Rotterdam is the Netherlands' most international working city — global shipping, energy and architecture firms fill its central business district — and that pulls in a steady stream of expat families with school-age children. What surprises many newcomers is how easy it is to find genuinely bilingual schooling in Rotterdam: the Dutch government formally funds bilingual primary and secondary streams (so-called tweetalig onderwijs or TTO), and the city has two long-established fully international schools alongside.
This 2026 family guide explains how bilingual and international schooling works in Rotterdam, the schools English-speaking families consistently choose, fees in euros, and the practical questions parents ask before committing.
Two pathways: bilingual Dutch (TTO) versus international
Rotterdam offers expat families a genuine choice between two distinct routes:
- Bilingual Dutch (TTO) schools. Subsidised public or semi-private schools that teach roughly half the curriculum in English and half in Dutch. Children sit Dutch national exams plus an internationally recognised English qualification (IB or Cambridge). Fees are very low — typically a voluntary parent contribution of €100 – €500 per year.
- International schools. Private (Dutch International Education Schools — DIES — or fully independent) schools delivering an English-medium curriculum, usually the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), IB or English National Curriculum. Fees are higher but the path is fully portable.
The right choice depends on how long you plan to stay and whether you want children to integrate into Dutch society or to remain on a globally mobile track.
Top bilingual and international schools in Rotterdam
Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS)
Part of the wider Wolfert van Borselen scholengroep, RISS runs the IB Middle Years and Diploma programmes in English for ages 11–18. A Dutch Ministry of Education-recognised international department, so fees stay moderate. View RISS profile.
Harbour International Primary School (HIPS)
The English-medium primary partner to RISS, also under the Wolfert umbrella. Delivers the International Primary Curriculum from ages 4–11 and feeds directly into RISS for secondary. Genuinely bilingual cultural environment with Dutch language exposure throughout. View HIPS profile.
Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam
Part of the Nord Anglia global network, delivering the English National Curriculum from Early Years through to IGCSE and IB Diploma. Fully private, smaller cohort sizes and the most internationally mobile pathway in the city. View Nord Anglia Rotterdam profile.
Bilingual schools fees in Rotterdam
Headline ranges for 2025/26:
- TTO Dutch bilingual primary: €100 – €500 voluntary contribution + ~€450 TTO language levy.
- TTO Dutch bilingual secondary: €450 – €700 TTO levy.
- Dutch International Education Schools (DIES, like RISS/HIPS): €5,500 – €9,500 per year, government-supported.
- Fully private international schools (Nord Anglia): €18,000 – €28,000 per year.
Even at the top end, Rotterdam remains meaningfully cheaper than London, Amsterdam or Geneva for an equivalent curriculum.
How the bilingual TTO model works in practice
If you opt for a Dutch TTO route:
- Roughly 50% of subjects (maths, geography, history, science) are taught in English; the rest in Dutch.
- Native-Dutch teachers are language-certified to teach their subject in English.
- Children sit the Dutch HAVO or VWO national exam alongside the Cambridge English certificates or a partial IB programme.
- Children who arrive without Dutch typically start with a one-year "schakelklas" (bridging year) before entering the bilingual mainstream.
Practical tips for bilingual schooling in Rotterdam
- Be honest about your time horizon. If you'll stay less than three years, the international (English-medium) track usually fits better.
- Check the schakelklas waitlist. Demand for bridging classes in Rotterdam has tightened — register the moment your move is confirmed.
- Live in Kralingen, Hillegersberg or Blijdorp. These neighbourhoods cluster the best TTO and international school options and cycle routes.
- Confirm the qualification track. Not every TTO secondary leads to IB Diploma — some only offer Cambridge IGCSE alongside HAVO/VWO.
- Get the residence registration first. Public-funded TTO schools require BSN-registered residency before enrolment.
See the broader Netherlands picture
For Amsterdam, The Hague, Eindhoven and Rotterdam side-by-side, see the best international schools in the Netherlands ranking on International School Advisor.
FAQ
Are bilingual Dutch schools in Rotterdam open to expat children who don't speak Dutch?
Yes, through a bridging class (schakelklas) that gives children the Dutch foundation needed to enter mainstream TTO from year 2 or 3.
How much do bilingual schools in Rotterdam cost in 2026?
From a voluntary €100 – €500 contribution in public TTO schools, up to €5,500 – €9,500 in Dutch International Education Schools, and €18,000 – €28,000 at fully private internationals.
Will my child end up bilingual?
In TTO schools, yes — most children leave secondary with near-native English and full mother-tongue-level Dutch, plus the academic vocabulary to study in either.