doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
E

Elckerlyc International School

Netherlands, Rotterdam

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Chief Marketing Officer

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees €4,200
Ages 3 - 11 years
Pupil numbers 125
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Dutch Curriculum
Taught languages Dutch
Typical class size 21
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Early Years, Primary School
Introduction

Elckerlyc International School is a private international school in Leiden Leiderdorp, partly funded by the Dutch government to keep education affordable for expat families. It serves students aged 3 to 11 and is a member of The Dutch International Primary Schools (DIPS) and part of Stichting Montessori Onderwijs Zuid-Holland. The curriculum combines IEYC (early years) with IPC (primary), alongside elements of British and Dutch curricula. IPC uses inquiry-based, thematic learning across science, art, design technology, geography, history and health and wellbeing, with Mileposts from Groups 2–7 developing increasingly sophisticated skills. Language support is provided via English Language Learners and Dutch as an Additional Language; ICT devices are in every room. Facilities include a small gym for the early years, De Bloemerd sports hall, a multilingual library, and regular learning excursions plus a three-day camp for Groups 6–7. Music and performing arts feature in concerts. Secondary links exist with Rijnlands Lyceum.

Klimopzoom 41, 2353 RE Leiderdorp, Netherlands

The Essentials

Elckerlyc International School has 125 pupils, typical class sizes of 21, instruction in English.

Location
Klimopzoom 41, 2353 RE, Leiderdorp, Netherlands. Located in the Leiden–Leiderdorp area within the Randstad, the school serves the international community in this region.

Stages
Primary education with international orientation embedded in the Dutch system. It is part of The Dutch International Primary Schools (DIPS).

Type
Private international school operating within the Dutch education system; partly funded by the Dutch government. It is a member of The Dutch International Primary Schools (DIPS) and is part of Stichting Montessori Onderwijs Zuid-Holland.

Additional learning support
Special Educational Needs; English Language Support; Dutch as an Additional Language (DAL).

Country affiliation
Netherlands (affiliated with The Dutch International Primary Schools, DIPS).

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation.

School day structure
School commences at 8:30. Mid-morning break is between 10:15 and 10:45. Lunch break is 11:45–12:45 for groups 0–3 and 12:15–13:00 for groups 4–7. School finishes at 14:45; on Wednesdays 12:30; on Fridays groups 0–4 finish at 11:45 and groups 5–7 finish at 14:45.

Bus service
ESTEC (European Space Agency) organises a bus to and from school for children of ESTEC employees; only ESTEC parents can apply for the bus via ESTEC HR. The bus has priority at the start and end of the school day.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Boarding is not offered; after-school care is provided through partnerships with Stichting Kinderopvang Leiderdorp (SKL), Teddy Kids, Catalpa and Floreokids.

Uniform Requirement
No uniform is required. Children wear comfortable, hard-wearing clothing and indoor wear consists of plimsolls, soft-shoes, or slippers.

Food Options
Children bring their own snack and lunch from home each day; no nuts due to allergies.

Governance and Ownership
Elckerlyc International School is governed by Stichting Montessori Onderwijs Zuid-Holland (MZH), a foundation that oversees several Montessori schools. The MZH has a non-executive board of five independent members and an executive board of one member; Elckerlyc has two directors representing the two schools within MZH. The Joint Participation Council (MR) provides information, advice and approval on policy.
Fees

Annual tuition at Elckerlyc International School ranges from EUR 4,200 for 2026/27.

Application fees
- No separate application or registration fee is stated in the school's published admission information. Registration is completed by submitting the online application form and required documents.

Tuition fees (by year group)
- Groups 1–7 (primary years): Annual tuition is €4,200 per child. When the annual fee is spread over the school's ten-month billing cycle, this corresponds to €420 per month. (If you prefer a per-term figure and you divide the academic year into three terms, the annual fee divided by three would be €1,400 per term — this three-term figure is an arithmetic division, not a separately published school charge.)

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fee invoices for the coming academic year are issued in April.
- School fees are calculated on a ten‑month basis; instalment payment (spreading payment) is possible on request.
- If a child starts at a date other than the official start of the academic year (August/September), fees are calculated pro rata, plus one month. Fees for students joining after January must be paid in full before the student starts.
- Non‑payment or late payment may lead to a child being offered a place in the Dutch section (if spaces are available) and the child's international place being given to someone on the waiting list. Parents are requested to pay within the time set on the invoice; where payment within the stated time is not possible, two instalments can be arranged on request.

Other costs and fees
- Additional English language coaching (when required prior to or on entry) is arranged at parents' expense; typical costs are around €30 per hour. An intensive course example provided is 36 hours.
- After‑school care is provided through external childcare organisations; fees for before‑ and after‑school care are charged by those providers and are handled separately from school tuition.
- Field trips and a 3‑day, 2‑night school camp for Groups 6 and 7 are part of the programme; associated costs (where applicable) are handled according to event arrangements and parental notifications. Individual and class photographs are arranged annually and are available for parents to purchase at the price set by the photographer.
- The school maintains accident/trip insurance for participants during school time and activities; this insurance runs alongside family insurance and does not extend to damage to personal property. Parents are advised about personal liability insurance. No separate, regular ‘materials' or mandatory uniform fees apply because no uniform is required; indoor footwear is requested for classroom use.

