Amstelveen is home to many international families. Some families initially choose international education because they are unsure how long they will remain in the Netherlands. If you have now decided to stay in Amstelveen for a longer period, it may be possible for your child to transfer to regular Dutch education.
If your child does not yet have sufficient Dutch language skills, attendance at a language school will usually be required before transitioning to mainstream education.
Children aged 12 to 16 who need to learn Dutch can attend the Internationale Schakelklas (ISK) at Futuris.
Please note that admission to ISK Futuris is not possible for children who have been following an education in the Netherlands for longer than two years.
For registration, enrolment procedures, or further information, please contact ISK Futuris directly.
From the 2026–2027 school year, the Amstelland International School will introduce Middle Years groups in collaboration with Herman Wesselink College. Students will follow a bilingual programme, with approximately 40% of lessons taught in Dutch and 60% in English. The programme is designed to support students in developing Dutch language proficiency and preparing for secondary education in the Netherlands.
More information.
Due to the limited number of places available at the language schools, the following conditions apply.
If you plan to move outside the municipality of Amstelveen, or already know that you will be relocating, your child cannot be enrolled in a language school in Amstelveen. This must be communicated to the CIL during the registration process.
Transfers from international education to regular primary education can only take place at the start of a new academic year.
Children who do not yet have sufficient Dutch language skills will first attend a language school, also starting at the beginning of the academic year. On average, children attend a language school for approximately nine months before moving on to mainstream education. Children who have already attended an international school may sometimes be ready to transfer sooner.
For children aged 11 or older who have been living in the Netherlands for more than one year and are currently attending an international school, admission to a language school is not automatic.
Each application is discussed individually with the language school principal, who will determine whether placement is appropriate and beneficial. This careful assessment is necessary because students in this age group may not have sufficient time to complete a language programme and subsequently progress to ISK Futuris before reaching the two-year residency limit for ISK admission.
Applications for the following academic year must be submitted through the registration form on the CIL website before 1 May.
Applications received after 1 May will automatically be placed on the waiting list for the subsequent academic year.
Applications are processed in order of receipt. However, children who are currently not attending any form of education are given priority over children who are already enrolled in a school. Therefore, submitting an application before 1 May does not guarantee placement.
Once your child has completed the language programme and is ready to transition to mainstream education, the CIL will offer up to three primary schools with availability in the appropriate year group.
Please note that these schools are not necessarily the closest schools to your home or a school of preference. Due to limited capacity, available places may be at schools located further away. A travel distance of up to three kilometres from your home address is generally considered acceptable.
We recommend taking this into account from the outset to avoid disappointment later in the process.