering mainstream Dutch education.
- Enrolment normally requires proof of address and a BSN, which links the school timeline to the housing and registration timeline.
- We advise on schools and manage the process. We cannot create a place where a school has none.
What is included
Education landscape briefing
How the Dutch system works, what international schools cost, how newcomer classes bridge the language gap, and what fits your posting length.
Personal school shortlist
Schools selected for your child’s age, languages and needs, matched to where you will live, with honest notes on each.
Visits arranged and attended
We book the tours, prepare the questions worth asking and join you on the visits.
Enrollment to confirmation
Application forms, prior school records and waiting-list follow-up managed until your child has a confirmed place.
How it works
- 01
Family intake
We talk about your children, their languages, their needs and your plans in the Netherlands.
- 02
Shortlist and visit
You receive a focused shortlist and we tour the promising schools together.
- 03
Enroll and start
We complete the enrollment and help your child arrive at a school that expects them.
Professional fees for a school search
Investment from €995
- A shortlist of international, bilingual or Dutch schools that genuinely fit your child
- Waiting lists, admission windows and catchment rules checked before you choose
- Visits and introductions arranged with the schools
- Registration paperwork prepared and submitted
Investment figures represent our professional service fees only and are intended as a guideline. Government fees (including IND filing fees), VAT, legalisation and apostille costs, sworn translations, consular charges and any third-party expenses are not included unless explicitly stated in the proposal.
School choice and housing choice are one decision, not two; the address determines the options. If we are also running your housing search, we plan them together.
Choosing the right education
International school or Dutch school?
It turns on how long you intend to stay. Under three years, an international school protects continuity and the curriculum your child will return to. Beyond five, a Dutch school gives them the language, the friendships and a far easier adolescence. The years in between are a real decision, and we talk it through properly rather than pushing the expensive option.
How early should we start?
Six to nine months before the move for international schools, and three months for Dutch schools. Where you are already inside that window we go directly to the schools that still have movement, which is a different list from the one you will find online.
What does it cost?
Subsidised Dutch international schools are a few thousand euro a year. Private international schools in the region run considerably higher, and fees, registration and materials are usually billed separately. We set out the real annual figure per school on your shortlist so there are no surprises in month two.
Will my child cope with Dutch?
Younger children almost always do, and quickly. The nieuwkomersklas exists precisely for this, and a year in it typically brings a child to the point where mainstream education works. For teenagers approaching exams the calculation is different, and we are candid about that.
Frequently asked questions
Should we choose international or Dutch education?
For postings under about three years, international schools offer continuity. For families staying longer, Dutch schools with a newcomer program often integrate children faster and cost far less. We help you decide based on your plans, not a general rule.
My child does not speak Dutch. How do Dutch schools handle that?
Many regions have dedicated newcomer classes where children get intensive Dutch for around a year before joining regular classes. Placement depends on age and region, and we find the actual options near your home.
How bad are the waiting lists really?
It varies enormously by city and school. Popular international schools can have long lists while an equally strong school nearby has places. Applying early and to the right mix of schools is most of the battle, and that is what we manage.
Give your children a soft landing
Tell us about your kids and we will find the school where they will thrive, then get them enrolled in it.
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