Education
In Breda, you will find competitive education in English at all levels of education. Educational institutions such as Avans and Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) rate high in academic rankings every year.
Avans offers courses in English on the topics of economics, ICT, technology and arts & design. BUas offers tourism and leisure, hotel and facility management, digital entertainment, gaming, urban development, logistics and mobility.
At the Master’s level, degree programs in English are also provided by the Dutch Defense Academy for officers in the military.
Furthermore, Breda offers vocational education by Curio and De Rooi Pannen for the hotel and tourism industry.
For internationals moving to Breda with young children, International School Breda offers quality education in a multicultural setting.
With 180 years of tradition, the combination of military education and university-level education makes the Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA) unique in the Netherlands.
The Military Strategic Studies master’s degree is a highly selective English-taught program that focuses on modern strategic security issues.
The International Game Architecture and Design degree at Breda University is the fourth-best in the world in its field.
PRIMARY EDUCATION (BASISONDERWIJS)
Primary education is intended for children in the age group 4 to 12 and is compulsory for children from the age of 5. Elementary or primary school (lagere school) consists of eight grades, known as groepen, ranging from Groep 1 (4-year olds) to Groep 8 (12-year olds). Children attend primary school for eight years, until they are 12, to gain basic skills such as reading, writing and maths.
SECONDARY EDUCATION (VOORTGEZET ONDERWIJS)
When they reach the age of 12, children and their parents can choose between three types of secondary education:
- preparatory vocational secondary education (VMBO) – 4 years
- senior general secondary education (HAVO) – 5 years
- university preparatory education (VWO) – 6 years
Here’s a very useful visual guide from Nuffic explaining the difference between these tracks:
Dive into the Dutch Education system by reading the Education Guide provided by the Holland Expat Center South here. It is Eindhoven based but will give you a great overview of how the system works.
Are you relocating with your family to the Netherlands?
The education of your children is a top priority when relocating. Edufax offers you a consultation call with experienced education experts. They will guide you through the education system and curriculum of your future location. Additionally, address any questions or concerns you may have regarding this topic. This is advised to make you more confident and knowledgeable about your child’s educational journey. Visit their website here.
There are two bilingual schools in Breda, and you may find some other schools in nearby cities on this list (in Dutch).
However, keep in mind that even at bilingual primary and secondary schools, children still speak Dutch about 50 percent of the day. The school-leaving exams at the end of secondary school are in Dutch.
This may not be a problem for a very young child who can adapt very quickly to a Dutch language environment, but it may not be the best option for secondary school children who don’t speak any Dutch.
International School Breda is the only school in the area that teaches a completely English curriculum.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BREDA
AVANS UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
BREDA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
ESN Breda, short for Erasmus Student Network Breda, is part of a large international student organization. With over 500 local sections and more than 40 participating countries, ESN is the largest student network in Europe. Through ESN, students get the opportunity to meet new people and gain new experiences at various events: themed and cultural events, sports events and social drinks. With the ESNcard, students can enjoy discounts from partners such as RyanAir, Old Dutch Sports Bar & Restaurant and Happy Tosti.
True to their motto, Unity in Diversity, ESN also focuses on causes such as social inclusion, employability and sustainability by helping to solve problems that affect society. Students can get involved by applying for a committee, coordinator or board position. It is a great opportunity to gain useful knowledge and experience, both professionally and personally.
For more information, visit ESN website.
Childcare in the Netherlands
Childcare (kinderopvang), includes daycare, pre-schools, playgroups, before and after school clubs, nannies, au pairs and even a babsitter. It is normal for parents to return to work soon after their child is born. This results in high demand on childcare facilities and in turn can cause long waiting lists for childcare providers. Keep that in mind when relocating or expecting. For more information about the different options for childcare, visit the Holland Expat Center South.
Breda is the first city in the Netherlands to develop a dedicated app for students – a joint initiative of the Municipality (Gemeente Breda), Avans University of Applied Sciences and Breda University of Applied Sciences.
The app helps students navigate Breda, enjoy fun offers and provide feedback which will allow Breda to become even more attractive to students.
You can download the Breda Student App from the App Store or Google Play for free.