The British School of Amsterdam

In Brief

BSA is Amsterdam's best option if your family is committed to British curriculum - GCSE and A-Level results are genuinely strong, and the Havenstraat campus is compact and well run. The withdrawal policy and fee structure catch families out, so read the small print before signing.

BSA sits in a converted building in Amsterdam West, steps from the Vondelpark and the Oud-Zuid neighbourhood where many British and international families rent. The British curriculum runs from Nursery through to Year 13, ending in IGCSE and A-Levels. At about EUR 21,500 per year for secondary, it sits at the lower end of the full-fee international school range in the city.

Results are the strongest argument for BSA: in 2025, 56% of GCSE grades came in at 9-7 (A*/A), against a UK national average of 23%, and A-Levels posted a 100% pass rate for the third consecutive year. Families who have been through the school cite dedicated teachers and a community that feels smaller and more personal than ISA despite similar senior school size.

The main friction points are administrative rather than academic. The withdrawal notice deadline - typically by end of March for the following September - is earlier than most international schools globally, and missing it means forfeiting the deposit and paying a further term's fees. Reception staff have attracted a handful of critical comments in reviews; pastoral support in the senior school is worth asking about at open day.