Childcare for toddlers
There are three option for toddlers (aged 2.5 to 4 years) :
- Daycare (0-4 year)
- Pre-kindergarten
- Preschool education (or early childhood education) (VVE)
a. Daycare (Kinderdagverblijf) is a paid option which is especially popular among working parents. Children are taken care of during the day in a safe environment with professional care. It is important to know that there are often waiting lists, so early registration is recommended. Please note: a spot in daycare does not automatically guarantee a spot in after-school care (BSO), separate registration is required for this. Parents need to pay for childcare but can ask for "kinderopvangtoeslag". The hight of the "kinderopvangtoeslag" depends on your income.
b. Pre-kindergarten (peuterspeelzaal) provides an informal environment where children can play and learn under the supervision of professionals. Parents often choose this option so their children can interact with peers and be stimulated in their development. There may also be waiting lists here, so early registration is recommended.
c. Preschool education (or early childhood education) (VVE) is for toddlers who benefit from extra support in their development. This contributes to a good start in primary school. In preschool education, your child attends childcare for 16 hours per week and follows a special program to stimulate their development.
Many schools offer pre-school care (VSO), which is convenient for working parents or parents with busy morning schedules. Inquire at the school about availability and registration procedures for VSO.
There are often waiting lists for various childcare options, such as BSO (after school care), VSO (pre-school care), daycare and pre-kindergarten. It is wise to register early. Please note: childcare is usually not arranged by the school but by a separate organization mostly collaborating with the school. Internationals can inquire which organization the school collaborates with for childcare options.
Learning through play at childcare
Childcare offers a program for preschool education. Pedagogical staff members implement this program with the toddlers. Preschool education stimulates the development of:
• language;
• preparatory mathematics;
• motor skills;
• social-emotional skills.
Costs and Child Care Benefit | Preschool education
The government wants to support and encourage parents with young children to participate in the labor market. That is why the government contributes to the costs that parents incur for childcare. If your child is going to childcare or after-school childcare (buitenschoolse opvang – BSO), you may be eligible to receive childcare benefits (kinderopvangtoeslag). Childcare benefit is a contribution towards the costs of childcare.
Costs depend on whether you can use the childcare allowance and whether your child has a preschool indication, which is issued by the child health clinic. (In Dutch: Consultatiebureau).
Parents of children with an indication do not pay a parental contribution. A parental contribution is requested for children without an indication. The amount of the parental contribution depends on your income. The costs for preschool education are the same for all providers.
PO | Basisschool / Primair onderwijs
Primary education
Primary education lasts 8 years, starting at age 4 in Group 1 and finishing in Group 8. Children may start in group one the 1 day after they turn 4 (because schools still allow children to celebrate their birthday at preschool). The first day of school will be planned in consultation with the school. At the age of 5, according to Dutch law, children are obliged to attend school ("leerplicht").
Most children go to school close to home. They do this not only from practical considerations, but also from vision. So that children also can meet informally after school and build friendships.
In many schools, there is a special class known as "kleuterklas" (kindergarten), where children from Group 1 and Group 2 are brought together. Here, the focus is on imaginative themes, playful learning, social interaction, expanding vocabulary, developing fine and gross motor skills, expressing oneself, and gradually introducing the fundamentals of reading and writing. The more formal academic curriculum begins in Group 3, around the age of six.
The subjects include Dutch, Mathematics, World orientation (geography, history, and natural sciences), Physical education, Arts (drawing, painting, music, drama, etc.), and citizenship.
School usually runs from 8:30 to 15:00 with a break. During the mid-day break, children bring their own lunch. It's common for schools to have Wednesday afternoons off. This may differ per school. So to be sure it's wise to check this with the school of your choice. Traditionally, Dutch primary schools don't give a lot of homework to young kids. They focus more on in-class activities, group projects, and creating a positive learning environment. However, this can vary between schools and teachers.
In Group 8, students take a test (in Dutch: doorstroom toets) where they test Dutch language, comprehension, grammar, vocab, spelling, mathematics and word orientation. Based on this test and teacher recommendations, they get advice on which level of secondary education to choose. Children who are less than 4 years in the Netherlands do not have to make this test.
VO | Voortgezet Onderwijs
Secondary education
After finishing primary education, students usually move on to secondary education at around age 12. In secondary school, specialized teachers teach students different subjects, requiring them to change classrooms between lessons. Class sizes typically range between 25 and 30 students. School start and end times can vary each day, and there are breaks; normally, students bring their own lunch.
Students must select one of three secondary school tracks based on their abilities, interests, and career goals. Admission to certain tracks is determined by the results of the doorstroom toets taken in Group 8 of primary education and teacher recommendations.
The three school track options are:
1. Pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO),
2. Senior general secondary education (HAVO),
3. Pre-university education (VWO).
"Brugklas"
Some secondary schools have a one or two-year bridging period (e.g. HAVO/VWO or VMBO-T/HAVO), during which the admission to the appropriate level for the student is postponed by one or two years.
