Amsterdam International Schools 2026: Fees & Curricula

By Essentially Amsterdam · Updated 30 September 2026

Amsterdam and Amstelveen have about a dozen international schools, and they fall into two groups: state-funded Dutch International Schools with fees of a few thousand euros, and private schools that charge 12,000 to 33,000 euros a year.

This guide compares every school we could verify, with curricula, ages, areas and the 2026-27 fees each school publishes, and links to its page in our international schools directory.

All international schools compared

Fees are the annual tuition each school lists for 2026-27 and link to that school’s own fee page; one-off fees are covered further down.

State-funded or private: the real difference

The Dutch government part-funds a network of international schools, the Dutch International Schools, which describes them as “state-funded international schools” for children with a foreign nationality during their stay in the Netherlands, and for Dutch children returning from abroad.

That funding is why AICS charges €6,025 to €9,168 a year while a private IB school such as ISA charges €22,815 to €32,755.

Amstelland International School says it serves “internationally mobile families residing temporarily in the Netherlands”, and state-funded schools apply national rules on who is eligible.

AICS notes that as a subsidised Dutch International School it cannot offer scholarships.

Private schools such as ISA, Amity and the British School of Amsterdam set their own admissions and fees, and many families have them paid by an employer.

International Baccalaureate schools

International School of Amsterdam (ISA), Amstelveen

ISA teaches the IB from preschool to Grade 12, with a nursery for children who are two by 31 August and a preschool for those who are three.

Its 2026-27 tuition runs from €22,815 to €32,755 depending on the grade, and it runs a door-to-door bus service through an outside company.

ISA in our directory.

Amsterdam International Community School (AICS)

AICS is a state-funded IB World School with a South campus on the Arent Janszoon Ernststraat and a Southeast campus at the Bijlmerplein.

Its own 2026-27 school guide lists total annual fees of €6,025 for primary groups 1 to 5 up to €9,168 for the final Diploma or Career-related Programme year, including excursions, lunch supervision and exam fees.

See the South campus and Southeast campus in our directory.

Amity International School, Amstelveen

Amity is a private IB World School covering Early Years from age 3 through the Diploma Programme.

For 2026-27 it lists €20,950 for Early Years up to €26,905 for the Diploma Programme, plus a €230 application fee, a €350 admission fee and a refundable €2,500 deposit.

Amity in our directory.

Amstelland International School, Amstelveen

Amstelland International School is a state-funded school with primary and secondary sections and is a candidate school for the IB Primary Years Programme.

Amstelland in our directory.

DENISE and ALASCA: Dutch public schools with the IB Diploma

DENISE is a public bilingual Dutch school with primary and secondary education, Dutch VMBO-TL and HAVO exams and the English-taught IB Diploma; it has been an IB World School since 2018.

DENISE in our directory.

ALASCA is a publicly funded havo and vwo school whose International Profile leads to the IB Diploma for students aged 15 to 18.

ALASCA in our directory.

British curriculum

The British School of Amsterdam follows the British system from Nursery to Year 13, with the year group set by a child’s age on 31 August.

For 2026-27 it lists annual fees of €20,461 for Year 1 up to €22,976 for the oldest years, with lower fees for Nursery and Reception.

The British School in our directory.

French curriculum

The International French School Amsterdam is an AEFE partner school on two sites in Amsterdam, teaching the French national curriculum bilingually in French and English to pupils aged 2 to 18, through the brevet and the French international baccalaureate (BFI).

Its 2026-27 annual fees run from €11,990 to €16,440, with a one-off €1,500 first enrolment fee and a €500 annual registration fee from the second year.

See its primary campus and secondary campus.

The Lycée français Vincent van Gogh has its secondary school in The Hague and teaches pre-school to CM2 in Amsterdam, where 2026-27 fees are €8,501 plus a €500 first registration fee.

The Lycée in our directory.

Other options in and around Amsterdam

The Japanese School of Amsterdam serves Japanese-speaking families; its fees are published on its own site.

Winford is a private Dutch school that receives no government funding and publishes its rates on its own site.

Winford in our directory.

Optimist International Academy in Hoofddorp teaches ages 4 to 18, is moving to the IB Primary and Middle Years Programmes, and lists fully inclusive 2026-27 fees of €5,765 for primary and €7,500 for secondary.

Further out, the Dutch International Schools network lists state-funded international schools in Almere, Laren, Hilversum and Haarlem.

Costs beyond tuition

Most schools charge one-off fees on top of tuition, and they vary widely.

• British School of Amsterdam: €250 application fee, then a €2,000 enrolment fee for Years 1 to 12 or €750 for Nursery and Reception.
• Amity: €230 application, €350 admission and a refundable €2,500 deposit.
• AICS: €200 registration and a €500 deposit; its total fee already includes excursions, lunch supervision and exam fees.
• International French School: €1,500 first enrolment fee and €500 a year from the second year.
• Lycée français Vincent van Gogh: €500 first registration, plus exam fees in the final years.

