In this guide
The Amsterdam IB landscape
Amsterdam sits in a small but mature group of European cities that offer the full International Baccalaureate continuum to expat families. Around six schools run the Diploma Programme, a similar number run the Middle Years Programme and roughly seven include the Primary Years Programme. A handful of schools, notably the International School of Amsterdam, the Amsterdam International Community School and the British School of Amsterdam, deliver all three. Most schools sit either in Amstelveen, the southern expat suburb that borders the city, or in the South Axis and Buitenveldert business district, with one major option in Hilversum.
Two structural facts shape the choice for parents. First, Dutch international schools come in two regulatory forms: privately funded schools that set their own fees, and partially government funded Dutch international schools, which are limited in their fees in exchange for taking pupils whose parents are working in the Netherlands on a foreign assignment. The Amsterdam International Community School is the largest example of the second category and is materially cheaper as a result. Second, the IB still carries more weight with European and global universities than with Dutch universities, which generally accept any recognised secondary qualification including A-levels and Advanced Placement.
For the curriculum-only view, see the IB curriculum hub. For the wider Amsterdam school market across British, IB and Dutch-bilingual options, our best international schools in Amsterdam piece is the entry point.
Schools offering the full IB continuum
Three Amsterdam schools deliver every IB programme, from PYP at age 3 to MYP from Year 6 or 7 and the Diploma Programme in the final two years. The continuum schools attract families who have already made the commitment to the IB philosophy and want curriculum continuity across the whole school journey.
International School of Amsterdam (ISA)
The Amsterdam IB flagship and the oldest IB school in the Netherlands. PYP through to the Diploma, on a single Amstelveen campus that also runs a strong arts and sports programme. Diploma cohorts of around 100, with average scores in recent years between 35 and 37. Subject choice at Higher Level is unusually broad for a continental European school. Long waitlists for Y1 and Y7 entry.
Amsterdam International Community School (AICS)
The accessible IB continuum option, partially government funded as a Dutch international school. Multiple campuses across the city, with both PYP and MYP delivery distributed across primary and secondary. Diploma cohorts of around 80 across both senior campuses. Average scores in the 32 to 34 range, with strong university destinations across Europe and the UK. Eligibility for the subsidised fee requires at least one parent to be on a foreign assignment.
Optimist International School
A newer continuum school, smaller and explicitly committed to inquiry-led IB delivery from the earliest years. Hilversum is a 25 minute train ride from central Amsterdam and has its own established expat-family ecosystem. Diploma authorisation is at evaluation stage, so confirm current status. A strong fit for families wanting smaller class sizes and a more personal IB programme.
Compare these IB schools side by side
Use the comparison tool to place up to three Amsterdam IB schools next to each other on fees, average Diploma score, cohort size and inspection rating. Or run the school finder to get a shortlist matched to your child's year group and your housing area. Talk to our team for a personal shortlist review.
Diploma Programme schools
Several Amsterdam schools run only the Diploma Programme, usually alongside another curriculum in the lower years. These suit families who want IB as a sixth-form qualification without committing the lower-school years to MYP and PYP.
International School Hilversum (ISH)
A long-established Dutch international school north of Amsterdam, partially government funded. Secondary years only, with MYP running from Year 7 and the Diploma at sixth form. Diploma cohorts of around 70, with averages in the 33 to 35 range. Catchment includes families across Het Gooi and the Amsterdam northern commuter belt.
British School of Amsterdam, Senior School
Predominantly British curriculum but offers the IB Diploma in sixth form as an alternative to A-levels. The split tends to be roughly 60 to 40 A-level to Diploma in recent cohorts. Diploma averages in the 34 to 36 range. Strong choice for families who want a British primary and lower secondary then keep IB on the table for sixth form.
HSV Den Haag Diploma campus (commutable)
Strictly outside Amsterdam, but a meaningful option for families based in the western Amsterdam ring or who commute to Schiphol. The Hague has its own deep IB market and the senior Diploma campuses run cohorts of 60 plus. Worth comparing if the family will live closer to Schiphol than central Amsterdam.
PYP and MYP only options
A handful of Amsterdam schools offer the lower IB programmes but funnel pupils into a different sixth-form qualification. These suit families who want the IB philosophy in the early and middle years but plan to relocate again before the Diploma, or who prefer a national qualification at age 16 to 18.
De Werkplaats Bilthoven (DWS)
A Dutch primary school running an IB PYP-aligned strand within a wider bilingual offer. Suits families who want partial Dutch language exposure alongside IB inquiry methodology. Continuation into Dutch secondary is the usual path; some families switch to AICS or ISA at Year 6.
