National Educational System

Primary education

Dutch children receive primary education (basisonderwijs):

• Between the ages of 4 and 12
• It is compulsory from age 5

Primary education lasts 8 years (groups 1-8) and is offered at primary schools and special needs primary schools. These forms of education are jointly referred to as primary education. There are both public and special primary schools; the latter are based around a specific belief and/or didactic principle (e.g. Dalton Plan and Montessori schools). A total of 19 primary schools also offer bilingual education (vvto).

Pupils subsequently transfer to secondary education institutions at various levels, depending on their results. Pupils in group 8, the final year of primary education, choose a secondary education pathway. This choice will generally be based on the school type recommendation.

Secondary education

There are two basic pathways:

• General education (VMBO-T, and HAVO or VWO);
• Pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO-bb/kb/gl).

Secondary education (voortgezet onderwijs), which was referred to as middelbaar onderwijs prior to introduction of the so-called Mammoth Act in 1968, is intended for children aged 12 through 16, 17 or 18. Education is compulsory for pupils aged 5 to 16. Young people between the ages of 16–18 are subject to basic qualification requirement, i.e. they must attend school until they have obtained a diploma (basic qualification) or reached the age of 18.

General secondary education (HAVO/VWO)

Pupils can choose between two types of education:

• Senior general secondary education (HAVO)
• Pre-university education (VWO)

There are various types of VWO schools:

• Gymnasium
• Atheneum
• VWO+
• Technasium

Pupils at a gymnasium follow all regular atheneum subjects supplemented with Greek and Latin. VWO+ (VWO plus) consists of atheneum subjects supplemented with Latin.

VWO and HAVO pupils can opt for a technasium. This is a type of school that emphasizes research & design and focuses on the development of sciences related skills.

Some schools also offer bilingual education (tto). At these schools, HAVO and VWO pupils are taught part of the curriculum in a second language. Although this will generally be English, German and French are logically more common in the border regions with Germany and Belgium respectively. At least 50% of all lower year classes are taught in the second language.

Senior general secondary education (HAVO)

• Duration: 5 years (3 initial lower-level years + 2 upper years).
• Content: broad range of subjects during the initial years, followed by a subject cluster (profiel) for more in-depth specialization.
• Diploma: HAVO diploma, following a national examination in at least seven subjects.

Pre university education (VWO)

• Duration: 6 years (3 initial lower-level years + 3 upper years).
• Content: broad range of subjects during the initial years, followed by a subject cluster (profiel) for more in-depth specialization.
• Diploma: VWO diploma, following a national examination in at least eight subjects.

The lower-level years offer a broad range of subjects that are basically accessible to all pupils with a HAVO or VWO recommendation. All pupils must also take part in orientation programs aimed at finding a suitable future study and profession. After 1 or 2 years of transition class, pupils will be issued a recommendation for HAVO or VWO.