Transport is extra where it exists: ISA’s door-to-door bus has its own fees, set by zone.

Admissions and waiting lists

ISA says it occasionally has a waiting list for specific grades, giving priority to siblings, then international students, then application date.

AICS says places are available but some year groups and campuses may have a waiting list, and every primary child takes part in an intake.

Several schools admit students during the year: AICS prorates fees for a later start, and Amity asks families to contact admissions about fees for the rest of the year.

Once a place is offered, move quickly: the British School gives parents three working days to return the signed acceptance letter.

For the paperwork of registering a child, see our school registration guide.

Can your employer pay the fees?

The Dutch Tax Administration allows an employer to reimburse international school fees tax-free, separately from the 30% facility.

It applies to an international school, or an international department of a regular school, whose programme is based on a foreign school system and which is intended especially for children of employees posted abroad.

Ask your employer or HR team early, because it changes which schools are realistic for your family.

The Dutch school alternative

Many international families choose a regular Dutch school, especially for younger children who pick up the language quickly.

Our guide to the Dutch education system explains how primary and secondary school work, and our school choices guide weighs Dutch against international options.

Where international families live

Three of the larger schools, ISA, Amity and Amstelland, are in Amstelveen, which is one reason so many international families settle there.

In the city, the British School, the International French School and AICS South are in Amsterdam Zuid, AICS Southeast is at the Bijlmerplein and the Lycée français is in De Pijp.

If you are still choosing where to live, start with our moving guide for expats and our expat starter guide.

More for families

• Childcare in Amsterdam
• Tutors for international families
• Every international school in our directory

Frequently asked questions

What is the best international school in Amsterdam?

There is no single best school; the right one depends on the curriculum you need, your budget and whether your family qualifies for a state-funded place.

For the International Baccalaureate, ISA, AICS and Amity teach the full programme.

For a British education there is the British School of Amsterdam, and for a French one the International French School and the Lycée français Vincent van Gogh.

How much do international schools in Amsterdam cost?

For 2026-27, the state-funded AICS charges 6,025 to 9,168 euros a year and Optimist International Academy in Hoofddorp 5,765 to 7,500 euros.

Private schools charge roughly 12,000 to 33,000 euros: the International French School 11,990 to 16,440 euros, the British School 20,461 to 22,976 euros from Year 1, Amity 20,950 to 26,905 euros and ISA 22,815 to 32,755 euros.

Are there free or cheaper international schools?

The cheapest international option is a state-funded Dutch International School such as AICS or Amstelland, whose fees are a fraction of private fees because the government funds part of the cost.

DENISE and ALASCA are Dutch public schools that also offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

How much is the British School of Amsterdam?

For 2026-27 the British School of Amsterdam lists annual fees from 20,461 euros for Year 1 to 22,976 euros for the oldest year groups, with lower fees for Nursery and Reception.

On top of that come a 250 euro application fee and a 2,000 euro enrolment fee for Years 1 to 12 (750 euros for Nursery and Reception).

Which Amsterdam schools teach the International Baccalaureate?

ISA, AICS and Amity offer the IB from primary through the Diploma Programme.

Amstelland International School is a candidate school for the IB Primary Years Programme, DENISE and ALASCA offer the IB Diploma alongside Dutch exams, and Optimist International Academy in Hoofddorp is moving to the IB Primary and Middle Years Programmes.

Are there English-language schools in Amsterdam?

Yes.

ISA, AICS, Amity, Amstelland International School and the British School of Amsterdam teach in English, and the International French School teaches bilingually in French and English.

Dutch-language schools with international streams, such as DENISE and ALASCA, offer English-taught IB Diploma classes for older students.

Can my employer pay international school fees?

The Dutch Tax Administration allows an employer to reimburse the fees of an international school, or an international department of a regular school, tax-free, separately from the 30% facility.

It applies when the school programme is based on a foreign school system and is intended especially for children of employees posted abroad.

Is there a waiting list for international schools in Amsterdam?

Sometimes.

ISA says it occasionally has a waiting list for specific grades, with priority for siblings, then international students, then application date.

AICS says there may be a waiting list depending on the year group and campus.

When should I apply?

Apply as soon as your move is confirmed.

Several schools accept students during the year when places are free: AICS prorates fees for a later start and Amity asks families to contact admissions about fees for the rest of the year.

Which international schools are in Amstelveen?

ISA on the Sportlaan, Amity International School on the Amsterdamseweg and Amstelland International School on the Asserring are all in Amstelveen, just south of Amsterdam.

Fees and facts come from each school’s own website and, for tax, the Dutch Tax Administration, checked on 30 September 2026.

Fees change every year, so confirm with the school before you apply.