Cities / Amsterdam / International French School Amsterdam
International French School Amsterdam
AEFE-accredited bilingual French-English school in Amsterdam South (Oud-Zuid), founded in 2021 and part of the Globeducate network.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| TPS Preschool | 2 | €15,730 |
| Nursery / Elementary | 3 | €11,470 |
| Middle School | 11 | €12,560 |
| High School | 15 | €15,140 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Registration Fee - DAI | €400 | |
| First Enrolment Fee - DPI (non-refundable) | €1,500 |
Reviews
A new French-curriculum school in Amsterdam-South that opened in 2021 and earned AEFE homologation a year later. The pull is a complete French pathway from maternelle to the French Bac, with a Bilingual French International option, on top of strong English and some Dutch. The school sits inside Globeducate, with fees that run well above the older Lycée Van Gogh down in The Hague. Parent talk is split: the academic rigour and the speed of building out a homologated lycée get credit; the running of the place, especially staff stability and how the school keeps families in the loop, gets less.
Positives
- French curriculum pathway. Full French national programme from age 2 through the Bac, including the Bilingual French International option. AEFE homologation came within a year of opening, which was the headline reassurance for families coming in early.
- Facilities and approach. Two central Amsterdam sites in former British School premises, with flexible classrooms and a FabLab. Class sizes around twenty. The pedagogy is pitched as French rigour plus project work and differentiated support.
- Parent community and origin. The school exists because Amsterdam parents campaigned for years for a French secondary option in the city rather than the daily commute to The Hague. The intake skews younger and more international than the Lycée Van Gogh, and some families keep children at both.
Considerations
- Bilingual and trilingual offer. French and English from preschool with Dutch added as a third language. The bilingual framing is real on paper, but some families describe the day-to-day as fundamentally French, with English and Dutch teachers who are themselves French speakers rather than natives.
- Staff stability. Teacher recruitment and retention come up repeatedly in parent talk, with turnover during the school year flagged as a recurring frustration in the early years of operation.
- Communication with families. Parents say communication from the school can be slow, patchy, and not always accurate, even when chased. Formal structures exist (lead teachers, two parent delegates per class), but the practice has lagged the design.
- Fees and value. Fees run materially above the Lycée Vincent van Gogh in The Hague, which prices a chunk of the French community out and concentrates the intake at the higher-earning end of the expat community. AEFE partner status means scholarship eligibility for families who qualify.
Leadership
Laura Mallevialle
At IFS we believe that to learn is not just to accumulate knowledge; it is to build critical thinking skills, nurture creativity, and affirm one’s uniqueness. Our curriculum meets the rigorous standards of the French educational system while offering a variety of electives and extracurricular activities. These opportunities allow students to explore different social environments and fully develop their potential.
Accreditations
- Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger 01
Academic results
- Diplôme National du Brevet 2025 pass rate 100%
- Diplôme National du Brevet 2025 distinction rate 100%
- Mention Très Bien or Très Bien avec Félicitations du Jury 76%