CompaNanny is one of the childcare names that relocating parents meet first when they look at the international schools in Amsterdam and the early years options around them. It is not a primary school. It is a registered childcare organisation that runs daycare for babies and toddlers, kindergarten activities for the older toddlers, and after school care for primary aged children, across a large number of sites in and around the city. What makes it relevant to international families is its bilingual provision, where Dutch and English are spoken side by side so that very young children grow up comfortable in both.
CompaNanny at a glance
| Type of setting | Registered childcare provider; daycare, kindergarten and after school care |
|---|---|
| Languages | Bilingual Dutch and English groups at selected sites; Dutch elsewhere |
| Ages | Roughly 3 months to 4 (daycare and kindergarten); to about 12 (after school care) |
| Founded | Not published here; long established Dutch childcare provider |
| Regulation | Registered in the Dutch childcare register and inspected by the GGD |
| Fee band | Charged by the hour; childcare benefit reduces the net cost for working parents |
| Bilingual sites | Zuidas, World Fashion Centre and Atlas Arena among others |
Programme and approach
CompaNanny does not teach a formal academic curriculum in the way a primary school does. Its work is play based and developmental, giving children the space and time to grow at their own pace while qualified pedagogical staff guide social, emotional, physical and creative development. The kindergarten activities for the older toddlers are designed to prepare them gently for the start of primary school, so the focus is on routine, confidence, language and early skills rather than examinations.
The bilingual groups are the part that matters most to international parents. In these groups both a Dutch speaking and an English speaking pedagogical worker are present, and the two languages are used together through the day. That mirrors the logic of a bilingual education, where children acquire two languages naturally rather than studying one as a subject. For families who later want an English medium route, this is a useful foundation, and our compare tool lets you line up the primary schools that follow once childcare ends.
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CompaNanny fees
CompaNanny fees work differently from the annual tuition you see in the Amsterdam international school fees guide. Dutch childcare is charged by the hour, with the rate depending on the type of care, whether it is daycare or after school care, and the number of days you book each week. There is no single headline number, so the relevant figure is the published hourly rate multiplied by the hours your family actually uses.
The other half of the picture is the national childcare benefit. Working parents in the Netherlands can usually reclaim a share of registered childcare costs through the kinderopvangtoeslag, which is paid according to household income and the hours used. That can bring the net cost well below the gross hourly rate, which is one reason regulated providers such as CompaNanny are popular with dual income international households. Because rates and the benefit both change from year to year, confirm the current numbers with CompaNanny and the Dutch tax authority before you budget.
Admissions
Enrolment runs continuously rather than to a single annual intake, because childcare is not tied to a school year in the way primary admission is. Families register their interest for a particular location, type of care and start date, and are offered a place when one is available in the right age group. Popular bilingual groups in the business districts can have waiting lists, so the practical advice is to register as early as you can, ideally as soon as a move to Amsterdam is confirmed and sometimes before the baby arrives.
You will normally be asked to choose your days, agree a contract and provide the details needed to claim the childcare benefit. Because places open and close as children move on to primary school, mid year starts are common and the provider is used to arriving international families. Confirm availability at your preferred site directly, since it varies by location and age band.
Location and who goes there
CompaNanny operates many locations across Amsterdam, and the bilingual groups for international families are concentrated where international workers cluster. Zuidas, the financial district in the south of the city, is the clearest example, alongside the World Fashion Centre and Atlas Arena. These sites sit close to the offices and apartment blocks favoured by families who move to Amsterdam for work with multinationals, law and finance firms and the wider knowledge economy.
The community in the bilingual groups is broadly international, with parents who want their children to settle into both Dutch and English from the start. For how the south and the other districts compare, and which primary schools each area feeds, the Amsterdam city hub maps the neighbourhoods and their schools so you can plan childcare and the school years together.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and accepts no payment from schools or childcare providers, so we publish parent reviews only after confirming the reviewer is part of the community. If your family has used CompaNanny in Amsterdam, please share your experience through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are CompaNanny fees?
CompaNanny charges for childcare by the hour rather than as annual tuition, with the rate set per type of care and number of days booked. Working parents in the Netherlands can usually reclaim part of the cost through the national childcare benefit, so the net figure depends on household income. CompaNanny publishes its current hourly rates, and those are the numbers to rely on.
Is CompaNanny bilingual?
Yes, at selected Amsterdam locations. CompaNanny runs bilingual groups for international families where both a Dutch speaking and an English speaking pedagogical worker are present, so children develop both languages. The bilingual groups operate at sites including Zuidas, the World Fashion Centre and Atlas Arena.
What ages does CompaNanny take?
CompaNanny covers daycare for babies and toddlers from roughly three months to four years, kindergarten activities for two to four year olds, and after school care for primary aged children up to about twelve. It is an early years and out of school provider rather than a primary school.
Is CompaNanny a school?
CompaNanny is a registered childcare provider rather than a primary school. It offers daycare, kindergarten and after school care that prepare children for primary school, and many international families use it as the early years step before they choose a Dutch or international primary in Amsterdam.
Where is CompaNanny in Amsterdam?
CompaNanny operates many locations across Amsterdam, with bilingual groups for international families concentrated in the business districts, including Zuidas in the south of the city, the World Fashion Centre and Atlas Arena.
