The Guide
Mon, 15 June 2026

Cities / Brussels / International German School of Brussels (iDSB)

International German School of Brussels (iDSB)

German curriculum school in Wezembeek-Oppem, east of Brussels, with fees at the higher end for upper-secondary students.

International German School of Brussels (iDSB) campus
International German School of Brussels (iDSB), Tervuren. Photograph · School

Curriculum
German
Fees, annual
EUR 14k–21k
Ages
3 to 18
Pupils
~600
Founded
1803

Annual fees

Year level Age Fee
Kindergarten 1-3 (ages 3-5) 3 €20,660
Grades 1-5 (ages 6-10) 6 €13,900
Grades 6-8 (ages 11-13) 11 €13,990
Grades 9-12 (ages 14-17) 14 €15,343

One-time fees

Item Age Fee
Enrolment Fee (non-refundable) €1,000


  • The iDSB is a 1803-founded German international school in Wezembeek-Oppem with around 560 students, leading to the German International Abitur and the Fachabitur.
  • More than half of enrolled families have an international background, and pre-school is bilingual in German plus either English or French.
  • Parent voice across school and directory channels emphasises a family-like atmosphere, small classes and individualised language support for newcomers. One parent with three children at iDSB said all three "have felt very comfortable since day one".
  • Independent third-party review pool is thin, with no dedicated parent or expat discussion of iDSB surfacing publicly.
  • The fit is clearest for returning German-track families and EU-institution staff. Belgian-system or fully English-medium families have more obvious choices in Brussels.

Positives

  • Curriculum and credentials. German curriculum leading to International Abitur and Fachabitur; long-established school
  • Family atmosphere. Parents describe a warm, small-school feel with quick settling for newcomers
  • Language support. Bilingual pre-school and individualised language support for international entrants

Considerations

  • Fit. Best suited to German-track and EU-institution families; less natural fit for English-medium-only ones
  • Public review depth. Limited independent voice; most parent commentary is mediated through school and directory channels

Leadership

Mr. Rolf Linse

Rolf Linse has been the headmaster of iDSB since August 2025, having previously served as deputy headmaster and head of the middle school. He joined the iDSB teaching staff in 2020 and teaches German, French, and Spanish. Prior to his tenure at iDSB, he gained professional experience at various general and vocational high schools in Germany and France, as well as at the German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV) in California. Most recently, he worked at the Wirtemberg Gymnasium in Stuttgart, an elite sports school. His educational philosophy focuses on the holistic development of students, fostering a responsible, tolerant, and open-minded community.

Accreditations

  • Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen 01

  • Result German International Abitur (DIAP) 2024 avg 1.8
  • Result 2023 avg 1.9
  • Result 2022 avg 1.9

School website