Cities / Amsterdam / The British School of Amsterdam
The British School of Amsterdam
Non-profit British-curriculum day school in Amsterdam West offering IGCSE and A-Levels for ages 3 to 18. Fees for 2025-26 range from EUR 18,750 (Nursery) to EUR 21,903 (Years 7-13 including exam supplement).
In brief
Founded in 1978 by three British expat families, the only school in Amsterdam delivering the full English National Curriculum through to GCSE and A-Level. Non-profit, in Oud-Zuid near Vondelpark.
Around 1,000 students from ages 3 to 18, on a renovated heritage building with sports hall, theatre and science labs. The curriculum is the draw for British, Australian and South African families who plan to return home and want continuity. A-Level outcomes are strong and the school accredited as a British School Overseas.
Parents talk about a real community feel, planned activities inside and outside school hours, and after-school care for younger years. Less flattering threads cite reception staff and a withdrawal-notice policy that holds onto deposits and a term's fees if you miss the March deadline. Fees are around 18,750 to 22,000 EUR, in line with the top private tier in the city.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery (10 sessions) | 3 | Annual | €18,750 |
| Reception and Year 1 | 4 | Annual | €19,884 |
| Years 2-6 (Junior School) | 6 | Annual | €20,277 |
| Years 7-9 (Senior School) | 11 | Annual | €21,528 |
| Years 10-13 (Senior School, incl. exam supplement) | 14 | Annual | €21,903 |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | €250 | |
| Enrolment Fee - Nursery/Reception | One-time | €750 | |
| Enrolment Fee - Years 1-12 | One-time | €2,000 |
Reviews
- Reddit posters and Mumsnet expat threads treat the British School of Amsterdam as the default English-medium British option for UK families in central Amsterdam, helped along by the familiar uniform and English national curriculum.
- One r/expats poster wrote 'the British School in Amsterdam is supposedly good,' another r/dutch poster recommended it as the obvious choice 'for the English speaking expats' moving to the city.
- A Mumsnet parent who spent five years at the school recommended it on the strength of personal experience: 'I can recommend the British School of Amsterdam, we had 5 years there, and also living in Amsterdam Zuid.'
- A separate Reddit comment from a parent who lived in Amsterdam from 2000 to 2003 spoke positively about their children's time there in passing.
- The Good Schools Guide treats it as the school of choice for posted UK families in Amsterdam and describes a friendly, supportive community for international families.
- The negative signal is small but specific: aggregator reviews mention disappointing reception staff, an unusually inflexible withdrawal-notice policy that requires reporting by March for September leavers (with financial penalties for missing it), and concern about a period of disruption from a small group of parents that affected staff.
- Independent parent reviews on the International Schools Database are absent.
Head of school
Ciaran Harrington
At The British School of Amsterdam, our students are at the heart of everything we do. We believe every school day is important, fostering academic success, strong character, and meaningful relationships so our students thrive and learn to succeed. Our rich history has seen us grow from a small primary school to a through-school for ages 3 to 18. We bring our diverse community together at our historic Havenstraat building, where modern facilities blend seamlessly with its national monument status. Our origins as a parent-founded school are still celebrated through our exceptional parents’ organisation, reinforcing that belonging is for everyone – students, staff, and families alike. Belonging is key to wellbeing; we thrive together.
Accreditations
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 01
- COBIS Patron's Accreditation and Compliance 02
Academic results
- A-Level Pass Rate (2025) 100%
- GCSE 9-7 grades (2025) 56%