The Amsterdam secondary landscape
Amsterdam international secondary education runs along three parallel tracks. The first is the full-fee international school cluster, around 8 schools, anchored by the International School of Amsterdam (ISA), the British School of Amsterdam (BSA), Amity International School Amsterdam and Amsterdam International Community School in its full-fee provision. These schools deliver the IB Middle Years Programme from Year 7, leading to the IB Diploma at sixth form. BSA is the only school in the metropolitan area offering A Levels, running them alongside the IB Diploma at sixth form for UK-bound families.
The second track is the Dutch International Schools (DIS) network at secondary. Six DIS secondaries operate inside or just outside the Amsterdam municipal boundary, including AICS, Hilversum International School and the secondary phases of the Hague-anchored European Schools. DIS secondaries deliver the IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma at heavily subsidised rates for eligible expat families. The eligibility criteria require parents to work for a foreign employer or NGO or to have arrived in the Netherlands within the past two years, with annual reconfirmation.
The third track is the Dutch state TTO bilingual stream, around 14 schools, which delivers a VWO or HAVO diploma with around half of timetable hours in English. The TTO route is free for legal residents with a small parent contribution, and the resulting diploma is recognised by both Dutch and international universities through UCAS tariff conversions and equivalency mappings. For UK-bound families with strong Dutch language, TTO can be a credible alternative to a full international school. For the curriculum-level view see our Amsterdam IB hub, British hub, bilingual hub and the higher-level curriculum index.
Fees across the three routes
The fee picture at secondary is wider than at primary because sixth form qualifications carry exam entry and capital fees on top of base tuition. Full-fee international secondaries in Amsterdam run from EUR 18,400 at Year 7 to EUR 26,900 at sixth form, with capital fees of EUR 2,500 to EUR 3,000, transport at EUR 1,400 to EUR 1,800, and IB Diploma or A Level exam entries adding EUR 1,200 to EUR 1,800 per child across Years 12 and 13. The all-in cost-of-place at the top of the market sits around EUR 30,000 per child per year.
Dutch International Schools price secondary at EUR 5,200 to EUR 7,400 per year through Year 11, rising to roughly EUR 11,800 at the Diploma to reflect the higher per-child cost of the small IB Diploma cohorts. TTO state secondary is tuition-free with a voluntary parent contribution of EUR 450 to EUR 850 per year and additional Cambridge English exam costs of EUR 300 to EUR 500 at Years 11 and 13. For the full Amsterdam fee picture see our Amsterdam fees guide and run total cost-of-place through the cost calculator.
IB Diploma, A Level or VWO bilingual?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Amsterdam secondary options based on your child's stage, your university plans and your budget.
Illustrative example schools
The four schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each runs an established secondary phase with a distinct qualification mix and serves a different slice of the Amsterdam international family market.
International School of Amsterdam Secondary in Amstelveen runs the IB Middle Years Programme from Year 7 and the IB Diploma at sixth form. The largest international secondary cohort in the city, with leavers heading to Dutch, UK, US and Canadian universities in roughly equal measure. Strong sciences and visual arts programmes at Diploma.
British School of Amsterdam Senior School in Oud-Zuid runs IGCSE at Year 11 and offers both A Levels and the IB Diploma at sixth form, making it the only school in the city covering both UK qualifications side by side. Smaller sixth form cohort than ISA, with a UK university focus.
Amity International School Amsterdam Senior in Amstelveen runs the IB MYP and IB Diploma, with a strong international-mobility ethos and a sister network across Europe and the US. Useful for families on multi-posting careers.
Amsterdam International Community School Secondary in Zuidoost runs the IB MYP and IB Diploma under DIS subsidy. The largest DIS secondary in the city with a notably international cohort and a sub-EUR 12,000 fee at Diploma level.
Where secondary families live
Secondary families in Amsterdam cluster differently from primary families because secondary children commute longer distances and the city's public transport network makes longer commutes practical. Amstelveen remains the densest catchment for ISA and Amity. Oud-Zuid and the Vondelpark belt for BSA. Zuidoost and Diemen for AICS and the DIS network. The southern commuter towns of Hilversum, Bussum and Het Gooi work well for families using Hilversum International School and BSA with a train commute.
Sixth form families increasingly opt for Amsterdam-Zuid station catchments because the direct rail connections to Schiphol, Den Haag and Rotterdam make university open day visits and weekend extracurriculars logistically easier. For the wider relocation context see our Amsterdam city hub, moving to Amsterdam with kids and the primary schools hub for the preceding stage.
Admissions calendar and sixth form transfers
Amsterdam secondary admissions run on the standard international school cycle for full-fee schools and the central allocation system for DIS and TTO. For September 2026 entry at full-fee international secondaries, applications opened in October 2025 and close in February 2026 for the main intake. Year 7 and Year 12 are the most competitive cohorts. Assessment days run February through April with offers issued within ten working days. Mid-year transfers up to Year 11 are accepted on a rolling basis subject to places.
Sixth form transfers, into Year 12 for the first year of A Level or IB Diploma, are possible at most full-fee schools but require an A Level or IB subject match. After the October half-term, transfers become difficult because internal assessments and predicted grades are already in train. Year 13 transfers are effectively closed at all Amsterdam schools because the UCAS reference deadline falls in October and the receiving school cannot issue a credible reference without a year of teaching evidence. Families considering a UK return mid-sixth-form should explore our British families guide and Amsterdam British curriculum hub.
Frequently asked questions
What secondary qualifications can my child take in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam international secondary schools offer the IB Diploma at sixth form as the dominant qualification, available at ISA, AICS, Amity and several DIS schools. A Levels are offered only at the British School of Amsterdam. The Dutch VWO and HAVO diplomas, taken at TTO bilingual state schools, sit alongside as a recognised parallel route into both Dutch and international universities.
How many international secondary schools are in Amsterdam?
Around 8 full-fee international secondary schools operate inside the Amsterdam metropolitan area in 2026, plus 6 Dutch International Schools (DIS) running the IB Middle Years and Diploma programmes at subsidised rates. The state TTO bilingual stream adds another 14 secondary options.
How much does international secondary cost in Amsterdam?
Dutch International Schools (DIS) charge EUR 5,200 to EUR 7,400 per year through Year 11, rising to EUR 11,800 at the Diploma. Full-fee international secondaries range from EUR 18,400 at Year 7 to EUR 26,900 at sixth form. TTO bilingual state secondary charges zero tuition with a EUR 450 to EUR 850 voluntary contribution per year.
Can my child transfer mid-year into Amsterdam secondary?
Mid-year transfers are possible at most international secondaries up to Year 11 subject to places. Year 12 transfers, into the first year of A Level or IB Diploma, are difficult after the October half-term because subject choices, internal assessments and predicted grades are already in train. Year 13 transfers are effectively closed.
Is the IB Diploma in Amsterdam recognised by UK universities?
Yes. UK universities accept the IB Diploma through UCAS with standard tariff conversions, and Amsterdam IB schools issue UCAS predicted grades and references for January UK deadlines. Top UK universities typically require IB scores of 36 to 42 depending on faculty, with HL subject specifications attached.
