Education
Breda offers a wide range of education in English, from higher education to international primary and secondary schooling.
PRIMARY EDUCATION (BASISONDERWIJS)
Primary education is for children aged 4 to 12. School attendance is compulsory from the age of 5. Primary school consists of eight grades, called groepen. These run from Groep 1 (around 4 years old) to Groep 8 (around 12 years old). Children attend primary school for eight years and learn basic skills such as reading, writing and maths.
SECONDARY EDUCATION (VOORTGEZET ONDERWIJS)
When children reach the age of 12, they move on to secondary education. Together with their parents, they choose between three main types of secondary education to prepare for the different types of further education:
- Preparatory vocational secondary education (VMBO) – 4 years
- Senior general secondary education (HAVO) – 5 years
- University preparatory education (VWO) – 6 years
There are two bilingual schools in Breda: Mencia de Mendoza Lyceum, and De Nassau. You may also find bilingual schools in nearby cities on this list (in Dutch).
At bilingual primary and secondary schools, education is partly in English and partly in Dutch. Children therefore still spend a significant part of the school day using Dutch. At the end of secondary education, school‑leaving exams are taken in Dutch.
For very young children, this is often not a problem, as they usually adapt quickly to a Dutch‑language environment. For older children who do not yet speak Dutch, bilingual education may be more challenging.
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) in the Netherlands includes several options, such as daycare, pre‑school programmes, playgroups, before‑ and after‑school care, nannies, au pairs and babysitters.
ARE YOU RELOCATING WITH YOUR FAMILY TO THE NETHERLANDS?
Choosing the right education for your children can be an important part of your move. Edufax, a partner of Holland Expat Center South, offers consultation calls with education specialists.