The Dutch Education System
The education system in the Netherlands is considered one of the best in the world and the children in the Netherlands in various surveys are considered the happiest in the world. So how did a system that has no homework at all until high school (!) become successful in terms of achievements?
In this article, we will expand on the system, we will talk about the schooling method, the integration of non-Dutch speakers into the system, we will explain what a school day looks like and we will give you appropriate tools for understanding the education system in the Netherlands.
Compulsory education - let's start by saying that education in the Netherlands, like in other countries, is compulsory (leerplicht) from the age of five to 16. However, most children start attending primary school at the age of four.
Language - the official language of instruction in the Netherlands is Dutch. Those who want studies in English or another language can check the option of an international school. Unlike Israel, the public schools in the Netherlands are of a very high standard, so there is really no point in sending a child to the private education system. Mostly those who send to private international schools are parents who do not plan to stay in the Netherlands in the long term.
The length of the school day - the school day is long and depends on the city you live in, but usually starts around 08:30-09:00 and ends around 14:15 or 15:00. At the end of the school day, for those who work late, there is a club that usually works in collaboration with the school and for an additional fee provides services for children until the afternoon. The payment and registration for the club are separate from the school, and there is participation in the expenses by the state as a help to the parents if they meet certain conditions (income level, etc.).
Free education - in the Netherlands, education starts from the age of 4 and through elementary school is free. Notebooks, textbooks, and even stationery are paid for by the school. You should only bring a backpack and a sandwich/lunch. There are very symbolic payments for extra activities, such as trips and culture and in some schools for additional childcare during lunch break (this is an option, there are children who come home to eat for an hour and return to school).
In the upper division, it changes a little. Yes, you pay a certain amount for books that ranges from one hundred euros and can reach several hundred (depending on the school, the level of study, the institution's requirements). The parents in high-school are sometimes also required to purchase a laptop with their own money.
Enrollment - in most cities and villages in the Netherlands, enrollment in school is according to the zip code of the house where you live. Particularly sought-after schools have waiting lists, therefore, as soon as you have locked in a residential area, hurry to register your children in the school you want and in advance. In Amsterdam there were years when they opened the registration areas to everyone in the whole city. It changes sometimes, you have to follow the municipality's publications.
The structure - the school is divided into classes called "groep" in Dutch (like group in English). - At the age of 4, the children enter grade 1, and so it gradually increases. In the 8th grade (groep 8), which is around the age of 12, the students finish elementary school and go up to the upper division until the end of their studies. Determining the high school level they will reach depends on the level tests to determine the paving (CITO exams).
The structure of the education system
While the structure of primary education in the Netherlands is simple, the structure of the Dutch secondary education system often seems confusing due to the multiplicity of tracks and graduation ages in secondary school.In reality, high schools in the Netherlands are similar to those in most other countries, with one stream for preparing students for vocational training (technical track) VMBO and another for preparing students for university called VWO with at the top of this stream the highest schools called Gymnasium - an excellent university track. The main difference in the Netherlands is that there is a third, intermediate, stream in high schools that prepares students for studies in institutions of applied sciences (college) and this stream is called HAVO. Here, attached an explanation about each track:
VMBO pre-professional high school
This is a four-year professionally oriented stream that focuses on practical, technical knowledge, leading to MBO professional training. It has two certification levels and students finish the track at the age of 16. There is the option of taking an additional year in the next higher track.
HAVO General High School
A five-year intermediate track that prepares students for higher professional education studies at universities of applied sciences (colleges), where they can study a bachelor's degree in applied sciences HBO. Students finish this track around the age of 17. There is an option to take an additional year in the next higher track for those who want to jump a level.
VWO Pre-University High School
The VWO is a six-year education stream with a focus on theoretical knowledge, preparing students for undergraduate studies (WO) at a research university. Students study the VWO in schools called Athenaeum and Gymnasium and finish the stream around the age of 18.
For a visual explanation, herewith attached a video:
How do you know what level the student is sent to in high school?
The Dutch system is built on paving from the end of state education - that is, every year until the age of 12 there are level tests called CITO which are a kind of equivalent to the Israeli placement tests, but they are individual according to the level of the student and not according to the level of the institution. According to the results of these tests, during his studies in Group 8, the student receives a recommendation from his teachers as to which high school track he should follow. The level to which the student was accepted can change up or down depending on his achievements in high school, so if the grades are fundamentally low and the recommendation is low, don't worry - it is dynamic and subject to change later.
Pre-school education - kindergartens, and nanniesUp to the age of 4 crèche, kindergarten (kinderopvang, kinderdagverblijf, peuterspeelzaalThese are the names of different settings, where children can be registered up to the age of 4. There are municipal and private kindergartens. They all have waiting lists.In addition, there is an option of a limited nursery school (usually up to 5 children) called "Hast Auder" ("host parent", translated from Dutch). And it allows the children to be with a nanny in a homely, small and personal environment. There are various organizations that bring together these nannies, they are supervised, and usually each one has their own specialty (art, foreign language, etc.).Education at the age of 4 is not cheap. There are refunds from the state if both parents work full-time or study full-time. The refund depends on salary and other parameters. Therefore, there are many parents in the Netherlands who, in order to save on this expense, work part-time or one-third of the time and stay at home with the children of these ages.
My children are arriving to the Netherlands without knowing the Dutch language, what do I do?
This is a question that is asked a lot in the immigration consulting that we provide. In the Netherlands as mentioned earlier, the official language of study is Dutch. The good news is that the Dutch education system is prepared to receive foreign children very well. In every city there are special transition classes for language learning, or special schools for the integration of children who teach the Dutch language in an increased way alongside the regular studies.
Transitional class for learning a language up to the age of 6 - up to the age of 6 children who join a school in the Netherlands without the Dutch language - are not required to learn the extra language beyond what is spoken in class.
From the age of 6 to 12 there are reinforcements for the Dutch language sometimes as a special class within a school alongside a normal class and sometimes they will be sent already at this age to special language schools. It depends on the city and its plan. After one or two years, depending on the level of knowledge of the language, it will be decided if they can join a regular class in Dutch without reinforcement.
Starting at the age of 12, and sometimes even earlier, new children in the Netherlands without command of the Dutch language are transferred directly to an international bridging class (ISK). After about 1-2 years, there will be a test to determine their Dutch level, and if it is high enough - they will be able to transfer to a normal Dutch school to continue their studies.
Transparency in the Dutch system
The Dutch education system believes in full transparency, so you can find out about each school what the average of its graduates is, how many went on to high school, technical studies and/or university. You will also be able to see the dropout numbers and other data that can help you make a decision. In Israel these data are often hidden. In the Netherlands, you can see them online (every city has a website and it usually has the statistics) and especially in the municipality of Amsterdam, which also publishes a special free book comparing the number of students who finished elementary school and how many of them went on to some high school level.
As part of our consultation, we will be happy to expand further and help you choose the most suitable type of school for your children.
The writer served as a national education reporter in Israel for many years in different newspapers, websites and on various television channels. she Graduated her research master's degree with honors from the University of Amsterdam (r.M.A in Media Studies). Nowadays, assisting families in immigrating to the Netherlands.