The Netherlands is home to one of the densest concentrations of international schools in Europe — a legacy of its role as a hub for multinational headquarters, diplomatic missions, and international organisations. Schools in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven serve tens of thousands of internationally mobile families. Understanding how admissions work, what assessments are used, and how the IB Diploma fits into the landscape is essential for any family arriving in the Netherlands or choosing between the Dutch national system and an international school.
How International School Admissions Work in the Netherlands
Most international schools in the Netherlands use the CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test, Fourth Edition) as their primary entry assessment, producing a Standard Age Score (SAS) with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. The Netherlands has the highest per-capita concentration of IB World Schools in Europe.
Unlike Dutch state school placement — which is governed by the schooladvies and Doorstroomtoets — international school admissions are largely at each school's discretion. Most schools use a combination of CAT4, previous school reports (preferably in English or Dutch), and in some cases a parent and student interview. Entry is not competitive in the same way as UK selective schools, but oversubscribed schools — particularly in Amsterdam — do use assessment results to manage cohort composition.
CAT4 benchmarks used by most Netherlands international schools: SAS 100+ for mainstream entry; SAS 112+ (approximately 80th percentile) typically required for gifted or enhanced programmes; SAS 85 or below may trigger a learning support assessment before an offer is made.
Understanding CAT4 Scores
The CAT4 assesses four cognitive batteries: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Spatial Ability. Each battery produces a separate SAS score, and a combined overall SAS is calculated. Scores are age-standardised, meaning a child's result is compared to the performance of a nationally representative sample of their peers.
| SAS Range | Percentile Band | Typical Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 127+ | 96th–99th | Very high ability — may be referred to gifted programme or enrichment track |
| 112–126 | 80th–95th | High ability — strong candidate for most international school programmes |
| 100–111 | 50th–79th | Average to above average — mainstream international school entry |
| 85–99 | 16th–49th | Below average — most schools will request further information or a support assessment |
| Below 85 | Below 16th | Low ability — school will assess whether the learning support offer is appropriate |
CAT4 is designed to be resistant to short-term coaching, but familiarity with the question format — particularly the abstract reasoning and spatial sections — meaningfully reduces errors caused by unfamiliarity. Children who have not previously encountered matrix-style questions or figure classification tasks often underperform relative to their true ability on first exposure.
Key International Schools in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has over 150 international schools, the majority offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework — Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and/or Diploma Programme (DP). A smaller number offer British curriculum (IGCSE and A-Level) or the American High School Diploma.
IB Diploma in the Netherlands: The IB Diploma is widely recognised by Dutch universities (WO). A total IB Diploma score of 28+ points is generally required for admission to Dutch research universities; competitive programmes (medicine, law at top institutions) typically expect 35–38 points. Dutch students from international IB schools sit alongside Dutch VWO graduates in university admissions without disadvantage.
Dutch State School vs International School: Key Considerations
For families who may remain in the Netherlands long-term, the Dutch state system — and particularly VWO — offers a rigorous, free education that leads directly to Dutch and European university entry. International schools offer continuity for families likely to move again, instruction in English, and an internationally portable qualification. The choice is rarely purely academic.
- •Free at point of use
- •Instruction in Dutch — fast language acquisition required
- •Leads to Dutch university (WO) entry
- •Deep integration into Dutch society
- •Doorstroomtoets + schooladvies entry
- •Annual fees typically €10,000–€25,000
- •Instruction in English
- •IB Diploma — globally portable
- •International peer community
- •CAT4 entry assessment