The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the education system is organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. They are responsible for the overall quality of the education.  

Education becomes compulsory at the age of five, but most children start school at the age of four. There are two divisions in education: primary education and secondary education. 

Primary education (from age 4 to age 12): Unlike some countries where kindergarten or pre-primary education is a separate division, in the Netherlands, primary education begins at the age of 4, which would be considered kindergarten in many other countries. At the end of primary school, students complete a leavers attainment test. The score on this test is used to help indicate which secondary level would be most suitable for the student.    

Secondary education (from age 12 to age 16, 17, or 18): At the beginning of secondary education, students are enrolled in different educational tracks based on the advice of their primary school and their performance on nationwide assessments completed during their primary education. Secondary schools often offer multiple educational tracks within the same school. These tracks are the following: 

• Pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO): It takes around 4 years to complete. It consists of 4 different levels and prepares students for post-secondary vocational education (MBO).  

• General secondary education (HAVO): This track is 5 years long and prepares students for studies in higher professional education (HBO). HBO is a specific type of higher education that prepares students for professions that focus more on acquiring practical skills such as nurses, primary school teachers, and social worker. It is offered by universities of applied science.  

• Pre-university secondary education (VWO): This 6-year-track prepares students for studies in research-oriented and theory-based higher education (VWO). Students who go through VWO tend to proceed their studies in university to become doctors, lawyers, and engineers. 

Secondary schools also have the option to delay educational track selection when it is not certain which track is the best educational fit for a student. In these cases, the school can offer “bridge classes” in the first two years of secondary education. Also, students can move between the tracks if their academic performance and capabilities change over time. For example, a student who initially starts in  Pre-vocational secondary education can transfer to General secondary education or pre-university secondary education if they demonstrate strong academic progress, while a student in General secondary education or General secondary education might move to General secondary education or a more vocational track if they struggle with the academic demands. These transitions typically require assessments by teachers, discussions with parents, and sometimes additional support or remedial education to help students succeed in their new track. This flexibility allows students to find the most suitable path based on their evolving strengths and interests. 

There are two official languages in The Netherlands: Dutch and Frisian. However, there are multiple immersion schools located across the country that offer a combination of Dutch with English, French or German. The English immersion schools are the most widespread and well-known, with the French and German immersion schools particularly common near the borders. The official language of instruction is Dutch, with some schools in the province of Friesland also teaching bilingually in both Frisian and Dutch.  

In the Netherlands, there is no national curriculum, allowing schools considerable autonomy. However, the Dutch government establishes a framework through a set of attainment targets that apply to primary education and the first three years of secondary education. These targets do not specify grade levels. Additionally, the government sets reference levels for literacy and numeracy that correspond to each grade in both primary and secondary education, and it defines exam programs for secondary education. School boards are tasked with ensuring the quality of education and achieving these attainment goals. 

Schools have the option to choose from a variety of textbooks created by private publishers. While these textbooks are designed to meet government-established attainment goals, they differ in how they approach and present these goals. Schools are free to decide which textbooks best suit their learning environment.  

The pedagogical approach for learning mathematics is a focus on problem-solving and critical thinking. In science, the focus is similarly on problem-solving and critical thinking, along with inquiry-based learning and design, and hands-on experiences.   

In primary education, assessment is conducted through a pupil monitoring system that includes tests and teacher observations. At the end of the primary education, in year 8, students are required to take a mandatory primary school leavers attainment test. It measures the students’ knowledge, understanding and skill in language and arithmetic, and compares it to benchmark levels. Schools have the freedom to choose which tests to administer, provided they are standardized and government-approved; these tests are developed by educational companies funded by the government. These tests help to inform teachers in their decision about which track in secondary education would best fit each student.   

In secondary education, assessment is continuous and includes a variety of methods such as written and oral tests, and presentations. The final year of secondary education concludes with a national exam, which is a standardized test developed and mandated by the government. Passing this exam is essential for students to obtain a diploma in all subjects across all tracks. 

In primary education, there is no official name for subjects that are part of STEM education. There is the umbrella term called World Orientation, which consists of all subjects relating to exploring nature and society. It contains topics related to geography, history, biology, physics, and engineering. Each school can decide how they want to teach these topics, as long as it meets the attainted goals.  

The Dutch education system uses a ten-point grading system, with 10 being the highest possible obtainable grade. However, grades 1-3 and 9 & 10 are very rare to be awarded.  (mostly in secondary). Primary school: more comment based and developmental progress (below, at, or above expectations and in relation to the nationwide assessment).