Cities / Amsterdam / International School of Amsterdam
International School of Amsterdam
The grand dame of international schooling in the Netherlands, founded 1964 in Amstelveen and the first school in the world to run all four IB programmes from age 2 to 18. ISA sits on a green Amstelveen campus about 11 km south of central Amsterdam, with around 1,300 students from over 60 nationalities.
In brief
The grand dame of international schooling in the Netherlands, founded 1964 in Amstelveen and the first school in the world to run all four IB programmes from age 2 to 18.
ISA sits on a green Amstelveen campus about 11 km south of central Amsterdam, with around 1,300 students from over 60 nationalities. It is the priciest mainstream option in the city at roughly EUR 22,000 to EUR 31,500, and the natural pick for diplomatic and senior corporate families who want a fully private IB pathway from pre-K through Diploma.
Academic results sit consistently above the IB world average, with strong university outcomes into the US, UK and Netherlands. Teaching, pastoral care and the safety of the campus are recurring strengths. The familiar tension is value: the cost is hard to justify against AICS, the Dutch-subsidised alternative just down the road, especially for academically robust children. Bullying complaints surface occasionally and admissions are competitive at popular entry points.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery | 2 | €21,940 |
| Pre-school | 3 | €21,940 |
| Pre-Kindergarten | 4 | €23,915 |
| Kindergarten | 5 | €24,285 |
| Grades 1-5 | 6 | €26,645 |
| Grades 6-8 | 11 | €29,690 |
| Grades 9-10 | 14 | €30,670 |
| Grades 11-12 | 16 | €31,495 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| PTA Fee | €50 | |
| Administration Fee (annual) | €300 | |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | €335 | |
| Deposit (refundable) | €2,500 | |
| Capital Fee (annual) | €3,245 |
Reviews
The grown-up of Amsterdam's international scene and one of the oldest IB schools anywhere, ISA sits on a single Amstelveen campus running the full PYP, MYP and Diploma continuum from age two. The community reads as warm and well-organised, IB results land cleanly above the global average, and the sports and arts provision draws consistent praise. The two things that come up against it: fees that sit at the top of the Dutch market when a subsidised alternative exists across town, and a slow-burn argument inside the parent community about how the school handles bullying and behaviour, which spilled into a public petition in 2024.
Positives
- IB outcomes. Class of 2025 averaged 35 points with a 99 per cent pass rate, a top score of 44 and around 43 per cent earning the bilingual diploma. Leavers spread across Dutch research universities, the UK Russell Group and the US, with a meaningful gap-year cohort.
- Community and pastoral. Long-running PTA, home-room teacher as first point of contact, counsellor attached to each child if needed. Parents describe the place as welcoming and easy to land in when relocating to the Netherlands.
- Sports and facilities. Single purpose-built Amstelveen campus with a new gymnasium and a deep co-curricular menu spanning sport, ballet, music, theatre and visual arts. Families tend to single sport out as a genuine strength.
Considerations
- Fees and value. Tuition runs roughly EUR 25,000 to 38,000 across the school, with the Diploma years at the top end. A subsidised Dutch international stream operating in the same city for a fraction of the price puts pressure on the value question, and some families openly say the gap is hard to justify.
- Safeguarding and behaviour. A parent petition launched in June 2024 flagged a run of bullying incidents through 2023 to 2024 and pushed back on what they read as a restorative-only response from the administration. Parents wanted clearer consequences for repeat behaviour and faster, more transparent communication during incidents.
- Learning support. Mild to moderate learning needs are supported through the student-support and counselling team when a place is available, but provision is thinner than at a school built around inclusion, and the school is open about that ceiling.
- Access. Demand sits ahead of supply at most year groups and waiting lists run long, particularly in primary. Families arriving mid-year with no relocation lead time often end up on a list rather than in a class.
Leadership
Dr. Bernadette Carmody
Dr. Bernadette Carmody joined the International School of Amsterdam as Director in July 2019. Formerly, she served in similar roles in Guangzhou, China and Riffa, Bahrain. Additionally, Bernadette has worked as an administrator and/or teacher in Dubai, (Shanghai) China, Venezuela, Norway, and Sri Lanka, as well as in her native Australia.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 02
Academic results
- IB Average Score (2025) 35
- IB Pass Rate (2025) 99%