The British School of Amsterdam is the best known British option among the international schools in Amsterdam and the one that delivers the English system from start to finish. It was founded in 1978 by families on postings in the city who did not want their children to fall behind the English curriculum when they returned home, and it has grown from that small beginning into a full school for ages 3 to 18. It teaches the National Curriculum used in England, which sets it apart from the city's many IB World Schools and makes it the natural choice for families moving between Amsterdam and the United Kingdom.
British School of Amsterdam at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | English National Curriculum; IGCSE and GCSE, then A Levels |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early years to sixth form (roughly age 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Accreditation | British curriculum school; confirm current inspection and membership with the school |
| Campus | Renovated heritage site, opened 2021, capacity around 1,200 |
| Fee band | Mid, full fee private |
| Campus area | Oud-Zuid, the old south of Amsterdam |
Curriculum and academics
The school teaches the British curriculum end to end, the only school in Amsterdam to offer the full English National Curriculum pathway. Children progress through the English primary years and key stages, sit IGCSE and GCSE examinations in Years 10 and 11, and then take A Levels in the sixth form, the qualifications that map directly onto entry to UK universities. For a family that may return to the United Kingdom or move on to another British school, this continuity matters, because the child stays on a single, familiar system rather than translating between curricula.
Teaching is in English, with the structure, reporting and assessment of an English school, and the sixth form A Level programme keeps the door open to UK and international universities alike. Families weighing the English route against the IB will find the contrast with the city's IB World Schools useful, and the compare tool puts the options side by side on curriculum, stages and fees.
Find the right Amsterdam school for your child
Take our five minute quiz and we will shortlist three Amsterdam schools matched to your family. Free and independent.
British School of Amsterdam fees
British School of Amsterdam fees sit in the mid part of the Amsterdam international school fees range. As a full fee private school it charges more than the city's Dutch subsidised internationals but less than the most expensive places, and tuition rises by stage from the early years through to the sixth form. The school publishes a current fee schedule by year group, and that published figure is the one to rely on, as fees are reviewed annually.
Plan for costs beyond tuition. British international schools in the Netherlands commonly charge a one off capital levy when a child joins, alongside a non refundable application fee, and you should budget for the usual extras such as trips, examination entry in the GCSE and A Level years and any optional services. Confirm the current tuition, the capital levy and the full list of charges with the admissions office before applying, as these vary by year group and change from year to year.
Admissions
Admissions follow the English academic year, with the main intake at the September start, and the school accepts applications throughout the year wherever a place exists in the relevant year group. Families apply through the admissions office, submitting prior school reports and references, and entry is reviewed against the child's record and stage. Because the school draws steadily from relocating British and English speaking families, popular year groups can fill ahead of others.
The school is experienced with corporate relocations and mid year arrivals, and can advise on availability by year group. Overseas families should also factor in the residence documentation a move to the Netherlands requires. Given the continuity the English pathway offers, families planning a future return to the United Kingdom often prioritise a place here, so early contact once an Amsterdam posting is confirmed is sensible.
Location and who goes there
The school sits in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid, the elegant old south of the city, on a heritage site that was renovated and opened in 2021 with capacity for around 1,200 students. Oud-Zuid is one of the most desirable residential districts in Amsterdam, with period housing, parks and quick access to the centre, and it is where many English speaking and professional families choose to live. The location puts the school within easy reach of the south of the city and the wider expatriate community.
The community leans towards British and English speaking families, including those on UK linked postings and dual nationality households, alongside a spread of other nationalities who want an English system education. For how Oud-Zuid and the surrounding districts compare with the rest of the city, and where other expatriate communities settle, the Amsterdam city hub maps the neighbourhoods and their schools.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and accepts no payment from schools, so we publish parent reviews only after confirming the reviewer is part of the school community. If your family knows the British School of Amsterdam first hand, please share your experience through our school reviews hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much are British School of Amsterdam fees?
The British School of Amsterdam is a full fee private school whose tuition sits in the mid part of the Amsterdam range and rises by stage from the early years to the sixth form. The school publishes a current fee schedule by year group, and families should also budget a one off capital levy and an application fee on top of tuition.
What curriculum does the British School of Amsterdam follow?
It follows the National Curriculum used in England, leading to IGCSE and GCSE in Years 10 and 11 and A Levels in the sixth form. It is the school in Amsterdam that offers the full English system end to end.
Is the British School of Amsterdam a good school?
It is a long established British school with purpose renovated facilities and a clear English curriculum pathway to GCSE and A Level. We do not publish a star rating without verified parent reviews, so we set out its programme, history and community rather than score it.
When do British School of Amsterdam applications open?
The school admits to a September start in line with the English academic year and accepts applications throughout the year subject to places. Families relocating to Amsterdam should apply early, as some year groups fill ahead of others.
Where is the British School of Amsterdam?
It is in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid, the desirable old south of the city, on a renovated heritage site that opened in 2021 with capacity for around 1,200 students.
