Welcome to Amsterdam: Your Family’s Next Great Adventure
Moving your family across the world takes courage – for the children and for the parents.
You aren’t just moving houses; you are transitioning your children into an entirely new rhythm of life. Amsterdam is consistently ranked as one of the world’s happiest, safest and most active cities for families to live and work.
At The British School of Amsterdam, our community acts as a reassuring ‘warm blanket’ for your child, with families frequently calling us their second home – the highest compliment a school can receive. So, you are in safe hands.
A City Shaped for Families
Being an international family in Amsterdam is simply the norm. A city designed for everyday adventures, children grow up with a sense of belonging, enjoying lush green spaces, navigating the scenic canals and exploring vibrant cultural heritage.
It is a city built on active living, where children safely cycle to school and families enjoy an outdoor, community-focused lifestyle. The BSA actively weaves the culture of the city into daily school life, so children and families can immerse themselves from day one.
Amsterdam isn’t just a global business hub – it’s active, open and diverse.
Learning Inside an Amsterdam Landmark
The British School of Amsterdam didn’t just drop into Amsterdam; we have been growing organically here for nearly 50 years.
Today, our school is housed in one of Amsterdam’s most iconic heritage landmarks - a beautifully reimagined historic building flooded with natural light, modern technical facilities and thoughtful, sustainable materials. It provides an inspiring and stable setting for your child to anchor themselves in their new home city, be shaped by British educational standards and look toward a boundless future.
Your Relocation Questions, Answered
| What is the expat community like in Amsterdam? |
| Because it is home to hundreds of international headquarters, Amsterdam has a large expatriate community, so making friends and finding expat-focused groups is easy. Amsterdam has a reputation for openness, inclusivity and a global mindset, so international professionals can feel right at home. |
| My child doesn’t speak English fluently yet. Can they join the BSA? |
| Absolutely. While English is our primary language of instruction, we are an international community, not a school exclusively for British citizens. Our dedicated English as an Additional Language specialists work closely with children to accelerate their language skills. |
| Does the BSA align with corporate relocation timelines? |
| Yes. We understand that corporate packages and international transfers don’t always align with the standard September academic calendar. To fully support globally mobile families and corporate HR partners, the BSA offers flexible, year-round entry across all age divisions, subject to space availability. |
| Where do children attending The British School of Amsterdam live? |
The BSA is based in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid, one of the most desirable residential neighbourhoods home to luxury shopping streets, the Museum Quarter and the beautiful city park, Vondelpark. About 75% of our students live within 2km of the school. Other families live in Amstelveen, Uithoorn, Hoofdorp, Utrecht, Hoofddorp, Almere, Haarlem, The Hague and beyond! Housing tip: The Amsterdam housing market moves incredibly fast. We highly recommend securing your housing as early as possible. Our Admissions team has excellent relationships with trusted local relocation agents and can happily provide recommended contacts upon request. |
| How does the school help parents integrate? |
| Before you arrive, or as you land, we can put you in touch with current parents who have made the move themselves. We are very proud of our international parent community in our Parents’ Organisation (PO) – they support school events and support one another to help settle in Amsterdam. |
| How does the school ensure an inclusive environment? |
| We nurture a strong global community with students representing over 70 nationalities, where opportunities for cultural exchange and mutual understanding are prioritised. The BSA fosters these connections through events such as our International and Cultural Days. |
| Is there an after-school care provision in place? |
| Yes. We partner with Majest Global, an exceptional external provider that offers reliable after-school care for children aged 3 to 12, across Early Years and Junior School, in both term time and school holidays. Fully independent of school fees, this programme operates on site to ensure a homely environment filled with supervised activities. |
| Would I need to buy a car to commute my children to school? |
| No. Most of our families travel to school either on foot or by bicycle – Amsterdam is well known for its excellent cycling infrastructure. The BSA is located in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid, easily accessible via excellent public transport links for families commuting from different parts of the city and surrounding areas. |
| Do I need to speak Dutch to live comfortably in Amsterdam? |
| You do not need to speak Dutch to live comfortably in Amsterdam. The city ranks among the highest in the world for English proficiency, and the vast majority of residents speak it fluently. Learning conversational basics is wonderful for long-term integration – so, we proudly offer Dutch lessons to both our parents and students. |
| We currently live far from the Netherlands and can’t attend an Open Day. Is there another option for us? |
| Many of our prospective families live abroad – we are an international school after all. If you can’t make it in person to The BSA for a visit or Open Day, we are very happy to arrange an online meeting with you and your family to answer any questions. You can book it here. |
We’re Here to Help
Let us help you make Amsterdam feel like home. Our Admissions team is here to help, every step of the way.
