The Amsterdam primary of the Lycée Vincent van Gogh is the obvious choice for French speaking families among the international schools in Amsterdam who want their children educated in the French system. It is not a standalone school but the city annexe of the Lycée Français Vincent van Gogh of The Hague, the only AEFE managed French establishment in the Netherlands. The French school in Amsterdam was founded in 1957 by Michelin, joined the Lycée Vincent van Gogh by ministerial order in 1989, and moved to its current premises in De Pijp in 2009.
Lycée Vincent van Gogh Amsterdam at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | French national programme, taught in French; AEFE homologated (see the French curriculum guide) |
|---|---|
| Stages | Maternelle and élémentaire, ages 3 to 11 (PS to CM2); collège and lycée at The Hague |
| Founded | French school in Amsterdam 1957; joined Lycée Vincent van Gogh 1989; De Pijp premises since 2009 |
| Accreditation | AEFE network; homologation by the French Ministry of Education |
| Fee band | Mid band for the city; tuition set by year group (see Amsterdam fees) |
| Campus area | Rustenburgerstraat, De Pijp, beside Sarphatipark, central Amsterdam |
Curriculum and academics
The school follows the French national programme set by the French Ministry of Education, with the same content and timetable a child would meet in France. The Amsterdam site covers the primary years only: maternelle, the nursery and reception stage from petite section, and élémentaire through to CM2 at age 11. Teaching is in French, and the curriculum is structured around the official cycles, so a family transferring from France or another AEFE school anywhere in the world steps into a familiar sequence without losing ground. For how this system works and where it leads, the French curriculum pillar sets out the route from maternelle to the baccalauréat.
Because the Amsterdam campus stops at the end of primary, families planning the full French pathway should understand the structure of the wider establishment. Collège and lycée years are taught at the main Vincent van Gogh site in The Hague, which carries pupils to the French baccalauréat and the Baccalauréat Français International. Many Amsterdam families continue there, while others move to a Dutch or English medium school for secondary, a decision worth mapping early.
Weighing the French route against the alternatives?
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Lycée Vincent van Gogh Amsterdam fees
As an AEFE managed school, the Lycée charges tuition set by year group, and it sits in the mid band of our guide to international school fees in Amsterdam, below the premium private international schools but above the subsidised Dutch international primaries. The school publishes its current schedule, and rates are revised each year, so confirm the exact figure directly with the establishment before you apply rather than relying on a quoted band.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration or enrolment charge on acceptance and the usual extras for materials, lunches and trips. AEFE families who are French nationals may be eligible for the agency's means tested scholarship support, which can offset part of the cost. Our fee calculator is the quickest way to bring tuition and extras into a single annual figure before you commit.
Admissions
Entry to the primary follows the French school year, with the main intake in September and the strongest demand at maternelle. The school accepts applications through the year as places allow, which suits families relocating mid year, though popular year groups can fill. As a French programme school, it expects children to be able to follow lessons in French, and admission discussions cover a child's prior schooling and language level to place them in the right class.
Families coming from another AEFE school or from France usually transfer smoothly because the curriculum is continuous across the network. Those new to the French system should talk to the school early about language support and the fit of the programme, since instruction is wholly in French from the early years.
Location and who goes there
The Amsterdam primary is on Rustenburgerstraat in De Pijp, a lively central district just south of the historic centre and beside Sarphatipark. The location suits French speaking families living in the city rather than the commuter belt, and the school draws on the French expatriate community, dual nationality households and Dutch families who want a bilingual French upbringing for their children. It is compact and primary only, which gives it a small neighbourhood feel quite different from the large campus international schools on the city edge.
Most families here are committed to the French system, whether for continuity with a posting elsewhere, family heritage or a planned return to France. For how De Pijp and the wider city compare on housing, travel and the full school landscape, the Amsterdam city hub sets out the map of neighbourhoods and curricula across the region.
Lycée Vincent van Gogh Amsterdam reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Lycée Vincent van Gogh Amsterdam fees?
As an AEFE French school the Lycée sets tuition by year group, and rates sit in the mid band for the city rather than at the premium level of the large private international schools. The school publishes its current schedule, so confirm the exact figure directly before you apply.
What curriculum does Lycée Vincent van Gogh Amsterdam follow?
It teaches the French national programme set by the French Ministry of Education, delivered in French. The Amsterdam site covers maternelle and élémentaire, the equivalent of nursery through to the end of primary, for children aged 3 to 11.
What ages does the Amsterdam campus take?
The Amsterdam annexe is a primary school for ages 3 to 11, from petite section to CM2. Collège and lycée years continue at the main Vincent van Gogh site in The Hague.
Where is Lycée Vincent van Gogh Amsterdam located?
The Amsterdam primary is on Rustenburgerstraat in De Pijp, beside Sarphatipark, a central residential district south of the historic centre. It moved to these premises in 2009.
Is Lycée Vincent van Gogh Amsterdam part of the AEFE network?
Yes. The school is directly managed within the AEFE network, the agency for French education abroad, and follows the homologated French programme. The Amsterdam primary is an annexe of the Lycée Vincent van Gogh of The Hague.
