Dutch School or International School?

23/7/2013

Some time ago I met Monique. Monique is 13. She lives in The Hague and goes to the French school. She was born on the Netherlands and has lived here all her life.

When I asked her what she would consider herself. “French, of course” she replied (with a bit of a “what a silly question” look). She has never lived in France. All her friends are French (apart from one neighbour she sometimes plays with). Can she speak Dutch? “emmm... yes…a little but… “

You’re an expat living in the Netherlands. Do you send your children to one of the many international schools, or to a Dutch school? Many parents opt for an international school without considering the alternatives. Internationals schools of course work with international curricula making it easy to swap schools with the next overseas posting. Children get to meet other children in a similar situation to them and lessons are usually in their native language. They don’t need to learn Dutch to be schooled and if you work for one of the big international companies the (sometimes exorbitant) school fees may be covered. So sending your child to one of these schools definitely makes sense, especially if you know you will only be here for a limited period of time.

However, just suppose you expect to be based here for a longer period of time, and your children are young. Sending your child to a Dutch school may well have its advantages. Your child picks up an extra language; Dutch. Studies show that children pick up new languages quickly and the more languages they have as children the easier it is to pick up further languages later on in life. Your children get the opportunity to be truly multicultural, being immersed in the Dutch culture at school and with school friends whilst being exposed to you and your partner’s culture(s) at home. You get to meet other parents, mingle with the locals, learn about the Dutch culture and you may even pick up a few words of the language yourself. If you do move overseas later will the curriculum really be that different as to confuse the child? I am no expert but I can’t imagine mathematics in the Netherlands being so different from mathematics in the US, France or China. Oh yes, and the schools here are free…

I wonder what will happen to Monique when she is older if she goes abroad to study or work. How do you explain that you are French but have never lived in France, or that you were born in, and spent your whole life in the Netherlands but can’t speak Dutch…

9 Comments

Claudia Obendrauf

25/7/2013 06:58:22 am

Dear Caitriona,
I agree with you when it comes to young children, or families who expect to stay till their children have finished school. It is not that easy any more if your children are older and getting closer to endexams. Yes, curriculums are different enough to cause problems, and you have to keep an eye on where you expect your children to go to University. It is easier to get accepted if you come from the same education system.

Caitriona link

25/7/2013 07:49:01 am

Hi Claudia,
Thanks for your comment. I've heard that now from a couple of people with younger children or those who plan on staying longer term.... of course as a parent it's your choice where you send your child to school but I've always found it interesting the amount of parents who would never even consider sending their children to a Dutch school...

Shakhnoza

29/8/2013 07:22:29 am

Dear Caitriona,

I have no problems in saying that I am Russian, never lived in Russia, was born and spent my whole life in Uzbekistan and cannot connect 2 words in Uzbek. Why? Because Russian is used in all post-soviet countries while Uzbek only in one. Unfortunately, the same is applicable to Dutch. So I would definitely send my kid to a British or French school instead of Dutch, as in case I leave thus country, my child will be able to speak at least 2 languages which are used in many countries of the world. However, if I stay here for good - definitely a Dutch school - to make life of my child easier in this country.

Aniko

16/9/2013 04:49:36 am

I sent my children to Dutch school - it was quite an easy decision mainly because I came with my family with the decision to stay long term. Then, as you also mention, my kids are young and none of us, the parents is a native English speaker. Neither did my husband's employer pay for schooling. So, as I say, it was quite an easy decision. Now, after a year, my 7-year-old speaks perfect Dutch and my 2-year-old, only in pre-school since April, speaks some words and sings even more songs in her second language. The only problem is that we might have to leave the country soon. Now I really feel worried about them and thinking maybe we should have considered an international school... I can only hope for the mere skills of learning another language come to life when moving to a different country. Or, survival skills if we go back to our home country where the curriculum is indeed very different from that in the Netherlands (not in mathematics, of course, but unfortunately there are many more subjects).

