What is the average age of graduation in the Netherlands?
The average age of graduation from general upper secondary programmes varies from 17 to 21 years across OECD countries and is 17 years in the Netherlands.
The Dutch start the “middelbare school” (high school) at about the age of about 11 - 12 years old. For university this generally takes 6 years: when they are about 17 - 18 years old. They then start at the university for their bachelor degree.
In the Netherlands, pupils must attend school from 5 to 16 years old. However, in fact, nearly all children attend primary school from the age of four.
| Academic year in the Netherlands | Years old |
|---|---|
| VMBO 3 or HAVO 3 or VWO 3 | 14-15 years old |
| VMBO 4 or HAVO 4 or VWO 4 | 15-16 years old |
| HAVO 5 or VWO 5 | 16-17 years old |
| VWO 6 | 17-18 years old |
In the Netherlands, 24% of 15-19 year-olds are enrolled in general upper secondary education and 30% in vocational upper secondary education. A further 21% are enrolled in lower secondary programmes and 17% in tertiary programmes.
Secondary education, which begins at the age of 12 and, as of 2008, is compulsory until the age of 18, is offered at several levels. The two programmes of general education that lead to higher education are HAVO (five years) and VWO (six years).
Then it's time for highschool, where you go from 16 to 18. You generally graduate at 19, with the option to do whatever you want.
| Primary | Primary | 4–12 |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary | Voortgezet onderwijs- High School (Continued Education) | 12 |
| Secondary | Voorbereidend middelbaar beroepsonderwijs_ preparatory middle-level applied education | 12–16 |
| Secondary | Secondary | 12–18 |
The Dutch education system compared to the American is a bit more relaxed in regards to class assignments but more strict in regards to grading. It's often difficult to attain high marks, and you get fewer assignments than you would in an American school.
The age of consent in the Netherlands for voluntary sexual relations is 16 years (Penal Law Code, art. 244 and 245).
Is school free in Netherlands?
Most Dutch schools are funded and monitored by the government. Except for some private schools, most Dutch primary and secondary schools are free. The parents pay a small contribution, which the schools use for extra things. Some international schools are partly funded by the government, and others are private.
Dutch universities are world-renowned for high quality teaching and research. Many degrees are taught in English and more than 100,000 international students choose to study in Holland every year.
In the Netherlands, 71% of bachelor's students have graduated within three years after the end of the theoretical programme duration, compared to 68% on average across the OECD. In all OECD countries, tertiary completion rates are higher for women than for men.
Source: OECD (2019), Education at a Glance Database, http://stats.oecd.org. See Source section for more information and Annex 3 for notes (https://doi.org/10.1787/f8d7880d-en). Overall, 38% of Dutch adults (25-64 year-olds) have a tertiary education, similar to the OECD average of 39%.
The Netherlands is a leading knowledge economy with a strong international position and a world-class reputation. The Dutch are well-educated and enjoy a good quality of life in a safe and secure environment. Mission: academic education, research and knowledge valorisation (assuring impact of knowledge in society).
1. United States of America. The United States has the best education system in the world. A significant number of international students, totalling 1,057,000, have been enrolled in universities in the USA last year.
Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally obliged to take out standard health insurance to cover the cost of, for example, consulting a general practitioner, hospital treatment and prescription medication.
According to the EF English Proficiency Index 2022, the Netherlands ranks number 1 out of 111 countries and Dutch students consequently are likely to see the U.S. as a prime study destination. The World Economic Forum has ranked the Netherlands as the third most educated country in the world.
In the Netherlands, a person is generally considered a senior citizen at the age of 65. This is the age at which people become eligible for state pension benefits, also known as AOW (Algemene Ouderdomswet).
Education Facts in the Netherlands
School hours in primary school are from 8:30 to 15:00 with an hour-long lunch at 12:00. Wednesdays are half-days and children go home at 12:00. School hours for secondary school students start at 8:30 until about 16:00–17:00, depending on the day's schedule.
What is the average age of Netherlands?
Ten point grading system
The assessment system in the Netherlands consists of marks from 1 (very bad) to 10 (outstanding). The marks 1 to 3, 9 and 10 are seldom given. A minimum score of 6 is required to pass a course. For marks with one decimal point, 5.5 is the minimum pass mark.
7 = More than satisfactory
It's a good and solid result, and it is the most commonly awarded grade in the Netherlands. It can be officially translated into meaning 'more than satisfactory', but most students will agree that a 7 is actually 'more than enough'.
Children aged 5 to 16 are obliged to attend full-time education. In certain circ*mstances, your child might be exempted from compulsory school attendance. This is called vrijstelling van leerplicht.
In this research, it Teaching and Learning International Survey (Talis) the OECD measures the prestige of the teaching profession by asking them about the appreciation they experience for their work from society. Despite the downward trend, this indicator in the Netherlands is still slightly above the global average.
