Amsterdam is unusual among European capitals: Dutch state-funded secondary schools offer a parallel English-medium pathway called Tweetalig Onderwijs (TTO), which leads to a Dutch havo or vwo diploma plus an IB MYP certificate. Alongside that, the city has a strong network of private bilingual primary schools and a handful of fully international schools. For international families, the decision between bilingual schools in Amsterdam and a fully English-medium international school is one of the most consequential of the relocation. This 2026 guide explains the options, the trade-offs and the typical pathways.
The three paths through Amsterdam education
Families essentially choose between three models. The first is fully international, English-medium schools (The International School of Amsterdam, The British School of Amsterdam, Amsterdam International Community School). The second is the Dutch bilingual path: bilingual primary (with about 30 to 50 percent of instruction in English) followed by TTO secondary in a Dutch state school, ending in vwo plus IB MYP. The third is a fully Dutch state-school path with English as a subject — the cheapest and most integrationist option, but only realistic for families willing to commit to Dutch from arrival.
Why bilingual rather than fully international
The bilingual path has three practical advantages. Tuition at TTO state schools is essentially free (only a small parental contribution of EUR 300 to EUR 900 per year). Graduates emerge fully bilingual in Dutch and English, which is a significant advantage for university entry in the Netherlands or for staying in the country professionally. And the path mixes children of all backgrounds, which most expat parents value over the more uniform expat bubble at fully international schools.
Top bilingual and international schools in Amsterdam
Amsterdam International Community School (AICS)
AICS is a fully accredited IB World School running PYP, MYP and Diploma at three campuses across the city. The school accepts only children of internationally mobile families on a temporary residence basis, so verify eligibility before applying. View school profile.
The International School of Amsterdam (ISA)
ISA in Amstelveen has been the flagship IB continuum school in the Netherlands since 1964. PYP, MYP and Diploma in English with strong language support across multiple languages. View school profile.
The British School of Amsterdam (BSA)
BSA offers the English National Curriculum from Reception to Year 13, with IGCSE and A Levels. Compact campus in Amsterdam-Zuid. View school profile.
Winford Bilingual Primary School
Winford runs a fully bilingual Dutch-English primary curriculum that prepares children for either a Dutch havo/vwo route or a continuation into international secondary. Strong choice for families who plan to settle in the Netherlands long-term. View school profile.
International French School of Amsterdam
For Francophone families, this school runs the French national curriculum with a bilingual Dutch component. View school profile.
How the TTO programme works
TTO is the Dutch state-funded bilingual programme. About 30 percent of Dutch secondary schools offer it, with the majority of the strongest TTO schools in Amsterdam. The first three years use English for at least 50 percent of subjects (typically maths, sciences, history, geography, English literature, arts). The final two years move to mostly Dutch instruction to prepare for the Dutch state exams. Graduates leave with the Dutch vwo diploma (university-entry equivalent to A Levels or IB Diploma) plus the IB Middle Years Programme certificate.
Fees and costs in 2026
Fully international schools in Amsterdam charge EUR 13,000 to EUR 26,000 per year. TTO schools require a parental contribution of EUR 300 to EUR 900 annually plus around EUR 200 in books and materials. Private bilingual primary schools sit between EUR 3,000 and EUR 9,000 per year depending on the school and the level of English provision. AICS and the publicly subsidised international primary schools fall under a different fee model with sliding scale tuition based on employer and citizenship.
Admissions: when and how
AICS and the publicly subsidised international primary schools (DENISE, the Esprit network) prioritise children of internationally mobile parents. ISA and BSA are open to all expats. TTO secondary schools require children to pass a Dutch-language entry test (CITO) plus an English assessment — Dutch is necessary because the final two years are taught in Dutch. Applications open in late October each year for the September start.
To compare every international and bilingual school in the Netherlands, see our 2026 ranking of the best schools in the Netherlands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my child need to speak Dutch
Not for fully international schools. For Dutch bilingual primary or TTO secondary, your child will need to develop functional Dutch within the first year because the final two years of TTO are taught primarily in Dutch.
How does TTO compare to the IB Diploma
The Dutch vwo diploma with the IB MYP certificate is well recognised by Dutch and European universities and broadly equivalent to the IB Diploma for university entry. The IB Diploma is more recognised in the US, Canada and Australia.
Can my child move from international to Dutch later
Yes, with sufficient Dutch acquisition. The move is easier in primary years than after Year 7. Some families plan it: a few years at AICS or ISA for stabilisation, then transfer into TTO once Dutch is at survival level.