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The Dutch Education System Explained: From Basisschool to University

How Dutch schooling works: compulsory education, groups 1 to 8, the school advice, vmbo, havo and vwo, mbo, hbo and university, and what it costs.

← Living in the NetherlandsFamily, benefits and education6 min readUpdated 5 Oct 2026
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Key facts

5 to 16compulsory education (leerplicht)
to 18qualification duty, until a starting qualification (havo, vwo or mbo 2)
8 groupsin primary school, usually from age 4 to 12
€2,694statutory tuition fee for higher education, 2026-27

The path through school

  1. 0 to 4
    Childcare and preschool

    Daycare (kinderdagverblijf) is paid, with childcare allowance for working parents.

  2. 4 to 12
    Basisschool, groups 1 to 8

    Most children start on their fourth birthday. Primary school is free; schools may ask a voluntary parental contribution.

  3. Group 8
    School advice and the doorstroomtoets

    The teacher gives a school advice; the national doorstroomtoets can raise it, never lower it.

  4. 12 to 16/18
    Secondary: vmbo, havo or vwo

    Three main levels, sometimes combined in the first years (brugklas).

  5. 16+
    Mbo, hbo or university

    Vocational training, universities of applied sciences, or research universities.

Infographic: the Dutch school tracks vmbo, havo and vwo

The three secondary levels

vmbohavovwo
Years456
FocusPractical and vocationalGeneral, appliedAcademic (atheneum or gymnasium)
Leads tombohbouniversity (wo)
SwitchingUp to havo possibleUp to vwo possible

Switching up a level is possible, and many students take a longer route (stapelen). The Dutch system sorts early, so the group 8 advice matters, but it is not final.

Higher education

mbo

Vocational education at four levels, often combined with work placements (bbl or bol).

hbo

Universities of applied sciences (hogescholen): four-year bachelors aimed at a profession.

wo

Research universities: three-year bachelors and one- or two-year masters.

Choosing a university? See Dutch universities for the list, the application steps and student finance.

Infographic: tuition fees in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany compared

For international families

Public Dutch school
Free, and children usually learn Dutch quickly. Some cities have newcomer classes (taalklas).
Bilingual school (tto)
Dutch secondary schools teaching part of the curriculum in English.
International school
Subsidised Dutch international schools (DIS) charge moderate fees; private ones charge more.
English skills
The Netherlands ranks first in the EF English Proficiency Index.

Sources

This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.

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