PRO | Beroepsonderwijs
Practical training
Practical training (pro) is a six year pathway in which students receive intensive instruction and guidance. In smaller classes, students mainly learn from practice and by doing. For example, teachers explicitly help students to develop important general skills, such as self-reliance, communication skills and general employee etiquette that is deemed essential in any workplace. Students follow the same subjects that are offered in regular lower secondary education (onderbouw), but in much smaller groups.
To be admitted to practical education, a declaration of admissibility for practical education (“Toelatingsverklaring”: TLV pro) is required. The TLV is issued by the appropriate education partnership. The following national admission criteria are used: The student's IQ is between 55 and 80.
VMBO | Voorbereidend Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs
Intermediate vocational education
This is a 4-year program that prepares students for vocational training or further education. Pupils can choose from four learning pathways at
• VMBO basisberoepsgerichte leerweg (basic vocational education),
• VMBO kaderberoepsgerichte leerweg (intermediate vocational education),
• VMBO gemengde leerweg (mixed vocational/general education), and
• VMBO (MAVO) theoretische leerweg (theoretical education).
After VMBO, students can go to MBO, and after finishing MBO, students can go to HBO (Bachelor's degree). One can also progress to HAVO provided certain conditions are met (regarding exam scores for certain subjects).
MBO | Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs
Secondary vocational education
Secondary vocational education takes up to four years, depending on the level of training. Those who complete their training can start work or go on to another form of education. More than 700 vocational courses are provided in the Netherlands.
Levels of training
Secondary vocational education (MBO) prepares students for a wide range of occupations, from franchise manager to mechanic or nursing assistant. In the future, demand for skilled workers is expected to increase sharply in the Dutch job market.
MBO courses are given at four different levels of training, each leading to a specific job qualification:
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Level 1: Assistant training (mbo niveau 1) - for basic executive work;
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Level 2: Basic vocational training (mbo niveau 2) - for executive practical work;
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Level 3: Professional training (mbo niveau 3) - to become an independent practitioner;
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Level 4: Middle-management and specialized training (mbo niveau 4) - after which a person can practice a profession fully independently, with a wide range of applications and/or specialization.
Pupils who have successfully completed the theoretical, combined, or middle-management vocational program at the VMBO level can enroll in professional and middle-management training (MBO levels 3 and 4). Holders of a level 4 MBO certificate may go on to higher professional education (HBO).
Practical training and classroom learning.
There are two learning pathways for each MBO course: vocational training (BOL), where practical training takes up between 20% and 60% of the course, and block or day release (BBL), where practical training takes up more than 60% of the course.
International accreditation
Secondary and pre-vocational education certificates are recognized abroad. The website of SBB, the Foundation for Cooperation on Vocational Education, Training and Labour Market, provides more information on accreditation and certificates.
HAVO | Hoger Algemeen Vormend Onderwijs
Higher General Secondary Education
This is a five-year program that prepares students for higher professional education (HBO) or university (WO). It is a more general education track compared to VMBO and offers a broad range of subjects. After HAVO, you can go to the fifth class of VWO (only Atheneum) or to HBO (bachelor's degree).
VWO | Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs
Pre-University Education
This is a six-year program that prepares students for university. It is the most academically demanding track and offers a more theoretical education compared to HAVO. After VWO, you can go to HBO (bachelor's degree) and/or university. VWO contains Gymnasium (with Latin and Greek) and Atheneum (without Latin or Greek).
HAVO and VWO | Profiles
In the lower years of secondary school (Brugklas), students follow a broad curriculum and attend classes in fixed groups. In the upper years of HAVO and VWO, students select one of four subject combinations (profiles) based on their interests, abilities, and future career aspirations. The groups then divide accordingly, allowing students to attend classes tailored to their chosen profile.
These profiles are typically offered within HAVO (Higher General Secondary Education) and VWO (Pre-University Education) tracks. Here's an overview of the main profiles:
1. Nature and Health (Natuur en Gezondheid):
This profile focuses on subjects related to natural sciences, health sciences, and biology. Students who choose this profile often have an interest in pursuing careers in medicine, healthcare, biology, environmental science, or related fields.
2. Nature and Technology (Natuur en Techniek):
This profile emphasizes subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry, and technology. It's suitable for students interested in engineering, technology, architecture, or other technical fields.
3. Economics and Society (Economie en Maatschappij):
This profile covers subjects related to economics, business studies, social sciences, and law. Students who choose this profile may have ambitions to work in business, finance, law, politics, or social sciences.
4. Culture and Society (Cultuur en Maatschappij):
This profile focuses on subjects like history, literature, arts, languages, and social sciences. It's suitable for students with interests in humanities, languages, arts, culture, journalism, or social work.
These profiles are designed to provide students with a more specialized education that aligns with their career goals and interests. By choosing a specific profile, students can tailor their secondary education to better prepare themselves for further studies or entry into the workforce. Additionally, these profiles can also influence the subjects and electives students take during their final years of secondary education, helping to deepen their knowledge in their chosen field. After completing secondary education, students have the option to continue their studies at a university, such as the University of Applied Sciences (HBO), or enter the workforce with their vocational qualifications from MBO.
