Nursery and preschool international school fees in Dusseldorf (2026/27)

Early years international school fees in Dusseldorf sit at the lower end of each school whole school range, from about EUR 6,000 a year at the Japanese and French schools to the Pre K rate at the International School of Dusseldorf, which runs EUR 21,000 to 28,000 across the full school.

Dusseldorf hosts one of the largest Japanese expatriate communities in Europe, and the early years market reflects that, with the Japanese International School offering an affordable kindergarten alongside the French maternelle and the English medium IB route. Early years tuition sits at the lower end of each school whole school range, before it steps up through primary and the diploma years. The bands below are the published whole school ranges from the Dusseldorf international schools hub, in euro.

The International School of Dusseldorf in Kaiserswerth is the only full English medium IB school within the city limits, and its whole school range sits well above the national and community schools, so even its Pre K rate is higher. For British or American early years there is no dedicated city option, which is the structural gap in this market. Compare this stage with the primary and secondary and sixth form pages.

Early years fee bands by school

SchoolCurriculumPublished whole school bandWhere this stage sits
International School of Dusseldorf (ISD)IB (PYP, MYP, DP)EUR 21,000 to 28,000Lower end (Pre K)
Japanese International School DusseldorfJapanese national curriculumEUR 6,000 to 9,000Lower end (kindergarten)
Lycee Francais de DusseldorfFrench BaccalaureateEUR 6,000 to 11,000Lower end (maternelle)
St Georges British International School (Cologne)British (IGCSE, A Level)EUR 16,000 to 22,000Lower end (Foundation Stage)
International School Ruhr (Essen)IB and bilingualEUR 14,000 to 19,000Lower end (Foundation Stage)

The Dusseldorf hub publishes whole school ranges spanning the early years to the final year, so the band shown for each school is that full range in euro, with nursery and preschool tuition sitting at the lower end of it. Two of the schools serving Dusseldorf families sit in nearby Cologne and Essen, a 35 to 45 minute commute. These are indicative published ranges, not exact per year quotes. Confirm current fees in each school fee schedule.

Registration, deposit and other costs

Early years bills carry the same one off and recurring extras as the rest of the school, though the trips programme is lighter at this stage. Budget the following on top of early years tuition.

CostIndicative bandNotes
Capital or building levyEUR 5,000 to 7,000 at the top of the market (ISD)Applied on top of tuition; lower or not charged at the community and national schools.
Registration or enrolmentOne off, non refundableCharged per applicant on admission; confirm the amount in each fee schedule.
TransportRoute basedA factor for the Cologne and Essen schools; older pupils often use public transport.
Lunch, materials and tripsRecurring through the yearDaily and termly costs on top of tuition.

Bands above are indicative ranges, not a single school quote. Always confirm current figures in a school fee schedule before budgeting.

What drives the cost

Curriculum and community drive the early years bill in Dusseldorf. The Japanese International School and the Lycee Francais serve their national communities and sit at the value end near EUR 6,000, while the English medium IB route at the International School of Dusseldorf carries the premium range because it is the only full international school within the city. The Essen and Cologne schools sit in between.

Location shapes the choice at this stage. The International School of Dusseldorf sits in leafy Kaiserswerth, the Japanese school in Niederkassel and the Lycee Francais in Friedrichstadt, all within the city, while St Georges in Cologne and the International School Ruhr in Essen mean a commute of 35 to 45 minutes that most families judge too far for the youngest children.

See the true annual cost

Tuition is the headline, but admission levies, transport and lunches add up. Use our comparison tool to line up Dusseldorf fees against the city your offer is in.

Open the fee comparison tool

Hidden costs parents miss

The capital or building levy is the cost early years families miss most often at the International School of Dusseldorf, where the hub notes EUR 5,000 to 7,000 of levy, transport and ancillaries is added on top of tuition. The registration fee is the other one off, due before the first term and usually non refundable.

Transport is a smaller line at this stage, since most early years families choose a school within the city, but it becomes significant for anyone weighing the Cologne or Essen options. Lunch and materials add a recurring cost through the year, so the true early years bill sits above the headline tuition figure.

Frequently asked questions

How much is nursery or preschool in Dusseldorf?

Early years international school fees in Dusseldorf sit at the lower end of each school whole school range, from about EUR 6,000 a year at the Japanese and French schools to the Pre K rate at the International School of Dusseldorf, whose whole school range runs EUR 21,000 to 28,000. Confirm the early years rate with each school.

Which is the most affordable early years school in Dusseldorf?

The Japanese International School and the Lycee Francais offer the most affordable early years places, with whole school ranges opening around EUR 6,000, because they serve their national communities rather than the premium English medium market.

Is there a British or American nursery in Dusseldorf?

There is no dedicated British or American school within the Dusseldorf city limits, which is the structural gap in this market. The nearest British option, St Georges, sits in Cologne about 45 minutes away, so most English medium early years families choose the IB route at the International School of Dusseldorf.

Does the International School of Dusseldorf charge a levy on top of tuition?

Yes. The Dusseldorf hub notes that EUR 5,000 to 7,000 of capital levy, transport and ancillaries is added on top of the ISD tuition, so budget for that above the headline early years figure.

What currency do Dusseldorf schools bill in?

Schools set and bill in euro. Confirm the current early years rate and any levy directly with each school, since the published figures are whole school ranges rather than exact per year quotes.

The Expat School Insider

Weekly intelligence on schools, fees, curriculum and relocation for international families on the move.

Join 10,000+ families. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam, ever.