The three-tier primary landscape
Amsterdam primary provision splits cleanly into three tiers. Tier one is Dutch state primary, free for legal residents and entered through the city's central allocation system. The roughly 200 primary schools in the city operate in Dutch and follow the Dutch state curriculum, which culminates in CITO testing at Year 6 to determine secondary tracking. Tier two is the Dutch International Schools (DIS) network: state-funded primaries that admit children whose parents work for foreign employers, international NGOs or who have arrived in the Netherlands within the past two years. DIS primaries operate in English, follow the IB PYP framework where authorised, and charge subsidised fees that sit well below the full-fee international market.
Tier three is the full-fee international primary cluster. Around 12 schools across Amsterdam and Amstelveen serve roughly 4,800 children. The largest and longest-established is the International School of Amsterdam in Amstelveen, founded in 1964. British School of Amsterdam in Oud-Zuid runs the EYFS through Year 6 sequence under the English National Curriculum. Amsterdam International Community School and Amity International School Amsterdam round out the main IB PYP cluster. Smaller specialist primaries such as Optimist International School deliver bilingual or curriculum-distinctive models for niche audiences.
The practical effect for arriving families is that the choice between tiers two and three usually comes down to DIS eligibility, school proximity, and whether the family expects to remain in the Netherlands for the long term or move on. DIS-eligible families have a strong fee incentive to use the subsidised route, but the full-fee international schools offer larger campuses, broader extracurricular programmes and a stronger feeder reputation into international secondary.
Fees across the three tiers
The fee spread for Amsterdam primary is the widest of any age stage. Dutch state primaries are tuition-free for residents and charge only a voluntary parent contribution of EUR 200 to EUR 500 per year. Dutch International Schools sit at EUR 4,500 to EUR 6,200 per year in 2026, which includes the subsidised cost of the IB PYP framework and English-medium delivery. Full-fee international primaries range from EUR 16,800 at the smaller settings to EUR 22,400 at the larger anchor schools, with capital fees of EUR 2,000 to EUR 3,000 and transport at EUR 1,400 to EUR 1,800 per year on top.
The all-in cost-of-place at a full-fee international primary in Amsterdam is therefore EUR 19,800 to EUR 27,200 per year per child, compared to EUR 5,400 to EUR 7,000 at DIS and effectively zero at Dutch state. The fee table in our Amsterdam fees guide walks through the cost-of-place arithmetic in detail. For full relocation budgeting beyond fees, use the cost calculator.
Dutch state, DIS or full-fee international?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Amsterdam primary options based on your DIS eligibility, your timeline and your budget.
Illustrative example schools
The four schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each runs a long-established primary phase with a distinct curriculum identity and serves a different slice of the Amsterdam international family market.
International School of Amsterdam Primary in Amstelveen runs the IB Primary Years Programme from age 3 through to age 11, with the Middle Years Programme from age 11. The largest international primary cohort in the city and the natural feeder for the school's own IB Diploma at sixth form.
British School of Amsterdam Junior School in Oud-Zuid runs the English National Curriculum from Reception through Year 6, with EYFS framework underpinning the early years. The natural choice for UK families intending to return for secondary school or stay through to A Level.
Amsterdam International Community School Primary in Zuidoost runs the IB PYP within a Dutch International School subsidised framework. Useful for families with DIS eligibility who want the international curriculum at the lower fee tier.
Optimist International School in Amsterdam Zuid runs a bilingual English-Dutch primary track explicitly positioned as a feeder for TTO bilingual secondary or full English-medium continuation. Smaller cohorts than the larger anchor schools, more language scaffolding for new arrivals.
Where families live for primary
The geography of Amsterdam primary clusters around school proximity because most Dutch children, including those at international schools, cycle to school from age six onwards. Amstelveen, around the ISA campus, holds the largest international primary catchment, with family housing stock that has been built or retrofitted specifically for the international school audience over four decades. Oud-Zuid, around the Vondelpark, holds the second cluster for British School of Amsterdam and the smaller bilingual primaries. Buitenveldert straddles both and is a popular middle ground.
For DIS-eligible families using AICS or other DIS primaries, Zuidoost and the southern suburb of Diemen work well. The newer ArenA business district housing and the lower rental costs make these districts a practical choice for families on shorter postings or with lower allowance budgets. For families on the British School of Amsterdam track, Hilversum and Bussum in the Gooi region offer family housing at lower per square metre rates with a 30 to 45 minute commute by train. See our Amsterdam city hub and secondary schools hub for the wider stage progression.
Admissions calendar and entry
Amsterdam primary admissions split by tier. Dutch state and Dutch International Schools operate the city central allocation system, with registration tied to the term the child turns three and placements confirmed for the following September. Late-arriving international families miss this window and apply directly to schools for places that come available, which is unpredictable and concentrated around September and the February half-term.
Full-fee international primaries run their own admissions cycles independent of the city allocation system. Applications for September 2026 entry opened in October 2025 and close on a rolling basis as places fill. Assessment days run February through April with offers issued within ten working days. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis subject to places, with Year 2 to Year 5 the most flexible cohorts. Year 6 is the hardest to enter mid-year because most schools want to assess CEM or NFER baseline data before placement. See our IB hub and British curriculum hub for curriculum-specific entry guidance.
Frequently asked questions
At what age does primary school start in Amsterdam?
Dutch state primary begins at age 4 with groep 1, equivalent to reception in UK schools or kindergarten in US schools. International schools in Amsterdam mostly mirror this with EYFS starting age 4, though some, including ISA, accept children from age 3. Compulsory schooling under Dutch law begins at age 5.
How many international primary schools are in Amsterdam?
Around 12 international primary schools operate inside the Amsterdam metropolitan area in 2026, plus around eight Dutch International (DIS) primaries that take international children at heavily subsidised rates. The full-fee international primaries serve roughly 4,800 children across the city.
How much does primary school cost in Amsterdam?
Dutch state primary is free for legal residents, with a voluntary contribution of EUR 200 to EUR 500 per year. Dutch International Schools, which serve eligible expat children, charge EUR 4,500 to EUR 6,200 per year. Full-fee international primaries range from EUR 16,800 to EUR 22,400 per year before capital and transport fees.
Are international primary schools in Amsterdam English-medium?
Yes. International School of Amsterdam, Amsterdam International Community School, British School of Amsterdam and Amity International School Amsterdam all run English as the medium of instruction with Dutch as a second-language subject. Bilingual private primaries such as Optimist International School run a split English-Dutch model.
When should we apply for primary school in Amsterdam?
For September 2026 entry at the full-fee international primaries, applications opened in October 2025 and close in February 2026 for the main intake, with assessment days through March and April. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis subject to places, with most movement in Year 2 to Year 5.
