The new European School The Hague has opened its doors!

The 20th of August The European School The Hague (ESH) opened its doors for 110 children of different nationalities at the Houtrustweg 2. These children attend nursery classes and the first year primary classes (ages 4 – 8), spread over a Dutch, English and  Spanish section. All pupils are taught by experienced and fully qualified native speakers in the respective language sections. Dutch is taught three times a week to all the non-Dutch speaking pupils and from the first year primary (age 6, Dutch group 3) a first foreign language course (English, German or French) is compulsory. Children whose mother tongue is French, German or Italian receive mother tongue tuition every day and in the near future other mother tongue courses for example Polish, Portuguese or Finnish could be added.                                                                                                   

For decades there has been talk of the possibility of opening a European School in Brussels upon request of the European Patent Office. The European Space Agency showed much interest as well. The need for a European School became apparent and justifiable when Europol and Eurojust opened their offices here in The Hague.

Thanks to a very good co-operation between the Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation, the Dutch Ministry of Education,  the Municipality of The Hague and the above mentioned European Institutions, and the Board of Governors of the European Schools in Brussels, it happened that the school could actually start in August.

Even though The School is founded for European staff children, other children are more than welcome. For children with a Dutch passport there are specific admission conditions that need to be complied with.

During the course of the school year an additional 40 children will join the school; most of them immediately after their 4th birthday, which is in accordance to the Dutch Law. The School meets the needs of both Dutch Law and the European School program and is therefore monitored by both the Dutch and the European authorities.

Further information can be found on the school web site www.europeanschoolthehague.nl

The International School Utrecht : filling a gap in the Utrecht region.

On September 6 the Grand Opening of  the International School Utrecht www.isutrecht.nl took place. Already over 70 children are enrolled and many more will follow! The school will make the Utrecht region even more attractive for companies and organizations that wish to establish in the centre of the Netherlands.

The International School Utrecht aspires to provide the International Baccalaureate educational continuum and is in the process for accreditation to become an International Baccalaureate World School, offering all three IB programs: the Primary Years Program (PYP), the Middle Years Program(MYP) and the Diploma Program ( DP) ( www.ibo.org), taught  to students from diverse international backgrounds and is created especially for expat children.                                                            

Like other subsidized international schools in the Netherlands, International School Utrecht will, additional to the state subsidy, charge a school fee starting at € 3500,- p/a.

Initially, the school will be housed in an attractive  school building on the east side of  the City of Utrecht at the Notenbomenlaan 400.

International School Breda one year after its start

In 2011 the International School Breda started to cater for the educational needs of internationals in West Brabant and Zeeland. Initially 50 students were enrolled. 

The IS Breda provides international education combined with day-care and after-school care on the premises of the Mencia de Mendoza College in Breda.                                                                                                

As of this schoolyear students aged 16-18 follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP), for which accreditation was received within the first year of the school opening, a great achievement in itself.

The ISB works closely with its primary and secondary school partners, two highly respected local schools, ensuring a solid international education for its pupils. This cooperation and the (financial) support of the Ministry of Education and a number of private sponsors have ensured the affordability of the school’s fees, allowing the ISB to offer excellent education at a reasonable cost compared to private international schools. 

In a stimulating and inviting learning environment, children are able to discover and explore their unique talents. It also actively seeks collaboration with local sports clubs, cultural clubs, museums, universities and other learning opportunities in the region so that it is truly anchored in local society. This helps enrich both local society and the lives and experiences of the students and parents.

More information on the educational system in The Netherlands (national and international streams) can be found at www.educaide.nl.

Willemijn van Oppen / Educaide / Expatica