Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam holds a singular place among the schools in Amsterdam: founded in 1930, it is the oldest Montessori secondary school in the world. It is a Dutch state funded school, part of the Montessori Scholengemeenschap Amsterdam, and it teaches the national curriculum in Dutch through Montessori principles. That makes it a very different proposition from the fee paying international schools relocating families often start with, and the distinction matters when you weigh it up.
Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Dutch national curriculum (vmbo-t, havo, vwo or gymnasium), taught in Dutch through Montessori methods |
|---|---|
| Stages | Secondary, ages roughly 12 to 18 (lower years and upper years) |
| Founded | 1930; the oldest Montessori secondary school in the world |
| Accreditation | Dutch Inspectorate of Education; designated culture profile school (cultuurprofielschool) |
| Fee band | No tuition (publicly funded); voluntary parental contribution only (see Amsterdam fees) |
| Campus area | Amsterdam-Zuid, south of the centre |
Curriculum and academics
The MLA teaches the standard Dutch secondary curriculum and prepares students for the national examinations, but it does so through the Montessori approach. Pupils work across the theoretical pre vocational track known as vmbo-t, the general track havo, and the pre university track vwo, including gymnasium with classical languages. What sets it apart is the pedagogy: flexible work periods, self directed projects, qualitative feedback alongside grades, and a strong emphasis on independence and responsibility. The Montessori pillar explains how these principles carry up from the early years into secondary teaching.
Because the school is a designated culture profile school, the arts run through the timetable rather than sitting at the edge of it, with a wide range of culture subjects and a cultural emphasis inside ordinary lessons. Teaching is in Dutch and follows the national framework, so the qualifications a student leaves with are the recognised Dutch diplomas that open the door to Dutch universities and beyond.
Comparing a Dutch school with an international one?
Our fee calculator brings tuition, the voluntary contribution and extras into one annual figure so you can weigh the MLA against fee paying alternatives.
Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam fees
As a publicly funded Dutch school, the MLA charges no tuition, which places it at the very bottom of our guide to international school fees in Amsterdam, far below the subsidised and premium fee paying schools. Families are asked instead for a voluntary parental contribution, the vrijwillige ouderbijdrage, which covers extras such as trips, materials and cultural activities. By Dutch law this contribution is voluntary and not a condition of a place, and a child cannot be refused entry for non payment.
Even with no tuition, families should still plan for the practical extras of secondary school: a laptop or tablet where required, sports kit, optional trips and the cost of materials for culture subjects. Our fee calculator is a quick way to see the real annual outlay and to compare it against the fee paying international schools many relocating families also consider.
Admissions
Entry to the MLA runs through the Amsterdam city wide secondary transfer process rather than a private admissions office. Primary pupils in their final year, Group 8, receive a school advice level and then take part in the central matching system that allocates places across the city's secondary schools each spring, ahead of the August start. Demand for popular Amsterdam-Zuid schools is high, so families should understand the matching rules and preference lists well before they apply.
For relocating families this is an important practical point: places are allocated through the municipal system on the basis of the Dutch primary school advice, and instruction is in Dutch. Families arriving from abroad usually route younger children through an international transition class or a Dutch international school first, then consider a mainstream Dutch school such as the MLA once a child's Dutch is strong enough.
Location and who goes there
The MLA sits in Amsterdam-Zuid, the well connected residential district south of the centre that is also home to many international families and several of the city's better known schools. The intake is overwhelmingly local and Dutch speaking, drawn from families who value the Montessori philosophy and the school's long cultural tradition. It is a mainstream city school rather than an expat enclave, which is part of its appeal for families settling in the Netherlands for the long term.
For expat parents the honest read is that the MLA suits children who already speak Dutch or who are committed to integrating into the Dutch system, rather than those needing an English medium route. For how Amsterdam-Zuid compares with other neighbourhoods on housing, travel and the wider mix of Dutch and international schools, the Amsterdam city hub sets out the full picture.
Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam fees?
The MLA is a publicly funded Dutch school, so there is no tuition fee. Families are asked for a voluntary parental contribution that covers extras such as trips, materials and cultural activities, and which the school states is not a condition of admission.
Is Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam an international school?
No. It is a Dutch state funded secondary school teaching the national curriculum in Dutch through Montessori methods. Expat families should be aware that lessons are in Dutch rather than English, so a working level of Dutch is usually needed.
What ages does Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam take?
It is a secondary school for students aged roughly 12 to 18, covering the Dutch vmbo-t, havo and vwo or gymnasium tracks across the lower and upper years.
When do Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam applications open?
Entry follows the Amsterdam city wide secondary transfer process, with applications from primary pupils in Group 8 made in the spring before the August start, through the central matching system used across the city.
What makes the MLA a Montessori school?
Founded in 1930, the MLA is the oldest Montessori secondary school in the world. It delivers the Dutch curriculum through Montessori principles, with flexible work periods, self directed learning and an emphasis on independence alongside the standard national examinations.
