International Schools in Rotterdam

The most established fully international school in Rotterdam, founded in 1959 as the American International School of Rotterdam and acquired by Nord Anglia Education in 2018. NAISR offers the International Primary Curriculum for primary ages, the International Middle Years Curriculum for secondary and the IB Diploma Programme for the final two years. Accredited by CIS and NEASC. Around 260 students from 40 nationalities in a relatively small campus environment that allows for closer staff-student relationships than larger schools. School bus transport covers most of the main expat neighbourhoods. Located in Hillegersberg next to the Japanese School of Rotterdam (Verhulstlaan 19). Given the smaller campus size, the Nord Anglia global network provides access to exchanges and broader academic resources that the Rotterdam campus alone could not offer.

A secondary-only school in the Blijdorp area near Rotterdam Centraal, part of the Wolfert van Borselen school group, with around 400 students from 82 nationalities. RISS operates across two campuses: a junior campus at Bentincklaan 294 for the Foundation Course (ages 11 to 14) and a senior campus at Schimmelpenninckstraat 23 for IGCSE (ages 14 to 16) and the IB Diploma Programme (ages 16 to 18). Consistently praised for its supportive and inclusive atmosphere and the quality of its IB Diploma results. As a secondary-only school, families need a separate primary option for younger children; Harbour International or NAISR are the natural primary partners. The central Blijdorp location is well-connected by public transport from most Rotterdam neighbourhoods.

A state-funded Dutch primary school with an English-language international department, formerly known as De Blijberg International. Located in the centre of Rotterdam. The international department offers primary education in English delivered by native-speaking teachers to children from across the world, following a curriculum designed to allow pupils to return to their home countries or move to a third country with minimal disruption to their learning. At the end of primary, children can continue to a Dutch secondary school or transfer to an international secondary such as RISS. The subsidised fee structure makes it the most affordable primary option in Rotterdam and one of the best value international primary schools in the Netherlands. Often cited by expat families as the hidden gem of Rotterdam’s school system.

A Dutch Jenaplan primary school in Rotterdam Noord with an international bilingual department that teaches in both Dutch and English following the Dutch national curriculum. The Jenaplan approach emphasises group-based learning, mixed-age classes and creative exploration. An excellent choice for expat families planning a longer stay in Rotterdam who want their primary-age children to develop genuine Dutch language proficiency alongside strong English in a well-regarded Dutch school environment. The Gordelweg campus is conveniently located for families in the Blijdorp, Bergpolder and surrounding Noord neighbourhoods.

Part of the Winford Bilingual Schools group operating across multiple Dutch cities, offering fully immersive dual-language Dutch and English education where all subjects are taught equally in both languages from primary age onwards. The immersive bilingual approach produces genuine bilingual fluency in children who attend from an early age, which is a meaningful long-term advantage for families planning an extended stay in the Netherlands. A good option for families who want true language immersion rather than a predominantly English-language curriculum with Dutch as a supplementary subject.

One of the finest international schools in the Netherlands and the largest, with around 2,000 students from 107 nationalities following the full IB continuum from PYP through to the Diploma Programme. The Hague is 25 minutes by direct train from Rotterdam Centraal, making ISH a practical option for expat families in Rotterdam who want access to one of the Netherlands’ premier international schools. ISH is partly government-funded, making its fees significantly lower than comparable fully private IB schools. The school is consistently oversubscribed: apply at least a year before your planned start date. For families willing to use the train commute, ISH offers quality and diversity that Rotterdam’s own schools cannot currently match at the same price point.

One of the most respected international schools in the Netherlands, serving the expat community for over 90 years. BSN follows the English National Curriculum through to Sixth Form and is the only school in the Netherlands offering both A-Levels and BTECs alongside the IB Diploma and IB Career-related Programme: the broadest range of sixth form qualifications in the country. Particularly popular with British families and those from Commonwealth countries seeking curriculum continuity. The Den Haag area campuses are accessible from Rotterdam in under 30 minutes by direct train. A school bus network covers most main expat areas. See the full Den Haag international schools guide for more on both ISH and BSN.

Annual tuition fees are only part of the total cost. Expect a non-refundable application fee of 200 to 500 euros and a one-off enrolment or capital levy of 1,000 to 3,000 euros at private schools. School bus transport typically adds 1,500 to 3,000 euros per year. IB and IGCSE external exam fees add 1,000 to 2,500 euros in upper secondary. Many employers in Rotterdam’s shipping, logistics, port and financial services sectors include school fee allowances in expat packages: always confirm this before accepting a contract. Families benefiting from the 30% ruling may be able to use part of their increased net salary to offset school costs. For families with multiple school-age children the cumulative annual cost can be very significant: plan your total budget before choosing a neighbourhood and school combination.

Rotterdam has fewer international school options than The Hague, which has a larger diplomatic and international organisation community and a correspondingly richer school sector including the ISH, BSN, European School, American School of The Hague, German school and French Lycée. For families with specific curriculum requirements that Rotterdam cannot meet, The Hague’s 25-minute train connection makes its schools genuinely accessible. Some expat families based in Rotterdam choose to live closer to the Den Haag Hollands Spoor area, which shortens both the commute to Rotterdam and the school run to The Hague. See the full Hague international schools guide for detail on all options there.

Apply to multiple schools simultaneously rather than waiting for one response before trying the next. Most Rotterdam international schools are in the northern part of the city around Hillegersberg and Blijdorp: factor this into your neighbourhood choice before signing a lease. Documents typically required: previous school reports, birth certificate, passport copy, proof of Rotterdam address, BSN number once available, and a letter from your employer confirming international status for subsidised school applications. See the BSN guide if you have not yet registered. The Rotterdam International Center (RIC) at Weena 725 runs free orientation sessions for newly arrived expats that include school navigation advice.