Refunds and withdrawal
- Notice of withdrawal must be given in writing with a minimum of 60 days' notice. If the required notice is not provided, tuition fees remain due for the term in which the child leaves. When a child starts mid‑year the fees are calculated pro rata (plus one month) rather than as a published refundable sum.

Fee payment options
- The school guide sets invoicing and instalment arrangements and requests that parents pay within the invoice deadline. Specific payment methods (for example: bank transfer details, IBAN, or credit card acceptance) are not listed in the published school guide; payment instructions and methods are issued with the fee invoice.
Academics

Elckerlyc International School teaches IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Dutch Curriculum for students aged 3 to 11.

Curriculum
The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is a comprehensive, integrated and inquiry-based curriculum. It uses a thematic, creative, and inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning and supports both teacher-led and child-led learning. The aim is to develop motivated, independent and curious learners who are self-aware and reflective; the personal goals are to be thinkers, adaptable, resilient, collaborators, communicators, respectful, empathetic and ethical. At Elckerlyc, IPC learning covers science, art, design technology and innovation, geography, history, and health and wellbeing, following on from the Learning strands of the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) taught in the foundation stage (Groups 0 and 1). In Milepost 1 (Groups 2–3), Milepost 2 (Groups 4–5) and Milepost 3 (Groups 6–7) students develop increasingly sophisticated skills and understanding. Elckerlyc International is a member of The Dutch International Primary Schools (DIPS) and operates within the framework of the Dutch educational system; it is partly government-funded to keep education affordable for expat families. Progress to secondary education is described in the School Guide 2025-2026, which notes that Elckerlyc has close links with Rijnlands Lyceum in nearby Oegstgeest and Wassenaar; Rijnlands is an international school offering education for students aged 11/12 to 16/17 as well as a two-year course leading to the International Baccalaureate. The education received at Elckerlyc is designed to prepare children to continue a learning programme by meeting the educational level requirements of the British, the American and the international education systems, regardless of the chosen secondary school. It is also possible to continue secondary education at other schools: ISH (the International School of The Hague), the British School in The Netherlands (Voorschoten), the American School of The Hague (ASH) in Wassenaar, and The European School of The Hague. The Director can provide advice on any other schools in The Netherlands or abroad.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school is a warm, welcoming, and culturally diverse community. It provides opportunities for children to discover and explore their strengths through an engaging curriculum. The school inspires learners to be responsible, resilient, globally and environmentally aware, and it fosters empathy and respect for different cultures. IEYC and IPC are followed with a focus on personal and academic goals; emotional maturity is developed through the PSHE program Jigsaw; languages are promoted to enable learning, including English as a primary language for academic and social development, and integration into Dutch society with home‑school partnerships. Legal objectives include continuous development of the child and addressing social‑emotional development while respecting heritage.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The International School Elckerlyc has a small SEN department providing educational, social, and emotional support. When applying, parents provide information and reports from psychologists, speech therapists, and specialist teachers. If progress is not as expected, there are discussions between class teachers, the SENCO, the SEN teacher and parents, and any further assessment may be carried out in school or by external professionals. Following assessment, an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) is drawn up. There is a bilingual Speech Therapist based at the school who screens all pupils in group 2 and works with pupils identified by the teachers and SEN department. Support for all pupils is provided in‑class, by the class and SEN teachers, as well as outside the classroom in small group activities and on an individual basis.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
At Elckerlyc, we celebrate the multilingual identities of our English language learners. We encourage students to maintain their home languages while learning English. Children learning an additional language can become conversationally fluent in one to two years but may take five to seven years to achieve competence in English. All new students' language proficiency is assessed and appropriate support is put in place; an Intensive Programme is offered to all beginners and ELLs are supported by the English Language teachers, in class or in a small group. We have a team of specialist ELL teachers who liaise closely with the classroom teacher to enable continual progress in English, recognise and understand their own bi/multilingualism and gain confidence in pursuing all languages, and families are encouraged to actively pursue the development of the home language/s within the home.

Mental Wellbeing
Jigsaw is the whole school social and emotional development programme that we follow at Elckerlyc. There are six ‘Puzzles' taught throughout the year at age‑appropriate levels in groups 0‑7. Each Puzzle contains six ‘Pieces' of lessons that aim to develop emotional literacy and social skills through familiar activities, calm time, learning tasks, and reflection. Jigsaw covers real issues such as body image, cyber and homophobic bullying, and online safety, and helps build resilience and self‑esteem. Jigsaw is closely linked to the IPC and reinforces the IPC Personal Goals.

