Education and childcare

The Netherlands is a good place for families, and to help you, below you will find an overview about the education and childcare options available in the Netherlands.

 Play groups (peuterspeelzaal), kindergarten (voorschool), and day-care centers (kinderdagverblijf)
  • for children between 2 and 4 years old
  • not compulsory
  • English and/or Dutch speaking educators
  • possibility to apply for childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag)if both parents are working
Type of school Description
European schools 
  • Two European schools in the Netherlands located in Bergen and The Hague
  • No tuition fees for children of EMA staff
  • Guaranteed places for children of EMA staff
  • Offers nursery ('Early Years', ages 4-6), primary and secondary education
  • Provides multilingual and multicultural education
  • After-school care service provided by external companies (fees apply)
  • Curriculum leads to the European Baccalaureate
  • A school minibus service is available for children and costs may be reimbursed by EMA
Dutch International Schools (DIS)
  • Provide an international education in English
  • After-school care service provided by external companies (fees apply)
  • Publicly funded, tuition fees are reasonably low
  • Tuition fees are reimbursable by EMA subject to certain restrictions and ceilings
  • Possibility to transfer the child to a Dutch state school (i.e. Dutch language) only during the first year of the child
Dutch state schools 
  • No tuition fees
  • Facilitate integration into your local community
  • After-school care service provided by external companies (fees apply)
  • High standard of education across the Netherlands, with excellent facilities available at many schools
  • No possibility to transfer the child to a DIS later.
Private schools 
  • Private schools are not administered by the Dutch local, state or national government
  • Generally high tuition fees are partially reimbursable by EMA subject to certain restrictions and ceilings
  • Follow an international curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate, or a national curriculum
  • Availability of places may be limited, and waiting lists may be quite long