In this guide
The three school systems explained
Brussels offers relocating families three distinct routes, and understanding them is the first task of any move. The European Schools (Schola Europaea) run four campuses across the city, teaching the European Baccalaureate in a wide range of partner languages; they are heavily subsidised for the children of European institution staff and charge full fees of roughly 13,000 to 18,000 euro for others. The private international schools, led by the International School of Brussels in Watermael-Boitsfort, the British School of Brussels in Tervuren and St John's International School in Waterloo, teach the IB and British curricula at full fees and admit on a rolling basis. The Belgian state system, taught in French or Flemish and free for residents, suits families who plan to stay and want their children embedded in the local language. Most expat families weigh the European Schools against the private internationals, and the right answer turns on eligibility, budget, language and how long you expect to stay.
Why choose a school before a district
The instinct on any move is to pick an area first and find a school near it. In Brussels the reverse usually serves families better, because the strongest international schools cluster in particular places and some sit outside the city proper. The British School of Brussels is in Tervuren to the east, St John's International School is in Waterloo to the south, and the International School of Brussels is in leafy Watermael-Boitsfort, while the European Schools occupy specific communes including Uccle, Woluwe, Ixelles and Laeken. Settle on a school, confirm the place, and only then rent within a sensible commute, because a daily school run across Brussels traffic shapes family life more than almost any other relocation choice. Our guides to the city's communes, from Uccle to Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Tervuren, show where families with school-age children tend to land.
Start with the school, not the postcode
The school finder shortlists Brussels schools by curriculum, district and stage, so you can fix the school before you choose a neighbourhood and a commute.
Use the school finderThe school-search timeline
Allow six to nine months for the school side of a Brussels move, and slot it ahead of the home search. In the autumn before a September start, enquire at three or four shortlisted schools and ask the single most useful question: is my child's year group open or waitlisted. Through the winter, visit on an open morning or a private tour, since most Brussels open days fall between January and March, as our Brussels open days 2026 page sets out. File the private-school application with the past two years of reports and a teacher reference by the spring, and watch the European School enrolment portal from January if that track applies. The Belgian school year ends on Friday 3 July 2026 and restarts in late August, so aim to have a confirmed place before the summer. Our Brussels admissions deadlines 2026 page maps the two tracks against the calendar.
Budgeting for school fees
Fees vary more by track than by anything else in Brussels, so build the budget around your chosen route. The Belgian state system is close to free for residents. The European Schools charge full fees of roughly 13,000 to 18,000 euro a year for families without an institutional entitlement. The premium private internationals sit at around 22,000 to 30,000 euro per child, with St John's International School in Waterloo spanning a wide range across its grades and adding an enrolment fee and a campus development fee in the first year, and the International School of Brussels charging a 2,000 euro application fee. Remember to budget for the one-off registration fee on top of tuition in the first year, and for any boarding option if you are considering it. Our guide to international school fees in Brussels sets out the full picture, and our how much are international school fees in Brussels in 2026 explainer answers the cost question head on.
| School track | Approximate annual fee per child |
|---|---|
| Belgian state (French or Flemish) | Close to free for residents |
| European Schools (full fee, non-entitled) | Roughly 13,000 to 18,000 euro |
| Premium private internationals (IB and British) | Roughly 22,000 to 30,000 euro, plus registration |
The figures above are indicative bands drawn from the city's published fee landscape; confirm the exact tuition, registration and any boarding fees with each school, as they are set per school and revised yearly.
Settling a child into a new school
The move itself is only half the task; helping a child settle into a new system is the other. Brussels schools are used to mobile families, and the multilingual, mixed cohorts mean a new arrival is rarely the only one finding their feet. Lean on the school's induction: ask about buddy systems, additional-language support for children who arrive without French or the language of instruction, and the wraparound care that smooths a working family's week. Keep the first term gentle on the calendar, since the Carnival and spring breaks give natural pauses to regroup, and use the school community, the parents' association and the after-school clubs to build a social circle quickly. For the family-life context beyond the classroom, our broader moving to Brussels with children guide covers healthcare, the commune registration and daily rhythms.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose a Brussels school before a neighbourhood?
For most relocating families, yes. The strongest international schools sit in specific communes and just outside the city, with the British School of Brussels in Tervuren and St John's International School in Waterloo, so settling on a school first tells you where to look for a home and how long the school run will be. Choose the school, confirm the place, then rent within a sensible commute.
What school options do families have in Brussels?
Three broad routes. The European Schools deliver the European Baccalaureate and are subsidised for European institution staff. The private international schools, such as the International School of Brussels and the British School of Brussels, offer IB and British curricula at full fees. The Belgian state system, in French or Flemish, is free for residents and suits families planning to stay long term. Most expat families weigh the European Schools against the private internationals.
How long does it take to sort schools when moving to Brussels?
Allow six to nine months for the school side of a move. That covers enquiring, visiting on an open day or private tour, filing the application with reports and a teacher reference, and confirming the place. The private schools admit on a rolling basis, while the European Schools run a fixed enrolment window, so the timeline depends on your track.
How much should I budget for schools in Brussels?
It depends entirely on the track. The Belgian state system is close to free for residents, the European Schools charge full fees of roughly 13,000 to 18,000 euro for non-entitled families, and the premium private internationals sit at around 22,000 to 30,000 euro a year per child, plus registration fees. Budget for the registration fee on top of tuition in the first year.