Primary education (basisonderwijs) plays an important role in education law in the Netherlands. It provides a basic education for children, where they learn arithmetic and writing, among other things. That is why primary education is compulsory and, in principle, also free of charge. All of this is laid down in education law. Below are the most important laws and decrees relating to primary education in the Netherlands. This page describes the situation in the Netherlands.
Primary Education Act
The Primary Education Act (Wet op het primair onderwijs, WPO) sets out in broad terms how primary education is organised in the Netherlands. Together with the Expertise Centres Act (Wet op de expertisecentra, WEC), the Primary Education Act came into force in 1998. In addition to regular primary education, this act also governs special primary education. Below you will find, among other things, the difference between the various forms of primary education, as well as a number of other provisions included in the Primary Education Act. When inspecting and assessing schools, the Education Inspectorate (Inspectie van het Onderwijs) uses the WPO.
Consult the Primary Education ActDifferent types of primary schools
The Primary Education Act distinguishes between different types of schools. First of all, there is the primary school (basisschool). A primary school is a school where primary education is provided, with the exception of the special school for primary education. A special school for primary education is a school where primary education is provided to children for whom it has been established that a remedial educational and didactic approach is so advisable that these children should be taught at a special school for some time.
A public school (openbare school) is a school established by one or more municipalities, or a school maintained by certain public legal entities or foundations. Public schools are open to all pupils and are not based on a religion or belief. A private school (bijzondere school) is based on a particular religion or belief.
The Primary Education Act also names a special type of school: the school for children of travelling families. These are special schools for children whose parents lead a travelling life. They include berth schools (ligplaatsscholen) for children of inland boatmen and travelling schools for children of circus workers and fairground operators. In the past there were also schools at caravan sites (woonwagencentrumscholen).
Funding of primary education
The Primary Education Act devotes a lot of attention to the funding of both public and private education. As of 1 January 2023, government funding has changed. As a result, the funding of primary education has become much simpler, the unintended steering effect has been tackled and the predictability of the funding to be received has increased.
Since 1 January 2023, schools for primary education and special education receive a basic amount per pupil. The school board can spend this money as it sees fit. The full amount is also set straight away per calendar year. The government pays for both public and private education, but the school must meet certain requirements to qualify.
Duty of care and safety at school
The Primary Education Act requires the competent authority (bevoegd gezag, the school board) to ensure safety at school. This concerns not only the physical safety of children, but also their social and psychological safety. Attention is also paid to tackling bullying. For example, there must be a person in charge of coordinating the anti-bullying policy. This person must also act as the point of contact for bullying.
Appropriate education
Schools have a duty of care for pupils who need extra support. When a child is registered, the school assesses whether the child needs extra support. If the school refuses such a pupil, it must first, in consultation with the parents, make sure that another school is willing to admit the pupil (Article 40 WPO). For this purpose, every school is part of an appropriate education partnership (samenwerkingsverband passend onderwijs), which ensures a coherent range of support facilities within and between the schools in the region (Article 18a WPO).
Costs of pupil transport
If a child cannot get to school independently, for example because of behavioural problems or a disability, the child may be entitled to pupil transport (leerlingenvervoer). This can be requested from the municipality. It involves an income-related contribution towards the costs of pupil transport. The income threshold is indexed according to the method set out in the Primary Education Act.
Compulsory Education Act
In the Netherlands, there is compulsory education for children from the age of 5. This also applies to children with a different nationality. From the age of 3, it is possible to register a child for primary school. From the age of 4 the child may go to primary school, and from the age of 5 the child must go to primary school. It is also possible to let a child from the age of 3 years and 10 months take part in (half) settling-in days at school. These settling-in days last no longer than five days, and not all primary schools offer them.
Consult the Compulsory Education Act (Leerplichtwet)Authorised absence from school
Not every type of absence is unauthorised. Sometimes children have a valid reason why they cannot go to school, for example illness, suspension, a wedding, a funeral or a religious holiday. However, there are conditions attached to authorised absence from school. If the conditions have not been met, the absence is unauthorised.
