School fees, contribution

What is it?

School costs depend on the type of education your child (up to age 18) is receiving. Compulsory education begins at age 5.

Elementary School

As a parent, you do not pay tuition for your child’s elementary school. However, the school may ask for a voluntary parental contribution for extra activities, such as a St. Nicholas celebration or a school trip. You are also required to pay for after-school care (BSO) and for certain costs associated with staying at school during lunch break (lunch-time care). You can find more information on the website of the Rijksoverheid.

Secondary education

Parents do not pay tuition for a child in secondary school. The school provides most of the textbooks. This does not apply to vocational secondary education or private secondary schools. You will need to pay for some educational materials in secondary education yourself, such as dictionaries, a calculator, or gym clothes. The school may also ask for a parental contribution, for example, for a field trip or school camp. You can find more information on the website of the Rijksoverheid.

Low income

Sending children to school costs money: a computer, school fees, field trips—you name it. For low-income families, there are various subsidy programs available. You can find tips on the NIBUD website at .