These schools are partly funded by the Dutch government and all charge fees. Admission to these schools is governed by specific criteria in accordance with Dutch legislation. The student must fall into one of the categories below:
- The student has a non-Dutch nationality (a foreign passport holder) and one of the parents/legal guardians is temporarily employed in the Netherlands.
- The student has a Dutch nationality and has lived and attended school abroad for at least two years because one of the parents/legal guardians was stationed abroad.
- The student has a Dutch nationality and has a parent/legal guardian (with whom the student will be living) who will be stationed abroad within two years and for at least two years. This needs to be proven by a written statement of intent by the employer.
For secondary schools only: students from the Dutch educational system with a passing VWO 4 report, or HAVO 5 diploma may apply for the Diploma Program. Students will need to demonstrate sufficient fluency in English.
SALTO International School
SALTO International Schoolis an international primary school offering bilingual education for children aged 4-12. The school provides 50% of lessons in Dutch and 50% in English, with all subjects being taught in both languages. This school is for children who are living temporarily in Eindhoven and the surrounding area. There are two SALTO international school locations in Eindhoven: RISE (Tongelre) and I-St@rt (Meerhoven).
International School Eindhoven
The International School Eindhoven provides primary and secondary education. The school is part of the umbrella organization of Stichting Internationaal en Lokaal Funderend Onderwijs (SILFO). There are two primary departments. In the Primary International school the language of instruction is English and in the Primary Dutch bilingual department 70% of lessons are taught in Dutch and 30% in English, and EFL support is provided. The Dutch department is for children whose parents will be in the Netherlands long-term. At secondary level, the language of instruction is English. The ISE offers the IB Middle Years program and the IB Diploma Program, which is a demanding pre-university course of studies. The International Baccalaureate diploma is accepted by most universities across the world.
International School Breda
The International School Breda provides primary and secondary education. The school follows the IB Primary Years Program, the IB Middle Years program, and the IB Diploma Program, which is a rigorous pre-university program. The International Baccalaureate diploma is accepted by most universities across the world.
Sondervick International School
Sondervick International School (Veldhoven) is part of Sondervick College. In 2023, they opened a new department: the International Middle Years Program (MAVO, HAVO and VWO level) for 11.5 to 17 year olds. This new, English-taught program also explicitly focuses on Dutch as a second language. Sondervick International School welcomes international students between the ages of 11.5 and 17, with one of the parents having an international background and the intention to reside temporarily in the Netherlands. In addition, students must have at least A1 Dutch (according to CEFR criteria) for classes 3 and 4 and at least A2 English for all classes to join this program.
European School of Mol
Another option is the European School of Mol, just across the border in Belgium. This school welcomes all students (nursery school, primary school and secondary school). Their student body is composed of children from local families as well as from European and overseas families who live and work in Belgium and the Netherlands.
For admissions criteria and curriculum details, please visit their website.