Unauthorised absence and supervision of compulsory education
The compulsory education officer (leerplichtambtenaar) supervises compliance with the Compulsory Education Act. Every municipality has at least one compulsory education officer, and schools must report unauthorised absence. The compulsory education officer will first inform the parents and investigate the underlying problem. The compulsory education officer will then look for a solution together with the parents and the school.
If the absence continues and insufficient efforts are made to tackle it, the compulsory education officer draws up an official report (proces-verbaal). An official report will also be drawn up if the child is not registered at a school. This can result in a fine for the parents and carers. For children at primary school, child benefit (kinderbijslag) is not stopped and the child is not punished personally.
Reporting code for domestic violence and child abuse
The Reporting code for domestic violence and child abuse (Meldcode huiselijk geweld en kindermishandeling) is a tool that helps professionals to identify suspicions of domestic violence or child abuse. It covers not only physical violence, but also sexual violence, neglect and psychological violence. The reporting code for domestic violence and child abuse consists of five steps. Using this reporting code is mandatory not only in education, but also in healthcare and childcare, among other sectors.
- Mapping the signs
First of all, the signs that can confirm or dispel a particular concern must be mapped. All signs are mapped objectively and factually and recorded in the file. If necessary, a child check is carried out. If there is no reason for concern, the process is stopped and closed. This is also recorded in the file.
- Consulting others
If necessary, a knowledgeable colleague must be consulted. A forensic doctor can also be consulted, or Veilig Thuis, the advice and reporting centre for domestic violence and child abuse. In cases such as forced marriage or female genital mutilation, Veilig Thuis must always be contacted immediately.
- Having a conversation
The concerns are discussed with the parents or carers and with the child. Only if this would put the safety of the child or one's own safety at risk can it be decided not to have a conversation.
- Weighing up the situation
On the basis of the investigation carried out, an assessment must be made of the seriousness of the situation. In case of doubt, advice can be requested from Veilig Thuis. If there is a real risk of harm, a report must be made in any case.
- Making a decision
If it is possible to protect the child sufficiently, the necessary help will be organised or provided. However, if the situation is structurally unsafe or acutely unsafe, a report must be made to Veilig Thuis. Together with Veilig Thuis, it is then decided what help will be organised.
Exchange of learning and support data at primary school
For every pupil leaving primary school, an educational report (onderwijskundig rapport, OKR) is drawn up. This is intended to make the transfer to the school for secondary education easier. The Decree on the exchange of learning and support data (Besluit uitwisseling leer- en begeleidingsgegevens) sets out which learning and support data form part of the OKR. This includes, for example, the school advice.
Educational report
Thanks to the educational report, primary schools can make sure that the pupil receives appropriate support after moving on to the right type of education. The law does not set out in detail what must be in this report, but it does contain a number of rules. In any case, the OKR must contain the school advice. In addition, the report generally contains information about the pupil's attitude to work, social development, emotional development, results, progress, the extra support that has been given, the result of the progression test and some administrative details.
Rules for exchanging data
The Decree on the exchange of learning and support data sets out which data the OKR may contain. The OKR may not contain any data that is not included in the Decree. The General Data Protection Regulation (AVG) must also be taken into account, because the OKR contains personal data. On this basis, the school may not collect and process more data than necessary. Schools may only pass on the report when the pupil moves to another school, and parents have the right to inspect and correct it. Schools are also required to actively inform parents about the content of the OKR. This is because parents have a right to information. Professional impressions cannot be corrected, but at the parents' request their comments are added to the file.
Information Provision Regulation WPO/WEC
The new Information Provision Regulation WPO/WEC (Regeling informatievoorziening WPO/WEC) came into force on 1 August 2018 and replaced the Regulation on structural data provision WPO/WEC (Regeling structurele gegevenslevering WPO/WEC). Among other things, this regulation contains provisions on the use of data from primary education and the submission of pupil data. It describes, among other things, which data is provided electronically to the minister.