Safeguarding
The school follows a Needs Based Approach (NBA) to identify and allocate support for pupils with special educational needs, with seven pillars guiding the process. The SENCO provides the first safety net for teachers and oversees the support process. The Internal Care Committee (ICC) includes the director and the SENCO and optimizes care plans, with input from PPO advisors and other external professionals when needed. External contacts for safeguarding and support include PPO advisors, the Youth and Family worker, the school doctor, and other specialists. Parents are involved at all stages, and the process includes signaling, consultation, and support team meetings leading to development plans and evaluation. For students needing extra support, an IEP is written and evaluated after 6‑8 weeks.
Parent Experience

History
The school is part of MZH (Montessori Education South Holland). The school offers international education embedded in a Dutch context and operates within the Dutch educational system. The school is partly funded by the Dutch government, making education affordable for expat families. The school is part of Stichting Montessori Onderwijs Zuid-Holland.

Community
The school is a warm, welcoming, culturally diverse community that supports children to discover and explore their strengths and abilities through an engaging curriculum. The school provides opportunities for children to be at home in an international community, with teachers who foster curiosity about the world. The strategy promotes languages to enable learning, strengthens English for academic and social use, and integrates into Dutch society by learning Dutch language and culture, while developing knowledge and respect for different cultures. The school builds a trusting partnership between home and school and provides opportunities for staff professional development, and emphasizes international mindedness, thoughtfulness, resilience, communication, and adaptability.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Elckerlyc International School uses a small gym in the main building for Groups 1–2, while Groups 3–7 use the sports hall De Bloemerd, a short walk away. The school library houses a collection of Dutch books and there is a weekly Library Skills session led by library assistants. ICT is used across the school with devices/tablets available in every room. There is a playground for pupils with established playground rules. The school runs a three-day, two-night camp for Groups 6–7 and an annual learning excursion, and parking is restricted with a map of alternative areas available from the office.

Sports Facilities
Two main sports spaces are used: a small gym in the school building for Groups 1–2 and the De Bloemerd sports hall nearby for Groups 3–7. Koningsspelen (King's Games) is held as the annual sports day. Outside school hours, additional sports activities are offered free of charge where a subsidy is available.

Academic Facilities
Special Needs support is provided by a dedicated Special Needs Teacher (IB) and a Quality Coordinator. English Language Learners (ELL) receive in-class or small-group support, and Dutch as an Additional Language (DAL) is taught; Dutch is introduced early and progressed through the groups. The Dutch library houses a collection of Dutch books to support language learning, and ICT is used across the school with devices/tablets available in every room. A School Doctor and CJG provide health checks and related support.

Extra Curricular Facilities
After-school activities such as chess, drama, music or additional sports are published by email, newsletter or the school app. Learning excursions support the curriculum with visits to science centres, museums and libraries, and smaller field trips may be arranged throughout the year. The Annual School Camp (Groups 6–7) is a three-day, two-night program, and Group 5 participates in an annual learning excursion; parents are encouraged to join outings and risk assessments are conducted prior to each trip.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Elckerlyc International is a member of The Dutch International Primary Schools (DIPS) and offers international education embedded in a Dutch context. It operates within the Dutch educational system and is partly funded by the Dutch government to keep education affordable for expat families. It is multilingual and provides high-quality international education with a personal touch in Leiden Leiderdorp, in the Randstad.

Arts & Creative
Music at Elckerlyc International School emphasizes that musical activity, especially singing, brings benefits to individuals, communities, schools and society. Music supports learning, personal and social development, promotes health and well-being and bonds communities. The school aims to ensure that children have opportunities to sing regularly and well, and to develop musical skills and understanding. The youngest children focus on singing and moving to music; from Group 3 onward, students develop broader musical skills, including harmony and rhythm. Guitars are provided for Group 7 to take home for deeper understanding of melody, harmony and rhythm; at the end of their last year students perform a musical. Concerts and performances are planned every year.

Cultural & Language
The school is multilingual and offers international education with a focus on international mindedness, in the heart of the Randstad.

Social & Hobbies
Community and family atmosphere create an international community that makes students feel at home and teachers that foster curiosity about the world. The school aims to have concerts and performances every year to showcase student talents.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Music supports learning, personal and social development, and promotes health and well-being, bonding communities. The school emphasizes international mindedness as part of its ethos, including values such as thoughtfulness, resilience, communication and adaptability.
Languages

Language Provision
All languages are promoted to enable learning. English is recognised as important for developing strong academic and social language. Dutch language and culture are taught to help integrate into Dutch society.
Admissions

Admissions
Registration of interest is submitted online. If placement is possible, applicants are invited to complete the Online Application form and are invoiced for the registration fee. The application requires information about the child's school history, including report cards. Admission to Group 0 is dependent on full-time attendance and the start date.

Waitlist
No waiting list.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Netherlands View all schools in Rotterdam View all schools in Netherlands British curriculum schools in Netherlands Open days & tours in Rotterdam What is the British curriculum? View all schools Search all schools