International Schools in Maastricht

The United World College Maastricht is the largest and most internationally prominent school in the city, with approximately 900 students from more than 100 countries spanning ages 4 to 19 across a five-building campus in the Amby neighbourhood east of the centre. The school was established in 2009 through a merger of the International School Maastricht and the International Primary School Joppenhof, and is the twelfth member of the global United World Colleges network whose mission focuses on peace and a sustainable future. Education covers primary, middle years, and secondary levels, all using the International Baccalaureate framework. The IB Diploma and Career-related Programme fees for day students in 2026-2027 are 12,690 euros per year; the Middle Years Programme is 12,260 euros. The school consistently achieves among the highest IB average scores of any school in the Netherlands. Boarding is available for 200 DP and CP students aged 16 to 18, selected through the worldwide UWC national committee system. Bus connection from Maastricht Centraal on Arriva Line 6 to the Geusseltbad stop.

A secondary international school with approximately 300 pupils from different countries, offering seven years of education from Form 1 through the IB Diploma. The school shares a building with the Bernard Lievegoed School, a Waldorf secondary school for students aged 12 to 18. Students follow a preparatory programme for the IB Middle Years Programme in Forms 1 to 3, the MYP in Forms 4 and 5, and have the option to continue to the IB Diploma Programme from age 16. The smaller scale compared to UWC Maastricht provides a more intimate environment and a different community character. A practical option for families arriving in Maastricht with secondary-age children who need an established English-language IB school.

For families planning a longer-term or permanent stay in Maastricht, Dutch state schools are free and of high quality. Integration takes time and children need Dutch language support in the initial period, which most schools provide. Maastricht’s status as a university city with a very large international population means Dutch primary and secondary schools in the city are more accustomed to non-Dutch-speaking children than state schools in most other Dutch cities, and language support programmes are generally well developed. Transition from an international school to the Dutch state system is most straightforward after primary school; secondary transitions require more careful planning. Your child’s registered GP can refer to language support services, and the municipality provides integration information at the Inwonersplein city hall.

Not a school in the conventional sense but the most significant educational institution in the city and the primary reason for the large international expat community. Maastricht University is over 50 percent international in its student body, conducts most of its education in English, and uses a problem-based learning approach in which small tutorial groups replace lectures as the primary teaching format. The faculties are housed throughout the Jekerkwartier in former monasteries and government buildings. UM is consistently ranked among the top young universities in the Netherlands and the world. For families in Maastricht with older children approaching university age, UM is a natural option and worth understanding as part of the broader educational landscape of the city.