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High School in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is home to many wonderful attractions from the vast tulip fields to the famous Efteling theme park. Want to learn more about this amazing country first hand? You can with our high school study abroad programs!

Overview

Our High School Exchange Program in the Netherlands will enable you to immerse yourself in Dutch culture while living with an Dutch host family and sharing in their daily life. As a family member, you will participate in activities and adapt to the family rules as if they were your own. High school abroad in the Netherlands is a once in a lifetime experience!

Not interested in studying in the Netherlands? How about Norway! Learn more here.

About the Netherlands

An exchange to the Netherlands offers foreign students the unique opportunity to experience one of the biggest small countries in Europe. The Netherlands is not only
famous for its wind mills, tulips and wooden shoes. Therefore you can explore our country below sea level by bike and see towns and cities surrounded by castle walls and canals.

Amsterdam is the capital, whereas Rotterdam is the second biggest city. The Netherlands are very flat, we have some hills in the South, but no mountains. We do have a lot of canals and rivers and some lakes as well, that is also why a lot of people can ice-skate, everybody can swim and we all ride bikes. In every village you can play soccer and/or hockey.

Netherlands Placeholder
Netherlands

Program Dates & Deadlines

Apply early and get a discount! Submit your application 45 days before the deadline to receive an Early Bird Discount.

These are the approximate start dates. Exact start dates will be provided closer to your arrival.

Spring

Academic Trimester: Late January – Mid-April

Academic Semester: Late January – Early June

Final Deadline to Apply: November 1st

 

Fall

Academic Trimester: Late July – Late September

Academic Semester: Late July – Mid-December

Final Deadline to Apply: May 1st

Program Costs

2 Months

Trimester

Costs

$7,410

$7,800

Discounts, Scholarships & Fundraising

Early Bird Discount – $250 discount if you apply 45 days prior to the application deadline

Host Family Discount – Discount of up to $1000 for families that hosted an inbound student

Area Representative Discount – Discount of up to $500 for children of ISE Area Representatives

ISE Ambassador ScholarshipDesigned for students who would like to engage deeply with their host community and reflect on their experience via blog/video contributions. 

Additional Scholarships  We gathered a list of some additional scholarships that can help finance your dream exchange

ISE Fundraising Guide –  Check out our tips and tricks for planning your very own study abroad fundraiser.

What's Included In The Program

  • Arrival Orientation
  • Comprehensive medical insurance
  • Support and supervision by local representative
  • Host family accommodation including 2 meals a day during the week, and 3 meals a day on the weekends.
  • School tuition and fees
  • Progress reports sent directly to parents
  • 24/7 emergency support
  • ISE Tote bag, luggage tag & lanyard

Additional Expenses You Might Incur

  • Personal Expenses – cell phone bills, personal spending money, travel expenses
  • Transportation to airport at conclusion of program
  • Extra School Fees – Uniform, class trips, extra curricular activities

Eligibility

• Age between 15 and 18 years old.
• Must not have less than a “C” average
• Have excellent physical and mental health.
• Agree to attend classes and maintain satisfactory standards of work and behavior.
• Be mature and flexible so as to be able to accept the school and host family.
• Be responsible and follow the school, the host family and ISE’s rules and respect the law.
• Be prepared to adapt to a new culture with different values and to live in a family with different life style and/or social economic level that he/she may be used in his/her own country.

Academic Info

The Dutch school year starts mid-August or at the end of August and lasts until the beginning or mid- July. The exact dates are dependent on the region you are placed in. These are the regions in the Netherlands: North, Centre or South.

In Holland school starts at about 08.30 a.m. and finishes at about 3.00 p.m. although this will vary according to each student’s timetable. Most students go to school by bicycle, sometimes by public transport. There are no school buses. At school all Dutch students learn 4 languages; Dutch, English, German, and sometimes French. Other subjects at school are Mathematics, Science, Geography, History and PE. All Dutch students have other activities besides school, like playing sports, scouting or playing a musical instrument.

Orientation

After arrival in the Netherlands all students will have an orientation day. The students will get to know each other and they will learn about the Dutch culture and language. The orientation will take place in Rosmalen.

