Dutch School Vocabulary for Expat Parents in the Netherlands

The Dutch school system surprises many expat parents. It is notably relaxed compared to systems in Germany, France, or the UK — less competitive in the primary years, highly decentralised, and with a strong tradition of parental involvement and child-centred learning. The vocabulary reflects this: Dutch educational terms often have a directness and simplicity that matches the broader Dutch professional culture.

Here is what you need to know as an expat parent navigating schooling in the Netherlands.

School Types

Openbare school — a state / public school, open to all children regardless of religion or philosophy, funded and managed by the municipality.

Bijzondere school — a special-character school, funded by the government but managed by a private organisation, typically based on a religious (Protestant, Catholic, Islamic) or pedagogical (Montessori, Dalton, Jenaplan, Steiner) philosophy. The Netherlands has strong constitutional protection for these schools; they represent a large share of Dutch primary education.

Internationale school — an international school offering education in English (or another language) under an international curriculum (IB, American, British, etc.). The main option for expat families not integrating into the Dutch language system.

ISK — Internationale Schakelklas (International Transition Class). A programme within Dutch state schools for newly arrived children who don't yet speak Dutch. Children attend the ISK full-time to learn Dutch and transition into mainstream regulier education. Most municipalities offer this; it is the primary route for expat children integrating into Dutch state schools.

NT2 — Nederlands als Tweede Taal (Dutch as a second language). The language learning framework used in the ISK and in integration programmes for adults.

School Structure

Kinderopvang — childcare for children aged 0–4. Not compulsory and not free; heavily subsidised via kinderopvangtoeslag (childcare benefit) from the Belastingdienst (tax authority).

Peuterspeelzaal / Peuteropvang — a toddler playgroup for 2–4-year-olds. Some municipalities have moved these into the kinderopvang system.

Basisschool — primary school, ages 4–12 (8 years). In the Netherlands, children can start basisschool from the day they turn 4; most children start in September of their 4th year. Compulsory from age 5.

Groep — year group. Dutch primary school uses group numbers 1–8 rather than years. Groep 1–2 is reception-equivalent; Groep 8 is the final year of primary (age ~12).

CITO-toets — the standardised school-leaving assessment for basisschool, taken in Groep 8. Alongside the school's advice (schooladvies), it determines secondary school track placement. A significant moment in Dutch education.

Schooladvies — the primary school's recommendation for secondary school track, made at the end of Groep 8. Legally binding (with recent changes), it determines which secondary school level a child is advised to enter.

Voortgezet onderwijs (VO) — secondary education. Structured in tracks:

• VMBO (Voorbereidend Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs) — pre-vocational secondary; 4 years, leads to MBO (vocational training).
• HAVO (Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs) — higher general secondary; 5 years, leads to HBO (university of applied sciences).
• VWO (Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs) — pre-university; 6 years, leads to WO (research university).

MBO — Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs. Vocational education and training, highly valued in the Netherlands.

HBO — Hoger Beroepsonderwijs. University of applied sciences.

WO / Universiteit — research university.

Daily School Life

Vakantie — holiday.

Meivakantie / Zomervakantie / Kerstvakantie — May / summer / Christmas holidays.

Rooster / Lesrooster — timetable.

Gym — PE (physical education), used in Dutch directly.

Overblijven — staying at school during lunch (since Dutch schools typically have a short lunch break; children either go home or overblijven at school, where they eat lunch, often supervised by paid overblijfouders).

Schoolgids — the school's information guide, issued to parents at the start of each year. Contains the school's vision, rules, schedules, and contact information.

Ouderavond — parents' evening.

10-minutengesprek — a 10-minute parent-teacher slot at parents' evenings; the Dutch school meeting format.

Rapport — school report card.

Cijfer — grade. Dutch grades run from 1 to 10, with 5.5 as the pass mark (often rounded to 6). Higher is better, unlike the German system. A 10 is rare and means exceptional.

Onvoldoende — a fail (below 5.5).

Voldoende — a pass (5.5 and above).

Ouderraad — parent council. A consultative body of parent representatives in the school.

Medezeggenschapsraad (MR) — the participation council, a formal advisory body including parents, teachers, and (in secondary schools) students. Has co-determination rights on specific school decisions.

The Dutch school system works well for expat children — the ISK is effective, the teachers are generally warm and progressive, and the lack of homework in the early years comes as a relief to many expat families from more pressured systems. The vocabulary above is your entry point into participating meaningfully rather than just watching from a distance.

Dutch school vocabulary is the bridge between you and your child's education in the Netherlands. Vokabulo helps you build it. Available on iPhone and iPad.