Amsterdam and neighbouring Amstelveen hold a dense cluster of international and bilingual schools, running everything from the full IB in English to the French, Japanese and Dutch-international curricula.
The choice that decides your budget is not curriculum but funding: subsidised schools cost a few thousand euros a year, private ones reach into the tens of thousands, and the subsidised tier applies an eligibility test.
Below are the schools themselves, grouped by what they teach, with addresses - followed by fees, admissions and the alternatives outside the city.
English-Language And IB Schools
The largest group teaches in English, most of them offering the International Baccalaureate.
The Amsterdam International Community School, AICS, is publicly funded and runs all four IB programmes from two campuses: South at Arent Janszoon Ernststraat 1179 in Buitenveldert, and Southeast at Bijlmerplein 1000 in Zuidoost, in the former ING “Sandcastle” building.
Because AICS is government-subsidised its fees sit far below the private schools, which is why it attracts the longest waiting lists in the city.
At the private end, the International School of Amsterdam on Sportlaan 45 in Amstelveen was the first school in the world to offer all IB programmes and remains the most established, with close to 1,200 students from more than 60 nationalities.
Amity International School, at Amsterdamseweg 204 in Amstelveen, is a newer IB World School on a green campus in the De Braak area.
Families who prefer an English framework to the IB look at The British School of Amsterdam, at Havenstraat 6 in Oud-Zuid, which follows the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and A Levels.
Optimist International School and Florencius International School are smaller settings, both aimed at families who want a more intimate primary environment than the large campuses provide.
National-Curriculum Schools
Several schools serve specific language communities and teach that country’s own curriculum.
The Lycée Vincent van Gogh, at Rustenburgerstraat 246 in De Pijp, teaches the French curriculum within the state-linked AEFE network, while the International French School Amsterdam on Anthonie van Dijckstraat 1 in Zuid takes a more bilingual approach to the same curriculum.
The Japanese School of Amsterdam, at Karel Klinkenbergstraat 137 and founded in 1980, follows the Japanese national curriculum.
For families from these communities the argument is continuity: a national-curriculum school makes an eventual move home considerably smoother than an international one does.
Bilingual And Dutch-International Schools
A middle path has grown quickly - schools blending Dutch with an English-language international education, publicly funded and therefore affordable.
DENISE, at Piet Mondriaanstraat 140 in Amsterdam-West, teaches in both languages across primary and secondary and is among the most popular options for families who want their children connected to the Dutch system rather than running parallel to it.
ALASCA, on Geertje Wielemaplein 1 on Zeeburgereiland, pairs the Dutch havo and vwo tracks with the IB Diploma at secondary level.
For younger children, Winford Bilingual Primary School at Jan Luijkenstraat 29 near Museumplein and Amstelland International School at Asserring 93 in Amstelveen both offer bilingual primary education in small classes.
Fees, Eligibility, And Waitlist Reality
The divide is between subsidised international schools - AICS, DENISE, ALASCA - where Dutch state funding keeps fees relatively modest, and fully private schools such as ISA, Amity and the British School, where annual fees run into the tens of thousands.
If your employer is not covering tuition, the subsidised tier is not merely the cheaper option, it is usually the only realistic one.
Subsidised places generally require that at least one parent holds a valid reason for temporary residence in the Netherlands, so check that eligibility before you set your heart on a school.
Each school writes its own admissions policy around that principle, and the definitions do not transfer between them.
Admissions timing is tightest at early years and at the transition grades into secondary.
Families who assume school can be sorted after arrival routinely find AICS full, ISA selective on space, and the British School holding only a handful of places in popular year groups.
Waiting lists are not first come, first served, and schools weight sibling places, international mobility and fit against their own criteria.
Ask exactly how the list is ordered before paying any non-refundable registration fee.
Have the contract, address, school reports, passport copies and any learning support documentation scanned and ready before you apply, because the schools that respond fastest are the ones you can answer fastest.
Nearby Alternatives Beyond The City Centre
If Amsterdam looks full or expensive, the region has genuine alternatives and a short train ride often beats a cross-city commute.
International School Haarlem suits younger children, with an English-speaking primary environment and a calmer city around it.
International School Hilversum is a long-established IB option for families living east or south-east of Amsterdam.
Test the journey at school-run time before committing, because a twenty-minute map estimate and a twenty-minute reality are different things with a tired seven-year-old and a backpack.
Every school named here has its address, website, phone number and a map pin in our International Schools directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best international schools in Amsterdam for expat families?
ISA, AICS and The British School of Amsterdam are the most established and the most talked about.
Which is right depends on whether you want the IB or the English curriculum, whether you qualify for a subsidised place, and how soon you need one.
How much does it typically cost to attend an international school in Amsterdam?
Subsidised schools such as AICS, DENISE and ALASCA charge a few thousand euros a year.
Fully private schools run into the tens of thousands before meals, trips and registration fees are added.
What’s the difference between international schools and Dutch public schools in Amsterdam?
International schools teach in English or another language on a portable curriculum such as the IB, the English National Curriculum or the French programme.
Dutch public schools charge no tuition, teach in Dutch, and are the stronger choice for a young child if you expect to stay long term.
Are there any free or low-cost English-language school options in the Netherlands?
Fully free English-language schooling does not exist in Amsterdam.
The subsidised Dutch international schools are the low-cost tier, and bilingual schools such as DENISE and Winford reduce the fee further while still giving strong English support.
How do I apply to international schools in Amsterdam and what documents are usually required?
You apply to each school directly rather than through the city’s placement system.
Expect to supply passports, recent school reports, vaccination records, proof of address and evidence of the parent’s employment or relocation, with some schools adding references or an assessment.
Which international schools in Amsterdam offer the IB curriculum, and what other curricula are common?
ISA, AICS, Amity and International School Hilversum all run IB programmes, with ISA and AICS offering the full continuum through to the Diploma.
The English National Curriculum runs at the British School, the French curriculum at the Lycée Vincent van Gogh and the International French School, and the Japanese national curriculum at the Japanese School of Amsterdam.
Bilingual Dutch-English provision at DENISE, ALASCA and Winford sits alongside all of them.
Looking for somewhere specific?
Our directory lists International Schools - 16 listings you can filter and search.
Related reading
Term dates and holidays are set nationally - see our Amsterdam school holiday dates for 2026-2027.
For younger children before school age, read our guide to daycare and childcare in Amsterdam.
Parents learning Dutch alongside their children can compare options in our guide to language schools in Amsterdam.
If the move itself is still ahead of you, see movers and storage in Amsterdam and our overview of the Dutch healthcare system.
Swimming lessons are close to compulsory in Dutch childhood - see swimming schools in Amsterdam and baby swimming.
The Dutch system itself - basisschool, vmbo, havo, vwo and what happens at twelve - is explained in our guide to how the Dutch education system works.
Children’s clothing, books and equipment are covered in our Amsterdam children’s shopping guide.