Trips & Attractions

Twice a year there are organized trips that are included in your program cost. These trips include activities such as a trip to Amsterdam in fall and a trip to the famous theme park the Efteling in spring.

Application Process

  1. Explore our programs, options and countries to find your best match. 
  2. Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
  3. Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
  4. Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
  5. Upon acceptance, you will be required to pay a deposit of 50% of the total program costs, up to $1500. The final payment is due several weeks before your departure. 

Parent FAQs

Moving away from your support network and into a new and unfamiliar environment can be difficult even for the most well-adjusted students. Students with pre-existing mental health conditions may find this adjustment particularly challenging, which could worsen any issues they were previously facing. 

We conduct a thorough screening of all applicants to ensure they are in the right mindset to participate. While the majority of students are eligible to participate, we may not be able to accept students who have recently struggled with mental illness and/or are reliant on medication to treat mental illness in order to protect the student’s well-being. 

Pre-existing mental health conditions include, but are not limited to:

  • Severe anxiety
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

For students prepared to take on the challenge, absolutely. It is, however, important to consider a student’s level of maturity prior to the program because it directly impacts their success. 

Ideally, our programs will push students beyond their comfort zone and into what is referred to as their stretch zone. It’s in the stretch zone that learning, growth, and development - along with challenges and risk - occur. 

If a student is not ready and/or willing to move beyond their comfort zone, plunging into a new and unfamiliar environment could actually have an adverse effect and place them in what is referred to as the panic zoneParents should make an honest assessment of their child’s maturity level and understand that study abroad will not fundamentally change their child’s personality or behavior when considering the program.

study abroad stretch zone

While abroad, your child will be fully supported. First, they will receive a personal Program Manager to assist with everything from the initial request to your child’s departure. Then, they will be supported abroad by a dedicated Local Coordinator who will frequently check in on the student and provide monthly progress reports. Your child will have the contact information of their Local Coordinator and can contact them at any time. There is also a 24/7 emergency line managed out of ISE headquarters.

No. Visits of any kind are not allowed during our programs. If you plan to visit your child, you should plan to do so after the program has ended.  

High School Program FAQs

There are many benefits to attending high school abroad, including but not limited to:

  • Developing new language skills
  • Developing problem-solving skills
  • Identifying interests to better select your college major
  • Inspiring insightful college admissions essays
  • Improving academic scores upon your return home
  • Developing cross-cultural collaboration skills

We can’t offer any guarantees that certain classes will be offered at your host school. We can provide you with general curriculum information, but often students are not able to sign up for specific classes until after they arrive in the host country. In certain instances, virtual high school options for required classes might be a useful option.

You will not be able to take the SATs while abroad. We highly recommend that you take the SATs prior to or after the program.

Upon successful completion of the program, everyone is guaranteed a Certificate of Attendance. Transcripts (i.e. grades) have to be earned. To earn the grades, you will have to excel in your classes abroad, in the language of your destination country. All of our high schools abroad are accredited institutions, therefore their grades are transferable to the United States. Please visit Scholaro for more information on translating and evaluating grades from abroad. As part of the preparation process, you have to check with your guidance counselor which classes/credits you will need to graduate or to advance to your next year of high school. Some classes, such as US History might not be offered abroad, and therefore you will have to find a way to earn those credits either before your study abroad year or after. One option to consider is a virtual high school.

Yes! We offer a post-high school Gap Year Program. Visit our Gap Year Program page for more details.

Yes. Additional expenses to consider include (estimates):

  • Stationary and school supplies: $100
  • School excursions and trips: $50
  • Cell phone service: $20-$50/month
  • Personal expenses (shopping, movies, nights out, etc.): $300/month
  • Bus pass/transportation: $10-$20/week

General FAQs

Post-high school programs are gaining popularity for a multitude of reasons. First, there is a lot of research that points to a Gap Year program as a great source of academic growth, language learning, and cross-cultural work experience. Also, it contributes greatly to personal growth and development. A Gap Year allows students to re-examine their goals, gain new perspectives, make friends from diverse backgrounds, and learn more about themselves. Visit our Gap Year program page for more details.

Participants in our Gap Year program may participate in several different roles and activities, including but not limited to:

  • Teacher’s Assistant
  • Volunteering/Community Development
  • Farming & Sustainability