In this guide
Subsidised or private: choose your track
The first decision in Amsterdam is not which school but which system. Dutch International Schools sit inside the state-funded structure and receive a government subsidy, so they charge a modest annual contribution rather than a full private fee. The Amsterdam International Community School is the best-known example, offering subsidised international education across primary and secondary for families with an international background or an anticipated relocation. The alternative is the fully private sector, led by the International School of Amsterdam in Amstelveen and the British School of Amsterdam near the Vondelpark, where you pay the full fee but choose freely. The two tracks differ in cost, admissions route and class profile, so settle this question before you fill in a single form. Our guide to international schools in Amsterdam maps which schools sit on which track.
When to start the application
Amsterdam follows the Dutch academic year, which begins in the second half of August. The city is in the North holiday region, where the 2026 summer holiday runs from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 16 August, so the new school year starts shortly after. There is no fixed citywide deadline, but the practical window runs through the preceding autumn, winter and spring. The subsidised schools place applicants in a waiting pool ordered by anticipated start date, so an early enquiry genuinely improves your position. The private schools admit where space exists and fill the popular year groups first. Either way, the earlier you act, the wider your real choice. For the full window detail see our Amsterdam admissions deadlines 2026 page.
Build a realistic shortlist
Amsterdam rewards a portfolio that crosses both tracks. Aim for one subsidised school you would be happy with, such as the Amsterdam International Community School, plus one or two private schools, such as the International School of Amsterdam or the British School of Amsterdam, as a hedge against a waiting pool. Shortlist by curriculum first, then district, then fees, because the schools spread between central Amsterdam and Amstelveen to the south. For the IB route specifically, our IB curriculum guide explains how the Diploma intake works, and our Amsterdam primary schools guide shows where the main clusters sit.
Step 1 · Confirm the year group is open
Before anything else, ask each shortlisted school whether your child's year group is open for the intended start, or whether it sits on a waiting pool. This single question prevents most wasted effort and tells you which track to lean on.
Step 2 · Book a tour
Most Amsterdam schools prefer that families visit before applying. Book a campus tour or an introductory meeting with the admissions team; our Amsterdam open days 2026 page explains how the visit season works.
Step 3 · Submit the enquiry
The subsidised schools start with an online enquiry through the OpenApply platform; the application form and the non-refundable registration fee follow once a place is offered. Private schools take a registration fee at the point of applying.
The Amsterdam document checklist
The quiet step that delays more Amsterdam enrolments than any form is documentation. Schools ask for the child's current passport, the last school reports and, for relocating families, evidence of your registration with the municipality once you arrive in the Netherlands. The subsidised Dutch International Schools also look for an international background or a confirmed move, since their place is contingent on eligibility for that system. You will usually need the parents' passports, a recent immunisation record and a passport photograph as well. Keep digital scans in one folder and bring paper originals to any in-person stage. Starting this the moment your move looks likely, rather than once it is confirmed, is the most reliable way to avoid a slipped start date.
Free Amsterdam admissions checklist
Our printable Amsterdam admissions checklist sets out every document, the order to tackle them in and a realistic week-by-week timeline for an August start across both school tracks. Free with email and no sales follow-up. Request the checklist.
Assessments and what they look like
Amsterdam schools use a light-touch mix of screening and school-specific tasks rather than competitive entrance exams. Early Years and the first primary years are usually a play-based observation session. From the middle of primary upwards, expect a short English reading and writing task and a maths check, often with a brief assessment of any additional-language support your child may need, because Amsterdam cohorts are highly mixed. Senior and sixth-form applicants typically discuss subject choices and may sit a short subject task plus an interview. The IB Diploma at the International School of Amsterdam requires joining Grade 11 by 1 October, so senior timing matters more than test preparation. Prepare your child by being honest: it is a friendly assessment of fit, not an examination to cram for.
Registration and fee timing
Cost is where the two tracks diverge most. The subsidised Dutch International Schools charge a modest annual contribution because of their state funding, with a non-refundable registration fee once a place is offered. The private schools charge a registration fee on application and then full tuition, billed by term or year, with the larger invoice around the August restart. Because registration fees are rarely refundable, sequence your offers carefully: accepting at one school and then switching forfeits the first fee. Our guide to international school fees in Amsterdam sets out the bands and the billing rhythm across both systems in full, and our how much are international school fees in Amsterdam in 2026 explainer answers the cost question directly.
The mistakes that lose places
First, treating Amsterdam as a single market and missing the subsidised track entirely, which is the most affordable route for eligible families. Second, applying to one school in a city that rewards a portfolio across both tracks. Third, assuming a waiting pool is a queue you can jump by paying early, when it is ordered by anticipated start date. Fourth, leaving the document chain late, particularly the municipal registration that relocating families need. Fifth, treating the assessment as a high-stakes exam, which makes children present worse than they are. The school finder tool helps you shape an honest shortlist across both systems before you fill in a single form.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply to international schools in Amsterdam?
Enquire as soon as your move is likely, ideally the autumn before a late August start. There is no fixed citywide deadline, but the subsidised Dutch international schools allocate places from a waiting pool by anticipated start date, and the private schools fill popular year groups earliest, so an early file genuinely widens your choice.
What is the difference between subsidised and private schools in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has government subsidised Dutch International Schools, such as the Amsterdam International Community School, which charge a modest annual contribution because they receive state funding, alongside fully private schools such as the International School of Amsterdam and the British School of Amsterdam, which charge full fees. The admissions route and the cost differ sharply between the two tracks.
What documents do Amsterdam international schools require?
Expect to provide the child's passport, recent school reports and, for relocating families, evidence of your registration with the municipality after arrival. The subsidised schools also look for an international background or an anticipated move. Keep digital scans in one folder and bring originals to any in-person stage.
Is there an application fee for Amsterdam international schools?
The private schools charge a registration fee on application, and the subsidised schools charge a non-refundable registration fee once a place is offered and the enrolment form is completed. Tuition itself is billed separately, by the term or year, with the first invoice around the August start.