Brussels has the densest international school market in Europe per capita, driven by EU institutions, NATO, and a sustained multinational corporate presence. Four school systems run in parallel (international fee-paying, the European Schools network for EU staff children, the Belgian state system, and several bilingual options).
The school landscape
Premium English-medium international schools include the International School of Brussels (ISB), the British School of Brussels (BSB) and St John's International. Fees sit at EUR 22,000 to 35,000 per year. The European Schools deliver multi-language education with the European Baccalaureate and are free for children of EU institution staff.
Neighbourhoods
Tervuren, Wezembeek-Oppem and Sterrebeek host most ISB families and offer access to the European Schools at Woluwe. Uccle and Rhode-Saint-Genese serve BSB. Central Brussels (Ixelles, Etterbeek) works for families using European Schools or Belgian state schools.
Language
Brussels is bilingual French and Dutch by law. Most expat families navigate primarily in French. For children entering Belgian state schools, immersion makes the local language a working language within 18 to 24 months for primary-aged children.
Costs and timeline
ISB and BSB applications open in autumn for the following September. European Schools admissions are managed by the EU institution itself for staff children. Housing is moderate (EUR 2,500 to 4,000 per month for a 4-bedroom family home in the school suburbs).