In this guide
Secondary fee range at a glance
Amsterdam is unlike most cities we cover because two parallel systems run side by side. Dutch international schools, known as DIS, are funded by the state and charge a low subsidised fee of about EUR 5,000 to 7,500 a year, open to families who meet residency and nationality criteria, typically expatriates on a temporary posting. Private international schools charge full market fees of EUR 18,000 to 28,000 a year. Secondary is the most expensive stage in both systems, with the IGCSE, IB Diploma and A-level years at the top of each range. For most relocating families the binding constraint is not money but capacity, because the subsidised schools carry long waiting lists. The bands below are 2026 estimates tied to our Amsterdam fees report.
Secondary fee table by tier
| Tier | Annual secondary tuition (EUR) | Approx USD |
|---|---|---|
| Premium private | EUR 22,000 - 28,000 | USD 24,000 - 30,500 |
| Upper-mid private | EUR 16,000 - 22,000 | USD 17,500 - 24,000 |
| Mid private | EUR 11,000 - 16,000 | USD 12,000 - 17,500 |
| Subsidised (Dutch international) | EUR 5,000 - 7,500 | USD 5,500 - 8,200 |
Bands are 2026 estimates tied to our Amsterdam fees report. Subsidised Dutch international schools sit far below private fees but have limited capacity. Secondary and sixth form tuition sits at the top of each private band.
Added and one-off costs
| Cost item | Typical range (EUR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration (private schools) | 1,500 - 2,800 | One-off; subsidised schools far lower |
| Materials | 1,000 - 1,800 per year | Higher in exam years |
| Trips | 600 - 2,000 | Residential and subject trips |
| Exam entries (IGCSE, IB) | 600 - 1,200 in IGCSE/IB years | Concentrated in the senior years |
| Books and devices | 200 - 450 | Lunch typically packed |
What drives the cost
The single biggest driver in Amsterdam is which system a family lands in. A subsidised Dutch international place is a fraction of the private fee, so eligibility and timing shape the budget more than any other factor. Within the private sector, the usual forces apply at senior level: schools running the IB Diploma or A-levels carry small classes, specialist teaching, university counselling and examination administration that load onto the final years. Property and staffing costs in a high demand European capital push private fees toward the top of the continental range, and the strongest established international schools price accordingly.
Capacity is the recurring theme. Because the subsidised schools are oversubscribed, families who cannot secure a place often move to the private sector by necessity, which keeps private demand and pricing firm. Plan admissions early and treat a subsidised place as something to secure well ahead rather than assume.
Compare secondary fees across cities
Put Amsterdam secondary fees next to other European host cities side by side before you commit.
Hidden costs beyond tuition
Headline tuition is only part of the bill, particularly in the private sector. The largest extras are a registration fee of EUR 1,500 to 2,800 at private schools, materials of EUR 1,000 to 1,800 a year that rise in the exam years, residential and subject trips of EUR 600 to 2,000, examination entries of EUR 600 to 1,200 in the IGCSE and IB years, and books and devices of EUR 200 to 450. Lunch is usually packed rather than provided, and the cantine, where one exists, is opt-in. Subsidised schools carry far lower add-ons, in keeping with their funded status.
Compare secondary fees
Amsterdam secondary fees range from among the lowest in Europe at the subsidised schools to the upper European band at private ones. Use our compare fees tool to put Amsterdam next to other host cities and curricula, then read the full Amsterdam school fees breakdown for the all stage picture and the all-in cost of a place.
FAQ
How much is secondary international school in Amsterdam? Secondary international school fees in Amsterdam split sharply. Government subsidised Dutch international schools charge about EUR 5,000 to 7,500 a year, while private international schools charge EUR 18,000 to 28,000, with the IB Diploma and A-level years at the upper end. Capacity at the subsidised schools is the binding constraint rather than price.
What is a Dutch international school and why is it cheaper? Dutch international schools, known as DIS, receive government funding and are open to families who meet residency and nationality criteria, usually expatriates on a temporary posting. Because the state subsidises them, fees are far lower, around EUR 5,000 to 7,500 a year, but places are limited and waiting lists are long, so eligibility and timing matter more than money.
Which Amsterdam schools offer the IB Diploma and A-levels? The International School of Amsterdam offers the full IB continuum including the Diploma, the Amsterdam International Community School runs the IB Middle Years and Diploma Programmes as a subsidised school, and The British School of Amsterdam follows the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and A-levels.
Are the subsidised schools cheaper than private ones for secondary? Yes, substantially. A subsidised Dutch international secondary place at EUR 5,000 to 7,500 a year is a fraction of the EUR 18,000 to 28,000 charged by private international schools. The trade-off is availability: the subsidised schools are heavily oversubscribed, so families without a place often turn to the private sector by necessity.
What are the hidden costs of secondary school in Amsterdam? Beyond tuition, families add a registration fee of EUR 1,500 to 2,800 at private schools, materials of EUR 1,000 to 1,800 a year, trips of EUR 600 to 2,000, examination entries of EUR 600 to 1,200 in the IGCSE and IB years, and books and devices. Lunch is usually packed rather than provided.