Learning Outcomes Regulation PO 2020
The Learning Outcomes Regulation PO 2020 (Regeling leerresultaten PO 2020) requires schools to submit the learning outcomes achieved to the Education Executive Agency (DUO). DUO processes this data in the Register of Education Participants (Register Onderwijsdeelnemers, ROD). The inspectorate looks at the reference levels achieved in the progression test over the last three school years. The inspectorate then receives anonymised data and an anonymised school weighting. On the basis of this data, the inspectorate can assess the quality of education at a school. This takes into account the percentage of pupils who achieve the fundamental level and the target level. All kinds of signal values and correction values are taken into account.
In some cases the school weighting is unreliable, for example in the case of a small school with fewer than forty pupils. During the inspection at the school, the inspector can then decide that it is impossible to give an opinion on the learning outcomes.
Testing Decree PO
The Testing Decree PO (Toetsbesluit PO) contains rules on testing in primary education, such as a pupil and education monitoring system. The central final test has been replaced by the progression test (doorstroomtoets).
Progression test
Since the 2023-2024 school year, pupils in group 8 take the progression test. The school administers it in the first or second full week of February; the test is an objective, second piece of information alongside the school advice and measures at least Dutch language and arithmetic and mathematics (Article 45b WPO). If the result is higher than the provisional school advice, the school must revise the advice; it may only depart from this, with reasons, in the interest of the pupil. The law only provides for upward revision (Article 45d WPO).
From school advice to secondary education
- Provisional school advice
Between 10 and 31 January of group 8, the school draws up a school advice and shares it with the parents.
- Progression test
In the first or second full week of February, the pupil takes the progression test.
- Possible revision
If the result is higher than the advice, the school revises the advice, unless departing from this is in the interest of the pupil.
- Final school advice
No later than 24 March, the school sets the final school advice. That advice is included in the educational report for the secondary school.
Frequently asked questions about primary education in the Netherlands
Primary education is an important part of growing up in the Netherlands and forms the basis for further development and education. That is why education law pays a lot of attention to it. This FAQ answers frequently asked questions about primary education in the Netherlands.
What does primary education cost for my child?
Parents do not have to pay tuition fees for primary school. The school can only ask for a voluntary parental contribution for extra activities. This parental contribution is always voluntary, and the amount can differ per school. If the parents do not pay the contribution, the school may not exclude the child from the extra activities. Extra costs can be charged for childcare (after-school care and lunchtime care). You may be able to get part of this back through the childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag).
From what age can my child go to primary school?
Children may go to primary school from the age of 4. Some schools also offer settling-in days for children aged 3 years and 10 months. Not all primary schools offer such settling-in days.
What is the difference between public schools and private schools?
Public schools are schools that follow the national education guidelines and are open to every pupil. The education is not based on a particular religion or belief. Private schools (bijzondere scholen) are schools that teach from a philosophical or religious conviction, for example Reformed schools. Requirements are also imposed on private schools.
What does a school week look like in primary education?
Primary schools can choose for themselves how they organise the school day. In the first four school years (lower years), the child must receive at least 3,520 teaching hours. The last four school years (upper years) comprise at least 3,760 teaching hours. Over 8 school years, at least 7,520 teaching hours must be given. This means there are 240 hours of free space that can be freely divided between the upper and lower years.
Although schools have a lot of freedom (a free Wednesday afternoon, for example, is not compulsory at all), there are often great similarities between the school week at different schools. A school week generally consists of around 25 to 30 teaching hours, spread over 5 days. There are also breaks and snack times. Primary schools may also schedule a four-day school week seven times a year. For pupils in groups 1 and 2 of primary school, a five-day school week is not compulsory.
Is the primary school advice binding?
The school first gives a provisional school advice (between 10 and 31 January). If the result of the progression test is higher, the school must revise the advice, unless departing from this is in the interest of the pupil. The final school advice follows no later than 24 March (Article 45d WPO). On the basis of that final advice, the secondary school decides on admission to the first year (Article 8.6 of the Secondary Education Act 2020, WVO 2020). Parents who disagree with the advice can discuss this with the school.