Selecting a school in Netherlands can seem to be the toughest part of moving with kids. Online information often doesn’t reflect daily life, and families have unique priorities. This guide centers on practical questions and a straightforward decision framework — particularly for families preparing a move to Amsterdam.
First: Clarify what “good” looks like for your family
Before evaluating options, identify your non-negotiables. Many choices go wrong when families weigh everything at once without a clear set of priorities.
- Commute: the daily driving time matters more than you realize.
- Curriculum: British, American, IB, or local options.
- Language environment: what your child is exposed to throughout the day.
- Support: learning assistance, ESL help, and pastoral care.
- Culture fit: the level of structure, discipline, and the way communication works.
Choosing Without Feeling Overwhelmed
A practical approach that works well for expat families:
A straightforward process
- Shortlist by location first. In Amsterdam, traffic can transform a decent school into a daily grind.
- Confirm availability and admissions timeline. Waiting lists are common.
- Ask about the classroom reality. Class sizes, teacher turnover, communication style.
- Ask about support. ESL / learning support / transition support for new students.
- Do one visit (or virtual tour) per finalist. Trust your observations more than glossy brochures.
Pro tip: Create a single-page checklist and rate each school after visiting. It helps avoid the “everything feels identical” issue.
Questions Worth Asking When Evaluating Schools
These questions tend to uncover more than generic “tell us about your program” discussions:
- What is the usual class size for this age group?
- How do you support students who join mid-year?
- How do teachers share updates with parents (weekly reports, apps, email)?
- What does a typical day look like (start/end times, breaks, homework expectations)?
- How do you assist children who feel anxious or are adapting to a new country?
- What are the language-support policies (ESL) if required?
- How is heat managed and time allotted indoors vs outdoors during hot months?
Costs & Logistics (The Part Nobody Loves)
School choices involve more than tuition alone. Consider the complete ongoing costs of daily life:
Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
- Choosing by reputation alone: the daily routine matters more.
- Ignoring commute time: it affects sleep, mood, and family life.
- Assuming “international” means the same everywhere: it does not.
- Not asking about support: transitions are real for kids.
- Waiting too long: admissions timelines can be tighter than expected.
Bottom Line
The ideal school usually aligns with your family’s actual routine: location, support, and everyday comfort for your child — not the one with the flashiest advertising.
If you’d like help weighing priorities for Amsterdam (commute, routines, what to ask), get in touch — or call +31 20 555 0123.