European School of Amsterdam, primary phase
Not strictly an IB school but follows an inquiry-led curriculum heavily aligned with the PYP. Free for children of EU institution staff. The senior school follows the European Baccalaureate, not the IB Diploma. Mentioned here because parents searching for the PYP often surface this school in the same shortlist.
Hilversumse Schoolvereniging (HSV)
Bilingual Dutch-English primary running the PYP framework. A practical option for families committing to the Netherlands long term who want the IB inquiry approach in the early years before transitioning to Dutch or international secondary at Year 7.
Fees and the all-in cost
Amsterdam IB school fees split into two clear tiers. The premium tier (ISA, BSA Diploma stream, Optimist) charges EUR 18,000 to 26,000 per year for senior years, with the lower years a few thousand euros below. The partially government funded tier (AICS, ISH) charges EUR 8,000 to 14,000 because the Dutch government subsidises a portion of teaching costs for children of foreign-assignment parents. Eligibility for the subsidised fee requires that the parent moved to the Netherlands for work; locally resident Dutch families typically pay closer to the unsubsidised rate.
The all-in cost adds 10 to 20 percent on top of tuition for registration, materials, school lunches, transport and trips. Most families budget around EUR 22,000 to 30,000 per year for a premium IB school all in, or EUR 10,000 to 16,000 for the subsidised tier. Detailed monthly modelling sits in the fees explorer, and the cross-school Amsterdam picture is in our Amsterdam international school fees piece.
Admission timing and waitlists
Year 1 entry, Year 7 entry and Diploma entry are the three competitive points across most Amsterdam IB schools. ISA and AICS Year 1 places are usually allocated 12 months in advance, with waitlists of 30 to 80 children for popular cohorts. Diploma entry is more flexible because many families arrive mid-secondary, but ISA in particular caps its Diploma cohort and operates a strict waiting list once full.
The practical sequence is to apply 12 to 18 months ahead of intended start date if a Tier 1 school matters; to apply 3 to 6 months ahead if the family is open to alternative schools in the same fee tier; and to keep a backup school confirmed in writing before signing a rental contract. Most schools assess applicants through a combination of records, English assessment and family interview. The admissions timing by city piece breaks down the sequence in more detail. Our moving to Amsterdam with kids guide covers how this fits into the broader relocation sequence.
How to choose between them
For most expat families the decision narrows quickly. If you want the strongest established IB pedigree and you can afford the premium tier, ISA is the obvious starting point. If fees are the constraint and your assignment qualifies you for the subsidised fee, AICS gives you a Dutch international school continuum at a fraction of the cost. If you value the smaller school feel and Hilversum is realistic for housing, ISH or Optimist make sense. If your family is British curriculum oriented but wants the Diploma as a sixth-form option, the British School of Amsterdam senior school is the natural choice.
The harder calls happen at the margins. A family on a three year posting choosing between AICS and ISA needs to weigh the saving against the cohort experience. A family with a child already in the British system needs to think about whether transferring to IB MYP at Year 7 is worth the curriculum reset. The IB vs British curriculum comparison piece covers that decision in depth, and the IB vs AP university outcomes piece is useful if a US university destination is in view.
Related guides
- Best international schools in Amsterdam
- International school fees in Amsterdam
- Moving to Amsterdam with kids
Frequently asked questions
How many IB schools are there in Amsterdam?
The greater Amsterdam area has roughly nine schools running one or more IB programmes. The Diploma Programme is offered by around six schools, the MYP by a similar number and the PYP by around seven, with several running the full continuum from age 3 through age 18.
What is the average IB Diploma score in Amsterdam?
The established Amsterdam IB schools post average Diploma scores in the 33 to 37 range. The International School of Amsterdam typically sits at the top of that range, with the Amsterdam International Community School and International School Hilversum slightly below. The worldwide average is around 30.
Are Amsterdam IB schools more expensive than British or American options?
They sit broadly in line. Premium Amsterdam IB schools run EUR 18,000 to 26,000 per year, similar to the British School of Amsterdam. The Amsterdam International Community School is materially cheaper at EUR 8,500 to 13,000 because it is partially government funded as a Dutch international school.
When should we apply to an Amsterdam IB school?
For the popular schools and for in-demand year groups apply 12 to 18 months ahead of intended start date. The International School of Amsterdam and AICS hold the longest waitlists for Year 1, Year 7 and Diploma entry. Less in-demand year groups often have rolling availability.