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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.
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.
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.
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.
FAQs
What age range does Elckerlyc serve?
Elckerlyc International School serves students aged 3 to 11, covering early years and primary education in Leiderdorp near Leiden.
What curriculum does the school follow?
The school uses IEYC for early years and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) for primary, with inquiry-based thematic learning across science, humanities, arts, music and physical education.
How much are the tuition fees?
Annual tuition is EUR 4,200 per child for Groups 1-7, which works out to EUR 420 per month over the ten-month billing cycle.
Is the school government-funded?
Yes, Elckerlyc is partly funded by the Dutch government to keep education affordable for expat families. It is a member of the Dutch International Primary Schools (DIPS) network.
What learning support is available?
The school has a small SEN department providing educational, social and emotional support. Individual Educational Plans are created following assessment, and external professionals may be consulted. A SENCO oversees the support process.
What languages are taught?
English is the main language of instruction. Dutch language and culture are taught to help students integrate into Dutch society. An English Language Acquisition programme supports students developing their English.
Is there a uniform requirement?
No, there is no uniform. Children wear comfortable, hard-wearing clothing and use plimsolls, soft shoes or slippers indoors.
What are the school hours?
School starts at 8:30, with a mid-morning break at 10:15. School finishes at 14:45, except Wednesdays at 12:30 and Fridays at 12:15.
Is there a bus service?
ESTEC (European Space Agency) operates a bus for children of ESTEC employees. The bus has priority at the start and end of the school day. Only ESTEC parents can apply through ESTEC HR.
What wellbeing programme does the school use?
Elckerlyc follows Jigsaw, a whole-school social and emotional development programme with six themed units taught at age-appropriate levels throughout the year across all groups.
Is after-school care available?
Yes, after-school care is provided through partnerships with Stichting Kinderopvang Leiderdorp, Teddy Kids, Catalpa and Floreokids.
How do I apply?
Submit a Registration of Interest online. If a place is available, you complete the Online Application form. Admission to Group 0 depends on age criteria and the application requires school history and report cards.
