Amsterdam International Community School
🇳🇱 Amsterdam · Founded 2003 · IB · Ages 4-18
A government-subsidised, fully IB-continuum international school in Amsterdam that delivers a CIS-accredited international education at a fraction of private international school fees.
Curricula
IB
Age range
4-18
Languages of instruction
English
Annual fees
SGD ~EUR 6,025-6,309/yr primary; EUR 7,178-9,168/yr secondary (2025/26); EUR 200 registration + EUR 500 deposit
Enrollment
2,000
Boarding
No (day school)
IB authorised
PYP, MYP, DP, CP
Accreditations
Council of International Schools (CIS), International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), Dutch International Schools (DIS)
Tier Profile
We only tier dimensions backed by a public inspection verdict or verifiable accreditation. Other dimensions show a data flag — never a guessed score.
BrightKey's Assessment
Amsterdam International Community School (AICS) is a Dutch government-subsidised international school, founded in 2003 and part of the Esprit Scholen group. It is one of the relatively small number of schools worldwide authorised across the full IB continuum: the IB Primary Years Programme (authorised September 2021), the Middle Years Programme, the Diploma Programme, and the Career-related Programme (authorised 2020). Instruction is in English across an age range of roughly 4 to 18.
The defining feature of AICS is its funding model. Like other members of the Dutch International Schools network, it is partly funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education under a policy dating to 1983 that supports affordable international education for the children of internationally mobile families. The practical effect is dramatic: published fees sit at roughly EUR 6,000 per year for primary and EUR 7,000-9,000 for secondary (2025/26), against the up to EUR 30,000 per year charged by fully private international schools in the Netherlands. A EUR 200 registration fee and a EUR 500 deposit apply.
The school is large by international-school standards, with more than 2,000 students across two Amsterdam campuses (South, and the South East 'Sandcastle' campus), drawing students of many nationalities. It is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and is an IB World School, with the next synchronised CIS-IB accreditation visit scheduled for 2026.
Because it is a publicly subsidised Dutch institution, AICS falls under the Dutch Inspectorate of Education rather than a graded inspection regime like England's Ofsted. The Inspectorate assures statutory quality standards but does not publish an 'Outstanding'-style graded band, so accreditation here rests on the CIS and IB authorisations rather than a single headline rating.
Why These Ratings?
Inspection & AccreditationA — Excellent
Rated 'A' rather than 'S' because the school holds strong independent credentials - CIS accreditation and IB World School status with the full four-programme continuum - but the Dutch Inspectorate of Education does not issue a verbatim graded band (no Ofsted-style 'Outstanding'), so the top 'S' tier, which requires a graded top band, cannot be awarded.
Strengths & Trade-offs
Strengths
- Full IB continuum authorisation (PYP, MYP, DP and CP), a combination only a minority of international schools worldwide offer
- Dramatically lower fees than private international schools thanks to Dutch government subsidy (roughly EUR 6,000-9,000 vs up to EUR 30,000)
- CIS-accredited and an IB World School, with a synchronised CIS-IB review cycle
- Large, highly international community of 2,000+ students across two Amsterdam campuses
- English-medium instruction with an inclusive, accessible mission for students of all nationalities living in the Netherlands
Trade-offs
- No graded inspection band published (Dutch Inspectorate does not rate like Ofsted), so external 'how good' signals rely on accreditation status
- Eligibility is geared to internationally mobile families, which can constrain access for some local applicants
- Single curriculum pathway (IB only) with no British or American alternative
- Day school only - no boarding for relocating families needing residential options
Is It Right For You?
Best For
- ✓Internationally mobile families relocating to Amsterdam who want IB continuity
- ✓Families seeking high-quality international education without private-school fee levels
- ✓Students who thrive in a large, multinational, English-medium environment
- ✓Parents who value the full IB continuum from primary through to the Diploma or Career-related Programme
Not Ideal For
- ✕Families wanting a British (GCSE/A-Level) or American (AP/diploma) curriculum
- ✕Families needing boarding provision
- ✕Those who require a published graded inspection rating to compare schools
- ✕Local Dutch families outside the internationally mobile eligibility focus
Curriculum
AICS offers the full IB continuum in English: the Primary Years Programme (authorised September 2021), Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme, and Career-related Programme (authorised 2020). The school describes itself as the first Dutch international school to offer all four IB programmes.
Fees
AICS is a Dutch government-subsidised school, so fees are far below private international schools. Published figures are roughly EUR 6,025-6,309 per year for primary and EUR 7,178-9,168 per year for secondary (2025/26), plus a EUR 200 non-refundable registration fee and a EUR 500 deposit. By contrast, fully private international schools in the Netherlands can charge up to EUR 30,000 per child per year; the Dutch International Schools network reports its members charge roughly EUR 4,500-9,000 per child. The school's official site confirms the Dutch Ministry of Education contributes funds while every student still pays fees.
Admissions
Applications are processed via OpenApply. A non-refundable EUR 200 registration fee applies, with a EUR 500 deposit. The school's subsidised, accessible model is aimed at students of internationally mobile families living in the Netherlands.
Campus Life
AICS operates as 'one school, two campuses' in Amsterdam - the South campus on Arent Janszoon Ernststraat (a Mecanoo-designed building opened in 2022) and the South East 'Sandcastle' campus at Bijlmerplein (occupied from September 2023). It serves more than 2,000 students of many nationalities, with an Eco-Schools programme and a shared curriculum and values across both sites.
University Placement
School-reported · not independently verified
School-reported, unverified: AICS prepares students for the IB Diploma and Career-related Programme leading to university entry; specific destination and results data were not found in public sources at the time of review.
Sources
Every verifiable fact carries a public source — verify it yourself.
- AICS official site - homepage and accreditation page · 2026-06
- AICS official - Tuition and Financial Matters (2026-27; Dutch Ministry of Education contributes funds, EUR 200 registration) · 2026-06
- International Schools Database - AICS fees 2025/2026 · 2026-06
- Dutch International Schools - subsidised model (govt part-funding since 1983; EUR 4,500-9,000/child vs up to EUR 30,000 private) · 2026-06
- Wikipedia - Amsterdam International Community School (founded 2003, 2,000+ students, two campuses, ages 4-18) · 2026-06
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