Dutch Schooling?

Most schools will allow children from their 4th brithday onwards, with before that a few half days to get used to going to school. He will be in group 1-2 till he is about 6, with him being born after the first of October most likely till he is nearly 7, but if he is really ready for school at nearly 6 there is sometimes a special permission to go to group 3 earlier.

Group 1-2 is what used to be kindergarden, group 3 is what used to be the start of formal schooling, now the difference between them is less sharp.

Children have to go to school from their 5th birthday, so if it takes a little longer to find a school you are not at fault till then.

Most children go to the nearest school, or the nearest school with the signature you prefere.

This signature can be Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant in many different ways, or Muslim, but also 'Free School' or Montesori, where the way the lessons are given are different.

If you know where you will live, (not just the town but also the part of town) you can ask the townhall for the list of schools for that town, also look into the list for the next part of town, (even when that belongs to a different town.)

When you know which schools to choose between, look on-line, as schools now have websites but also parents comment on the schools of the children, either on the own website or on others. (Google for the name of the school and its town.)

Talking with parents there to collect their children or with parents in the street you are going to live is also a good way.

For Primary schools you do not pay a school fee as such, but you do pay a 'school fund' fee, from this fund things are payed that do not belong to school but make life better for the children, like day outings, school newpaper, and things like that. The amount of money differs per school and should not be high, I believe the amount is between nothing and 200 Euro per year, but I do not know if there is a maximum now, (there used to be no maximum.)

Whether it is easy to get a seat in a school depends on the number of children in town, relative to the number of schools, mostly it is not hard, but some schools to reach the maximum number for a class and then they have to stop, till they get enough children more to make an extra class, with one more teacher, some schools are on the maximum number for the school and can not add extra classes.

Popular schools will have more children already registered (that is before their 4th birthday) then un-popular schools, but non will have children registered from birth, as the system is different from the 'English' system where you buy your kid a place in a good school.

But it does pay to start looking for a school as soon as you know where you will live.

Willeke has given you a very good and extensive answer.

Your son can go to school (kindergarten, nursery school) from the day he becomes 4 y. old. He is obliged to go when he is 5.

Maybe some helpful answers on the following sites;

http://hollandsouth.angloinfo.com/countries/hollan...

http://www.minocw.nl/english