International School Wassenaar - Rijnlands Lyceum vs The British School in The Netherlands - Senior School Leidschenveen
International School Wassenaar - Rijnlands Lyceum and The British School in The Netherlands - Senior School Leidschenveen are both in Rotterdam, about 9 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes, and The British School in The Netherlands - Senior School Leidschenveen also offers British, IBCP, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification and EYFS. Published annual fees are €8,400 - 9,600 at International School Wassenaar - Rijnlands Lyceum and €6,780 - 28,014 at The British School in The Netherlands - Senior School Leidschenveen, which puts The British School in The Netherlands - Senior School Leidschenveen roughly 93% higher. Both take pupils from 11 to 18. The British School in The Netherlands - Senior School Leidschenveen is the larger school, with around 2,100 pupils to International School Wassenaar - Rijnlands Lyceum's 360. Typical class sizes are 26 at International School Wassenaar - Rijnlands Lyceum and 24 at The British School in The Netherlands - Senior School Leidschenveen.
British Curriculum, IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils
Pupils
360
Pupils
2,100
Typical class size
Typical class size
26
Typical class size
24
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2019
Opened
1931
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
The International School Wassenaar is located at Backershagenlaan 5, 2243 AB, Wassenaar, The Netherlands. It is part of the Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar campus. The admissions contact is +31 (0)70 512 18 00 and admissions@rijnlandslyceum-rlw.nl.
Location
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Stages
Stages
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP).
Stages
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School type
School type
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School type
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Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school provides Basisondersteuning (basic support) available to all students, with a three-tier support system (Ondersteuningslijnen 1–3) including teachers, mentors, a Passend Onderwijs coordinator, and external care providers. It includes language and learning support (e.g., dyslexia) and individual handelingsplannen; a ZorgAdviesTeam (ZAT) coordinates care and there are confidentiality processes.
Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The Netherlands
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
The regular timetable runs from 08:25 to 16:15, with a morning break 10:40–11:00, lunch 12:30–13:00 and an afternoon break 14:30–14:45. A shortened timetable is used during teacher report weeks.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fee
- A non-refundable application fee of EUR 300 is payable at the time of application.
Tuition fees
- MYP1–MYP5: EUR 8,400 per year. - DP1–DP2: EUR 9,600 per year.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is charged annually in advance. Fees can be paid in full up front or in three instalments.
- The school issues the billing under a school-fee agreement for payment; instalment schedules and due dates are set in that agreement and by the school.
Deposit and refund-related terms
- A refundable placement deposit of EUR 500 is required before a student can be placed. The deposit is refunded when a student leaves after all loaned books are returned and any outstanding charges have been settled.
- A minimum of 60 days' notice in writing is required to withdraw a student. Unless full notice is given, fees will continue to be charged and the deposit may not be returned in accordance with the school's standard terms and conditions.
Other costs and compulsory extras
- Compulsory trips and activities: Additional costs apply for compulsory, curriculum-linked trips and activities; parents will be informed of these costs at the start of the year.
- Compulsory PHE (PE) kit: All students must purchase the compulsory PE kit from the school's supplier (MKH Business).
- Compulsory laptop: All students must either rent or purchase a specified Dell Latitude 3140 2‑in‑1 laptop via the school's supplier (The Rent Company / Easy4u Nederland).
- Special assistance: If a personal educational assistant is required, parents/guardians are responsible for the costs.
- Other optional costs: Non-compulsory trips, optional extracurricular activities (music, sports clubs, exchanges) and examination fees (where applicable) are charged separately and notified to parents.
Refund information
- The application fee (EUR 300) is explicitly non-refundable.
- The placement deposit (EUR 500) is refundable on departure provided all school property is returned and outstanding charges are paid. Failure to provide full withdrawal notice may affect whether the deposit is returned.
- Tuition refunds on mid-year withdrawals are governed by the school's standard terms and conditions and the withdrawal notice requirement; parents should note that fees continue to be charged unless the required notice is given.
Fee details
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Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
No boarding facilities.
Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
The school does not have a uniform; PHE lessons require a PHE uniform.
Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
The cafeteria provides sandwiches, snacks and drinks; students may bring packed lunches.
Food options
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House system
House system
Four houses: Aquila, Delphinus, Lupus, Ursa. Students are placed in a house upon enrolment. The house system fosters community and healthy competition through inter-house events and house points; the House Cup is awarded at the end of the year.
House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
Part of Stichting Het Rijnlands Lyceum; governed by the Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation; the Foundation is the competent authority responsible for the quality of education, financial administration, and accommodation, and is accountable to the Ministry of Education and the Education Inspectorate.
Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The school teaches the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Curriculum details
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Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
The school prepares students for university and higher vocational education.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
The International School Wassenaar delivers the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme. ISW is part of Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar. In 2025 a new wing opened to accommodate the International School on the Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar campus. The building sits in a leafy area of Wassenaar near The Hague and Leiden and offers a warm, safe and supportive environment. Dutch is a subject of the IB curriculum, but all other subjects are taught in English.
Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
The International School Wassenaar offers the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme. The Dutch language is a subject within the IB curriculum, but all other subjects are taught in English. The school is part of Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar, which prepares students for university and higher vocational education. A new wing opened in 2025 to accommodate the International School on the Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar campus.
Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
Creativity – Activity – Service (CAS) is a core component of the IB Diploma Programme at ISW. The International Fair is an example of CAS service. There are after-school clubs and a calendar of sports and other activities. Trips and exchanges are part of school life.
Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
The International School Wassenaar (ISW) delivers the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme. ISW is part of Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar (RLW). RLW was established in 1936 and is one of the founding bilingual education schools in the Netherlands. Rijnlands Lyceum has grown into a foundation of eight schools in the Netherlands and is affiliated with five schools abroad. In 2025 a new wing was opened to accommodate the addition of the International School to Rijnlands Lyceum, Wassenaar.
History
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Community
Community
ISW is located in a picturesque setting in Wassenaar, near The Hague and Leiden. The school is small enough that each student is well-known and valued in a warm, safe and supportive environment, with staff getting to know each student's background and personal goals. Rijnlands Lyceum has grown into a foundation of eight schools in the Netherlands and is affiliated with five schools abroad, offering Dutch, bilingual and international primary and secondary education to about 7,000 students.
Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
Participation by parents, students and staff is a prerequisite for good governance. Parents are typically united in a Parent Council at each school, alongside a Student Council. In addition to these councils, formal Participation Councils exist at each school and there are two joint Participation Councils at Stichting level. The rights and obligations of these councils are defined by law (Education Participation Act) and documented in school governance materials.
Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
The International School Wassenaar delivers the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme. ISW is part of Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar. RLW was established in 1936 and is one of the founding bilingual education schools in the Netherlands.
Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Arts is one of the eight subject areas in the MYP.
Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar offers Dutch, bilingual (Dutch/English) and international primary and secondary education. The RLW Tweetalig Onderwijs (TTO) option is available for bilingual instruction. Dutch language is a subject in the IB Curriculum, with all other subjects taught in English.
Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
ISW provides after-school clubs and a calendar of yearly trips, plus international exchanges with partner schools.
Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
ISW has a Community Engagement programme that promotes service to local and global charities; students regularly participate in charity work and raise awareness and funds.
Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
A mentor programme and a house system support student leadership and personal development.
Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
ISW emphasizes an inclusive learning environment with a dedicated mentor team and strong staff–student relationships to support student wellbeing.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Dutch and English are the languages of instruction, with a Dutch/English bilingual option and international programming available. English is central to the curriculum, particularly in the bilingual track and IB courses. Ab Initio courses in French or Spanish are available via Pamoja Online Education for beginners, and other mother-tongue languages may be offered as school-supported self-taught courses.
Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
The school provides Dutch and English bilingual instruction across primary and secondary education, with a Dutch/English bilingual pathway. In the lower years, many subjects within the bilingual track are taught in English. In the upper years, the Diploma Programme includes English-language delivery of key courses such as IB English A: Language and Literature. The school also supports other mother-tongue languages as self-taught options.
Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
The Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar offers a two-way bilingual (TTO) program with a majority of lessons taught in English in the lower years (around 60%). In the upper years, English-language instruction continues, including IB English A: Language and Literature within the Diploma Programme. From 2025-2026, students can transition from 5 havo to the Diploma Programme at ISW. This pathway demonstrates a continuation of English-medium instruction across core IB subjects.
Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Submitting an application. To start the admissions process, complete the application form. Include documents: a recent passport-sized photo of the child, a copy of the child's passport, copies of the most recent school reports, and any formal testing or learning support documentation if applicable. There is a non-refundable €300 administration fee payable at the time of application. Payment does not guarantee a place.
2. Processing the application. After submitting, you receive a confirmation email with instructions to log in to your admissions account, which must be used within seven days. In the account's checklist you will find the Pupil Information Request (PIR) Form; provide the name and email of a representative from your child's previous school and send via email. The school reviews the submission and Programme Coordinators decide whether the school can benefit your child. A complete application is required for consideration; you will receive reminders about missing information.
3. Confirmation of Place. If a good match is identified, the Confirmation of Placement Letter and the School Fee Agreement Form are provided in the Application Cabinet and sent by email. The School Fee Agreement Form must be signed and returned within seven days after the offer is sent. For questions, contact the admissions team.
4. Enrollment. After signing the School Fee Agreement, the child is entered into the administration system and officially registered. You will receive a confirmation letter with the start date and time.
