Overview of the General Education System

The Netherlands, a nation with a strong export-oriented economy and international connections, has prioritized education for social and economic advancement. As a founding member of both the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and the Bologna Declaration in 1999, the country has immediately implemented progressive reforms. These international agreements have significantly shaped Dutch education policies. This includes a two-cycle degree system (bachelor's and master's), independent accreditation, and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

Education in the Netherlands embodies both centralization and decentralization. Even when the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science sets national legal frameworks, attainment targets, and funding structures, the local school boards maintain authority over administration and quality. Provincial authorities also provide only minor supervisory roles. Apparently, there are no national curricula, but schools must meet defined attainment targets.

Furthermore, school types include public, private (mostly religious or ideological), international, and special education institutions. In fact, 66% of Dutch primary and secondary schools were privately run as of 2009, with nearly two-thirds of 15-year-olds attending these private institutions, which are also publicly funded.

Dutch is mainly used for teaching, but more schools are offering bilingual education in English. Some pilot primary schools now teach up to 50% of the curriculum in English. Recent reforms also include experimental bilingual instruction from the age of four and an increasing presence of English-taught programs at universities. This multilingual movement supports the Netherlands’ international outlook and increasing number of foreign students.

Education in the Netherlands is compulsory from age 5 to 16, although most children begin attending school at age four. The compulsory education requirement extends until age 18 unless a student obtains a basic qualification, such as a diploma at MBO level 2, HAVO, or VWO. This requirement is governed by the Compulsory Education Act.

Before formal schooling, children can attend early childhood education or daycare from as young as six to eight weeks old. Specialized early education programs are also available for children aged two and half to five who are considered at risk of educational disadvantage.

Moreover, primary education covers eight years and serves children aged 4 to 12. In the final year of primary school (Group 8), pupils undergo attainment testing, and the school provides an advisory recommendation for the most suitable type of secondary education.

Moving into secondary school, students enter one of three main tracks such as the pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO, 4 years), senior general secondary education (HAVO, 5 years), or pre-university education (VWO, 6 years). The VMBO is divided into four pathways namely the basic vocational, middle-management vocational, combined, and theoretical programs. Each track leads to different post-secondary and vocational training options.

As mentioned, increasing numbers of secondary schools also offer bilingual programs, in which at least 50% of instruction is in English. However, students must still meet the national curriculum and pass Dutch school-leaving exams.

The literacy rate among adults aged 15 and above is reported at 99%, although 1 in 9 individuals between the ages of 16 and 65 still struggle with functional literacy, with nearly 70% of this group being of Dutch origin.

The Dutch higher education system comprises two main sectors such as research universities and universities of applied sciences (hogescholen or HBO institutions). Research universities prioritize academic research and education, which offer three-year bachelor's programs, one to two-year master's degrees, and doctoral studies.

In contrast, HBO institutions deliver higher professional education at the associate, bachelor's, and increasingly, master's levels. These institutions aim to align with labor market needs and prepare students for professional careers. Currently, there are 37 HBO institutions receiving government funding, some of which are managed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs due to their focus on agriculture or environmental studies. On the other hand, the Netherlands has 17 government-funded research universities, including specialized ones like the Open University and Wageningen University.

Admission to research universities generally requires a VWO diploma, but students who complete a preparatory year (propedeuse) at an HBO institution may also be eligible. The HBO programs accept students with an HAVO diploma or a level 4 MBO credential. Entry requirements vary by institution, which may also implement entrance exams or interviews for selective programs.

As of the 2017-2018 academic year, there were 452,690 students enrolled in HBO programs while there are 280,114 at research universities. The tertiary enrollment rate increased from 48% in 1998 to 80.5% in 2015. However, dropout rates pose a challenge, since about 75% of students at research universities not earning a degree by 2016.