roberta smith

18/3/2014 07:04:47 am

Errmmmm - can we speak the truth here [for once] about the hostility and bullying of expat kids and the general outrageous hostility shown to expats [on a daily basis] as the main reason our kids don't go to Dutch schools

been here 3 years - and YES kids speak Dutch as do I

caitriona

18/3/2014 07:55:40 pm

Hi Roberta,
Thanks for your comment. It sounds like you're having a bit of a rough time here, sorry to hear that. This is the first I've heard of expat children being bullied in Dutch schools (or should I say that expat children are bullied relatively more than Dutch children... I think bullying goes on in any school). Has this been acknowledged by schools or the Gemeente??? Regarding the "general outrageous hostility" shown to expats that you mentioned I'm not sure that everyone would agree with that... but again sorry to hear that you seem to have had a lot of negative experiences here.

NikkiV

4/10/2014 10:04:19 am

I don't understand why some parents prefer to send their kids to international schools instead of local schools. I am English and live permanently in the Netherlands with my Dutch husband and 6 yr old son (also Dutch). Sending our son to an international school was never an option, and we enrolled him into a local school that taught English from age 4. Our rationale: we want him to feel that he has a primary nationality - he belongs, speaks Dutch as his mother tongue, understands the culture and is connected to family and friends in the Netherlands. Put simply, one needs to put down roots in order to feel at home. As a mixed-race Englishwoman myself, born in Singapore to a Eurasion mother and English father, from aged 5 educated/brought-up in England - I know first hand how unsettling the moment that you realize that you don't belong to a particular country/tribe. For example, the first time you fill-in a form that asks you to specify your ethnicity. The world's population is becoming more mixed - however, the primitive human desire to belong to a tribe, still prevails. The majority of my husband's entire family still lives within 10 kilometers of their birthplace city. My own family of intrepid international travelers couldn't be more different. However, the benefits of staying close to home (as my husbands family has done) are evident - security/safety in family community, looking after elders.

4/10/2014 10:41:00 am

Sorry to bang on but I just want to mention that I am relieved that private schooling Isn't available in the Netherlands (excluding international schools). If I was still living in London - I would be battling to enroll my son in the 'right' school and considering moving house to live close to a good school (within catchment area)... I consider the Dutch school system to be very good - better compared with England.
However, I notice a few areas for improvement in my humble opinion:
1. at age 12 kids are streamed according to intelligence/capability using a non-foolproof assessment system, after this it's nearly impossible to move from low to high streams.
2. Dutch calvanistic culture does not acknowledge/ reward/ encourage success and brilliance from students
3. Traditional Dutch recruitment screening of job candidates places less recognition/value on level of education and qualification (e.g. university, grade, etc) compared with other countries (UK, US, etc.
4. Despite egalitarian culture, in my experience majority of mothers do not work at all, or work part time ( 2 days per week). I work full-time and have a 'career' which is unusual compared with other women of my age. Missed opportunity to promote role models for girls who could be leaders of tomorrow.

Jade

8/11/2017 07:51:36 am

Hello everyone,
I am married to a dutch man and have a 13 years daughter.We lived 11 years in london, she attended international school,frensh/english, and she was doing brilliant.However,in January 2016 we moved to Holland and it was hard to decide whether to enrolled her in an international or a normal dutch school. We end up by deciding for a dutch system...
Following an IQ test she s been enrolled for a Havo/Vwo school, but it was very difficult for her to get top marks,although she speaks daily perfect dutch, she struggled at school due to the her language level.....
The school suggested that it s better if she moves down to an Mavo school this year, the decision didn't make us happy, but had no choice! After her first exams,her marks are beter but stil not enough struggling with long texts understanding and vocabularies...My daughter is so frustrated and confused, she even hated her school, as she went from being brilliant in an international school to working hard for little achievements....
We 've decided now to find an experienced Dutch tutor,to teach her Nederland toward Havo/Vwo.....
But yes it is upsetting and frustrating to see my daughter unhappy, which makes me regrets not enrolling her in an international school :(

Dutch School or International School?

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