On this page
For the full picture of senior provision, start with our international schools in Amsterdam directory, which lists every school by curriculum and stage. The schools below all run an examined Years 12 to 13 programme that leads directly to university entry, and they admit by application rather than by residential catchment. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking, and provision changes, so confirm current pathways with each school.
If you are weighing the qualification itself, our guides to A-levels and the International Baccalaureate explain how each is examined and recognised by universities. Families focused on outcomes should also read our shortlist of the best schools for university preparation in Amsterdam, and the wider Amsterdam secondary schools guide.
The shortlist
International School of Amsterdam
The International School of Amsterdam, in Amstelveen, was the first school in the world authorised to teach the full IB continuum, and it has offered the IB Diploma since 1980. Sixth formers take the Diploma in Years 12 and 13, supported by the breadth of subjects a large, long-established IB World School can staff. For families who want a pure IB pathway with a deep institutional track record, ISA is the natural first call.
The British School of Amsterdam
The British School of Amsterdam, in the Havenstraat in the south of the city, follows the English National Curriculum from early years through to the sixth form, with students sitting IGCSE at 16 and then A-levels in Years 12 and 13. It is the city's main A-levels route, so it suits families who want a wholly British sixth form and the three or four subject specialism that A-levels allow, rather than the wider IB Diploma.
Amsterdam International Community School
The Amsterdam International Community School is a publicly subsidised international school and the first in the Netherlands to offer all four IB programmes, with the IB Diploma in the upper years. Because it is part of the state-supported DUO stream, the sixth form sits at a regulated parental contribution rather than full private fees, which makes a genuine IB Diploma far more affordable for eligible families. Demand is high, so apply early.
Amity International School Amsterdam
Amity International School Amsterdam is an IB World School running the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes, so a child can move through to the sixth form Diploma without changing curriculum. As a newer, growing school it offers smaller senior cohorts than ISA, which some families prefer for the closer staff contact it brings in the demanding Diploma years.
How we chose
We included only Amsterdam schools we could confirm run a genuine, externally examined sixth form leading to university entry, the IB Diploma, A-levels or both, and that enrol students through to Year 13. We did not rank them, score them or attach ratings, because the right sixth form depends on your child's subjects, the qualification universities in your target country prefer, and the fit of the school. Verify current subject lists and pathways directly, as schools add and retire options year to year. Note too that Amsterdam's subsidised DUO schools weigh parental employment status and the date of application, so eligibility and timing matter as much as the academic fit.
Shortlist Amsterdam schools for your child
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and priorities and the school finder returns a matched Amsterdam shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
Sixth form fees in Amsterdam vary more than in most cities because the city has two distinct streams. The subsidised DUO schools, including the Amsterdam International Community School, charge a regulated parental contribution that is a fraction of full private tuition, while fully private schools such as ISA, the British School of Amsterdam and Amity charge significantly more for the Diploma or A-level years. Rather than quote figures that move each year, we keep the live bands in one place: see our guide to international school fees in Amsterdam for current tuition by school and stream, and confirm the exact sixth form figure, plus any examination and deposit costs, with the school before you apply.
To build a shortlist around your child, use the school finder, browse the full Amsterdam schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for university preparation and the most affordable international schools in Amsterdam.
Common questions
The International School of Amsterdam, the Amsterdam International Community School and Amity International School Amsterdam all run the IB Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13. ISA has offered the IB Diploma since 1980. Confirm the current subject list with each school, as Diploma options change year to year.
The British School of Amsterdam follows the English National Curriculum and teaches IGCSE followed by A-levels in the sixth form. It is the main A-levels route in the city, so families who want a wholly British qualification should start there and check the subjects offered for the year of entry.
Neither is universally better. The IB Diploma is broad, with six subjects plus the core, while A-levels let a student specialise in three or four. Dutch research universities accept both, and so do universities abroad, so the better choice depends on your child's strengths and target countries. Our curriculum guides compare them in detail.
Sixth form sits at the top of each school's fee scale. Subsidised DUO-funded schools such as the Amsterdam International Community School charge a regulated parental contribution, while fully private schools charge considerably more for the Diploma years. We keep current figures in our international school fees in Amsterdam guide rather than quote a number that dates quickly.
No. Amsterdam international schools admit by application and assessment, and the subsidised DUO schools also weigh parental employment status and date of application. Where you live does not guarantee a sixth form place, so apply directly and check each school's entry requirements early.