Netherlands · The Hague
ISH offers subsidised, English-medium international education at one Kijkduin campus. First confirm that your family meets the statutory eligibility rules. Then check whether the year group, English phase and support provision fit your child.
The International School of The Hague (ISH) is a co-educational day school at Wijndaelerweg 11, near Kijkduin. It provides English-medium Primary and Secondary education on the same campus. It does not provide boarding or guardianship.
ISH belongs to Stichting Het Rijnlands Lyceum and receives Dutch government funding. That subsidy keeps fees below most private international schools. It also explains why admission is restricted by law. A family cannot secure a place simply by agreeing to pay the fee.
A child must meet at least one route in the school’s admissions procedure:
Ask Admissions to confirm your route before paying or planning a move. The school requires passports and, where relevant, an employer declaration. Academic suitability and space are assessed only after eligibility.
Priority does not guarantee admission. The first group includes siblings of current pupils and children of new staff. Students arriving directly from outside the Netherlands follow, then transfers from another international school within the country.
The two sections share a site and name, but they are legally separate. A place in ISH Primary does not guarantee Year 7 admission to ISH Secondary. Every Year 6 pupil must apply.
Current Primary pupils receive priority. Secondary still reviews their reports, progress and ability to follow its programme. The school says some families may be warned before Year 6 that a child is unlikely to meet the Secondary entry standard.
This distinction matters if you are choosing ISH for continuity. Ask how many current Year 6 pupils transferred in the latest completed cycle and what evidence informed any refusals.
Primary is pursuing authorisation for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). It is a candidate school, not yet an authorised PYP school. Candidate status does not guarantee eventual authorisation.
Its curriculum uses inquiry and units that connect several subjects. Mathematics, language arts, Dutch, physical education, music, ICT, arts and social-emotional learning remain identifiable parts of the programme.
Children entering Early Years must turn four before 1 October of that school year. Pre-Early Years serves children who turn four on or after 1 October. They normally enter Early Years the following year.
Secondary is authorised for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Years 7–11. In Years 12–13, students choose the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or IB Career-related Programme (CP).
The DP is the broad academic route with six subjects and the IB core. The CP combines at least two DP courses with a career-related course and the CP core. At ISH, the current policy describes three DP subjects, including English and mathematics, alongside ten BTEC units.
Dutch is compulsory throughout Secondary. Dutch first-language pupils and learners of Dutch follow different pathways. Ask which course would appear on your child’s transcript and how a later move into Dutch education would work.
Applications are accepted through the year when space exists. Later entry becomes harder once assessed courses have started.
For Years 7–11, the school reviews reports and administers placement tests. Testing includes English and mathematics, plus relevant modern languages. Pupils who previously studied Dutch also take a Dutch placement test.
The policy sets minimum English acquisition phases. Years 8–9 normally require Phase 2 and Years 10–11 require Phase 3. Year 11 entry closes after April.
A Year 11 applicant intending to continue to the DP must also have a viable Language A. ISH must be able to teach it or support it through the IB school-supported self-taught route.
Year 10 entrants must complete the MYP Personal Project. Year 11 entrants before October must also complete it. A pupil entering Years 8–10 from April may be more likely to repeat the year.
DP and CP admission is selective. The school checks prior subjects, grades, English and whether it can build a complete timetable. Its usual threshold is a grade 4 for Standard Level and 5 for Higher Level, with course-specific rules.
New Higher Level science students must normally have studied that science before. Some sciences and arts may require an additional test, interview or portfolio.
Late Year 12 entry can extend the course. After the October break, the school may require a pupil to repeat Year 12. From January, a student new to the DP or CP will most likely repeat it.
Year 13 entry is limited to the first week and to transfers already following the same programme. DP transfers need a compatible subject package, completed core work, satisfactory attendance and the school’s transfer checklist.
ISH can admit beginners in English in some year groups. That does not override the later-year phase requirements. In Years 7–9, pupils with weaker English can receive three additional English support lessons each week.
The school offers English as an Additional Language, learning support, wellbeing services and health support. Its capacity is limited, and it does not offer an alternative curriculum.
Parents must disclose educational, behavioural, physical and medical needs. The school requests recent evaluations and two years of information about prior accommodations. It may refuse admission if it cannot provide a safe, meaningful programme.
Ask for a written support plan before accepting. If an individual educational assistant is required, the Secondary fee agreement makes the family responsible for that cost. The agreement does not publish a fixed current amount.
Start with the online enquiry and application. The school then checks statutory eligibility, documents, capacity and programme fit. Secondary applicants normally complete placement tests, which may be arranged through their current school abroad.
The application fee is €300 and non-refundable. A €1,000 deposit is due when a place is accepted. The deposit may cover damage or unpaid invoices and is returned after departure once the account is settled.
Do not treat an application, test invitation or verbal indication as a confirmed place. Ask Admissions to identify the exact section, year group and start date in writing.
| Programme | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Pre-Early Years, Early Years and EY1 | €8,500. |
| Years 2–4 | €9,000. |
| Year 5 | €9,100. |
| Year 6 | €9,200. |
| Years 7–9 | €10,300. |
| Years 10–11 | €10,900. |
| Year 12 CP | €12,800. |
| Year 12 DP | €11,600. |
| Year 13 CP | €11,600. |
| Year 13 DP | €11,200. |
The agreements run from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027. Returning families pay in full or in three instalments due 1 June, 1 November and 1 January. A monthly arrangement is exceptional and must finish by 1 January.
For a mid-year start, the fee falls by ten percentage points per month after October. November costs 90% of the annual fee, January 70%, April 40% and July 10%.
Extracurricular activities can cost extra. Secondary families must provide an iPad in Years 7–9 and a laptop in Years 10–13. The agreement recommends Apple devices but does not include them in tuition.
Year 13 DP and CP examination charges are currently €720 for the standard package described in the agreement. Resits and special services can cost more. Some optional sports travel also carries a family contribution.
The signed fee agreement controls, so read it before paying. A newly admitted family withdrawing before school starts receives the deposit after outstanding invoices are cleared.
The first instalment is treated differently. More than 60 days before the start, 50% is refunded. With 60 days or less, 25% is refunded.
Current pupils must deregister for the next year by 1 March. Later notice creates a charge of 10% in March, 15% in April, 20% in May or 25% in June and July.
During the school year, withdrawal takes effect 60 days after the completed form is received. The payable annual share is 50% for departures from August through December. It rises monthly to 100% for May through July.
The school does not operate its own bus. Its FAQ says some families use a private provider. Confirm the route, supervision, price and cancellation rules directly with that company.
There is no uniform and no boarding. The day-school model assumes that the child lives with a parent or lawful guardian within commuting distance.
School admission does not create Dutch residence rights. The IND explains that a minor joining a parent may need a family residence permit. A secondary-school study permit has separate, restrictive conditions and requires an IND-recognised sponsor.
Do not assume ISH can sponsor that route. Ask the school and the IND before relying on admission for immigration planning.
ISH is strongest for a legally eligible, internationally mobile family seeking a subsidised English-medium IB route. It is especially attractive when the child can benefit from MYP and either DP or CP without extensive individual provision.
It is a poor fit when the statutory eligibility test fails, substantial specialist support is essential, or the family needs boarding. It also deserves caution for a late Year 11 or Year 12 move.
Compare the wider options in our The Hague guide and Netherlands education guide.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
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