Education in the Netherlands
Education is very important to the Dutch. Under Dutch law, education is compulsory for all children residing in the Netherlands between the ages of 5 to 16 (or 18), regardless of their nationality. The system may be rather different to what you are used to.
For instance, school transport is the parents' responsibility. The website of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science offers a short explanation in English: www.minocw.nl/english/education/index.html.
'Peuterspeelzaal' (nursery)
Toddlers may attend 'peuterspeelzaal' for a few hours a week (non-obligatory).This institute is intended for children aged 2 to 3 years old to help them become familiar with the concept of school, listening to their teacher and playing together with other children. Cooperation, language learning and playing are the main focuses. Find a Peuterspeelzaal (external website, Dutch only). Please contact the school of your choice for information about the exact rules and to be placed on the waiting list. 
Primary & secondary school
Children may start school at the age of 4 but education is compulsory at the age of 5. You can choose a school yourselves: a religion based school, one based on an educational method (such as Montessori, Jenaplan or Dalton) or a public school. Schooldays are Monday until Friday. Most primary schools start at about 8.30 a.m., with a lunch break of approximately an hour (pupils go home or remain at school, supervised). School ends at about 2.30 or 3 p.m. Out-of-school care is also possible (paid). On Wednesday afternoons, all primary schools are closed.
In the final year of primary school, children take a standardised test to measure the appropriate level of secondary education (CITO). Secondary school, in different forms, starts at the age of 12 up to the age of 16-18: VMBO (secondary education, preparation for vocational education 'ROC'), HAVO (senior general secondary education) and VWO (pre-university education). The organisation Marant provides an online overview of all (Dutch speaking) primary and secondary schools in Nijmegen (external website, Dutch only). Information by telephone is provided at their Infodesk: tel. (024) 343 42 60.
International education
Unfortunately, Nijmegen does not yet have an international school, but children of all nationalities are welcome to attend the Arnhem International School for primary and secondary education.
The Kandinsky College Nijmegen (Dutch only) provides English language secondary education for HAVO and VWO. Please note that this is not the same education as that provided at an official International School. Call the Kandinsky College for more information.
School holidays primary & secondary education
School usually starts in August. Obligatory holidays (autumn, Christmas, spring, May, summer) are annually appointed per region. Nijmegen is part of region South ('Zuid').
| 2007-2008 | |
| Christmas holidays | December 22 - January 2 |
| Spring break | February 23 - 27 |
| Easter Monday | April 13 |
| May break | April 27 - May 8 |
| Ascension | May 21 & 22 |
| Whit Monday | 1 June |
| Summer holidays (primary school) | July 20 - August 28 |
| Summer holidays (secondary school) | July 20 - September 4 |
After secondary schoolWhen pupils finish secondary school, they can either start working (depending on their education level and age) or they are obliged to study until they are 18 years old (in case of 'VMBO': vocational education).
Depending on their level, school leavers can choose between vocational education in regional training centres ('ROC') and higher education in the form of 'higher professional education' (HBO, theoretical and practical training for different occupations) or university (academic disciplines).
Nijmegen offers three options:
- vocational education: ROC Nijmegen (Dutch only).
- higher professional education: Hogeschool Arnhem Nijmegen (HBO)
- university: Radboud University Nijmegen