Netherlands · Rotterdam
Rotterdam International Secondary School provides subsidised English-medium education from Grade 6 to Grade 12. Students move from the Foundation Years to IGCSE and then choose the IB Diploma or Career-related Programme.
Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS) is part of the Wolfert van Borselen school group. It is a subsidised Dutch International Secondary School for students from Grade 6 to Grade 12.
RISS operates on two nearby sites. Grades 6–8 use the junior campus at Bentincklaan 294, 3039 KK Rotterdam. The senior campus is at Schimmelpenninckstraat 23, 3039 KS Rotterdam.
It is a day school. RISS does not provide boarding, arrange accommodation or sponsor student visas. A student must live with a parent or guardian in the Netherlands.
Students follow the Foundation Years in Grades 6–8. Grades 9–10 lead to Cambridge IGCSE examinations. In Grades 11–12, students choose between the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme.
Most classes are taught in English. All students in Grades 6–10 take Dutch at a level ranging from beginner to first language. Dutch becomes optional in Grades 11–12.
Students who are new to English may apply. The school offers English-language support and says its teachers are trained to support language learners in class.
RISS also has a Learning Diversity Programme. Availability depends on students entering and leaving the programme. Families should share relevant reports before admission and ask whether the required support is currently available.
As a Dutch International School, RISS must apply statutory eligibility rules. The school lists the following routes:
There are two additional senior-school routes for local Dutch students. A student who has passed HAVO 3 may apply to the IBCP. A student who has passed VWO 4 may apply to the IBDP. In both cases, the student must have sufficient English and RISS makes the final decision.
Families apply through OpenApply and upload the requested documents. RISS reviews a file only when the checklist is complete. The next stage includes an interview with the relevant Head of Years, the student and the parent or guardian.
The admissions page currently says that applications are being accepted in all three divisions for 2026–27. That includes both DP and CP in the Senior Years. Submission does not guarantee a place, and Learning Diversity capacity may be more limited.
RISS publishes no general application deadline, but places depend on capacity. Mid-year entry also has programme-specific limits:
Students transferring from Harbour International Primary follow a separate process based on Harbour’s recommendation. They do not receive an automatic place.
The official 2026–27 booklet publishes the following annual tuition fees:
| Grade | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Grade 6 | €8,250 |
| Grades 7–9 | €9,340 |
| Grade 10 | €9,060 |
| Grade 11 | €9,980 |
| Grade 12 | €9,950 |
The second child receives a €500 tuition reduction. New students also pay a €250 registration fee and a €500 refundable security deposit. The registration fee is waived for students transferring from Harbour International.
There is no charge to submit the application. The registration fee is charged only after successful admission and the student’s start at RISS.
The deposit is returned after the student leaves if all balances are paid and the required leaving evidence is provided. The school may deduct unpaid amounts or €25 for each unreturned book.
Families can pay in five instalments for an additional €60. Full payment by the due date receives a €100 discount.
Tuition includes the annual school trip in Grades 6–9 and 11, a graphics calculator in Grades 9 and 11, learning materials and a €20 PTA contribution.
Several significant items remain outside tuition. The booklet lists external examination fees, some trips, travel, meals and some Learning Diversity assessments. Grade 11 students are also charged €590 for a Chromebook.
Published examination fees are €111 per IGCSE subject in Grade 10. In Grade 12, the booklet lists €92 per subject for both IBDP and IBCP examinations. Late registration and retakes can add further charges.
RISS is relevant to internationally mobile families who meet the Dutch eligibility rules and need English-medium secondary education. Its subsidised fees are lower than many fully private international schools, but they are not the whole family budget.
Harbour International Primary School is a separate primary school with a coordinated transfer process. Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam is a private school with a different age range, admissions process and fee structure.
Contact admissions.riss@wolfert.nl to confirm eligibility, current space, subject compatibility and support capacity. The Rotterdam guide and Netherlands overview provide more context.
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.
Harbour offers English-medium primary education in Rotterdam under Stichting BOOR. Its 2026–27 annual fee is €4,500, plus a €300 non-refundable application fee. Dutch is taught for two hours a week once a child’s English is sufficiently developed. The school warns that this may not prepare a child for a later Dutch-medium or bilingual school.
RotterdamA private English-medium day school in Hillegersberg from age 3 through the IB Diploma. Budget for annual registration, support and transport as well as tuition.
WassenaarASH is a private day school in Wassenaar offering an American diploma with IB and AP options. Families should budget for annual tuition and capital fees, plus a separate enrolment charge. Special Education carries an additional annual fee.
AmsterdamAICS is a state-funded Dutch international day school for internationally mobile families. It offers the full IB continuum in English across two Amsterdam campuses. Statutory eligibility, available places and support capacity all matter before a place can be offered.
Rotterdam offers three quite different international routes. Harbour is an English-medium primary within BOOR, RISS is a subsidised international secondary with eligibility rules, and Nord Anglia is a fully private school from age three through the IB Diploma.
7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.