Schools in Amsterdam: international schools, free Dutch schools and the classes in between

There's no "American school" in Amsterdam, but your kids have good options. The big choice is between a fee-paying international school and a free Dutch one, and age matters more than anything else.

The short version

• Dutch school is compulsory from age 5, and most kids start primary school at 4 [1][2].
• Dutch primary schools don't charge tuition. Many ask for a voluntary parental contribution for trips and celebrations [2].
• Private international schools are expensive. The International School of Amsterdam lists 2026–27 tuition of about €22,800 to €32,800 (about USD 25,500 to USD 36,600) a year [3]. Amity International School lists about €21,000 to €26,900 (about USD 23,400 to USD 30,000) [4].
• The city also lists other international schools, including AICS, DENISE and ALASCA [5].
• Teens who speak little Dutch can join a newcomer class (Internationale Schakelklas, ISK) at one of two Amsterdam schools [6].

USD conversions use the Federal Reserve H.10 rate of October 30, 2026 (EUR 1 = USD 1.1163) [7].

How Dutch schooling works

Here's the system in a nutshell, compared with back home:

• Compulsory schooling starts at 5, on the first day of the month after the fifth birthday [1]. It runs until the end of the school year in which your child turns 16. After that, teens without a basic qualification must keep studying until 18 [1].
• Primary school (basisschool) runs about eight years, from age 4 to 12 [8]. Group 1 is roughly the equivalent of pre-K.
• Secondary school splits kids by track around age 12, based partly on a primary school recommendation. The tracks lead to vocational training, applied universities or research universities. That's a bigger fork in the road than any US high school schedule.
• Public and religious schools are equal. Amsterdam has public schools (openbare scholen) and schools based on a religion or belief (bijzondere scholen), and some use methods like Montessori, Dalton or Jena Plan. All must meet the same standards [2].

Getting a place in a Dutch primary school

Amsterdam runs a central registration system for primary schools [2]:

1. Around your child's third birthday, the city mails you a registration form.
2. You list schools in order of preference and hand the form to your first choice.
3. If there are more applicants than places, the school uses a lottery. Kids get priority at some schools near home.
4. If your child is already 4 or older when you move, use the city's School Finder and contact schools directly.

A small number of schools, including some religious ones, run their own admissions [2].

International schools

The city of Amsterdam lists these international schools in and around town [5]:

International School of Amsterdam (ISA)

ISA sits at Sportlaan 45 in Amstelveen, a quick ride south of the city, and says it was the first school in the world to offer the full International Baccalaureate curriculum, from preschool to Grade 12 [3]. Its fees page lists these 2026–27 tuition figures [3]:

ISA says a full schedule of fees covers other charges, so ask for it before budgeting [3].

Amity International School Amsterdam

Amity is at Amsterdamseweg 204 in Amstelveen, an IB World School whose own high school diploma is NEASC-accredited [4]. Its fee page for 2026–27 lists [4]:

On top of that: a €230 application fee (about USD 260), a €350 admission fee (about USD 390) and a refundable €2,500 deposit per child (about USD 2,800) [4]. Uniforms, buses, lunch and trips cost extra [4].

AICS, DENISE and ALASCA

These three are in Amsterdam proper. AICS offers the International Primary Curriculum for ages 4 to 11, the IB Middle Years Program for 11 to 16 and the IB Diploma for 16 to 19 [9]. We couldn't open their fee or admissions pages, so we're not quoting costs or eligibility rules. Contact each school directly, and ask early, because places can be tight.

Who pays?

If your employer is relocating you, ask whether school fees are part of the package before you sign. At these prices, it's the single biggest line in a family budget, often more than rent.

Dutch schools and the newcomer route

Plenty of American families choose free Dutch schools, especially for younger kids who'll be here for years. Little ones usually pick up Dutch fast, and it helps them settle into the neighborhood.

For older kids, the city has a dedicated route. If your child is 12 to 18 and speaks little or no Dutch, the city says to register them for a newcomer class "as soon as possible" [6]. Two Amsterdam schools offer these Internationale Schakelklas (ISK) classes [6]:

• Montessori Lyceum Oostpoort in Amsterdam Oost, together with the Luca practical school
• Mundus College in Amsterdam West, together with DENISE

Students learn Dutch and also take subjects like math and English, then move on to regular secondary school [6]. For children under 12, talk to the city and your chosen school about language support.

Costs at Dutch schools

Primary schools don't charge school fees [2]. Expect a voluntary parental contribution (ouderbijdrage) for extras like trips and celebrations, and sometimes a charge for lunchtime supervision [2].

Thinking ahead to US colleges

If your teen is heading back to the States for college, plan early:

• IB is well known to US admissions offices. The Dutch secondary diploma is less familiar, so a counselor's letter explaining the track helps.
• SAT or ACT: check whether your colleges still want scores, and book a test center in the Netherlands well ahead.
• In-state tuition usually depends on where you and your child are domiciled. Living abroad can cost you in-state status, so check the rules of the state you consider home.
• Federal student aid (FAFSA) is open to US citizens living abroad. Foreign income still counts.

Parents in our community group for Americans in the Netherlands are a good source of recent experiences with each school's admissions office.

Sources

1. Rijksoverheid: Leerplicht en kwalificatieplicht (in Dutch)
2. City of Amsterdam: Primary school
3. International School of Amsterdam: Fees
4. Amity International School Amsterdam: Fee structure
5. City of Amsterdam: International schools
6. City of Amsterdam: Language help for children who are new to the Netherlands
7. Federal Reserve: H.10 foreign exchange rates
8. Government.nl: Primary education
9. Amsterdam International Community School

Keep reading

• Moving to Amsterdam as an American: visa routes
• Learning Dutch and the civic integration exam
• Cost of living in Amsterdam vs Boston
• Student loans while living abroad