What is a schakelklas?

It's a class that helps a child who doesn't yet speak Dutch learn the language before joining mainstream education. The word 'schakelklas' is the older, general term. Today, primary-age newcomers go into a newcomer class (nieuwkomersgroep / taalklas) at a language school, and secondary-age newcomers go into an Internationale Schakelklas (ISK). A child typically stays about a year before transferring to a regular school.

How do I enrol my primary-age child (4–12) who doesn't speak Dutch?

In Amsterdam, register your child at a regular primary school of your choice. If the child qualifies as a newcomer (broadly: no Dutch and less than a year in the Netherlands), that school registers them with the Centraal Meldpunt Nieuwkomers, the central intake run by Het ABC, which finds a place in a newcomer class. You don't apply to a language school directly. Contact: 020 799 0050 or nieuwkomer@hetabc.nl.

How do I enrol my teenager (12–18)?

For secondary-age children there is no central intake — you apply directly to an ISK (Internationale Schakelklas) school, which invites your child for an intake interview and placement test. In Amsterdam, ISK/EOA provision runs at Montessori Lyceum Oostpoort, Mundus College and DENISE. Apply as soon as you can, as some ISKs have waiting lists.

Does my child need a BSN to start school?

No. A child does not need a BSN to start in education. If there is no BSN yet, the school arranges an education number (onderwijsnummer) via DUO. Compulsory-age children have the right to be enrolled regardless of residence status or nationality.

How long does a child stay in a newcomer class?

Usually about one year (Amsterdam's own guidance says roughly 40 weeks for primary), then the child transfers to a mainstream school. Secondary ISK can take one to two years. By national rule, a pupil can be in temporary newcomer provision for no longer than two years.

Is school compulsory, and from what age?

Yes. Compulsory education (leerplicht) starts on the first day of the month after a child turns 5 and runs to age 16, followed by the qualification obligation (kwalificatieplicht) to 18 for those without a basic diploma. Most children start at 4. Newcomer families should enrol a child as soon as possible — the municipal attendance officer (leerplichtambtenaar) enforces this.

Do we have to pay for a newcomer class?

No. Newcomer education is part of the public, publicly-funded school system, so there is no tuition fee. Schools may ask for a modest voluntary parental contribution (ouderbijdrage) as they do for all pupils, but it is voluntary and cannot be a condition of enrolment.

Schakelklas in Amsterdam: Schools for Newcomer Children

If your child doesn't speak Dutch, Amsterdam places them in a newcomer class to learn the language before they join a mainstream school. For a primary-age child (4–12), you register at a regular primary school and the city's central newcomer intake finds a place; for a teenager (12–18), you apply directly to an ISK (Internationale Schakelklas). A child usually spends about a year there. School is compulsory from age 5, and every child has the right to attend regardless of nationality or residence status — even without a BSN.

What "schakelklas" means today

"Schakelklas" is the word many parents search for, but the terminology has moved on. It originally meant a specific extra-language class. Today the provision for newly-arrived children who don't speak Dutch is called newcomer education (nieuwkomersonderwijs), and it splits by age:

Primary age (roughly 4–12): a newcomer class (nieuwkomersgroep or taalklas) at a dedicated language school (taalschool / nieuwkomersschool).
Secondary age (roughly 12–18): an Internationale Schakelklas (ISK), sometimes labelled Eerste Opvang Anderstaligen (EOA).

The goal is the same in both: intensive Dutch plus core subjects, so the child can move into regular education. That transfer usually happens after about a year (Amsterdam cites roughly 40 weeks for primary); secondary ISK can run one to two years. By law a child can be in temporary newcomer provision for no longer than two years.

Enrolling a primary-age child (4–12)

Amsterdam runs a central intake for primary newcomers, so you don't hunt for a language school yourself. The steps:

Register your child at a regular primary school of your choice. This is your normal starting point.
If the child qualifies as a newcomer — broadly, they don't speak Dutch and have been in the Netherlands less than a year — that school registers them with the Centraal Meldpunt Nieuwkomers, the central intake run by the organisation Het ABC.
The meldpunt has the overview of every newcomer class, its capacity and waiting list, and finds a place — the aim is a place within about two weeks.

You can reach the Centraal Meldpunt on 020 799 0050 or nieuwkomer@hetabc.nl. For general questions, Amsterdam's school service (Schoolwijzer) is on 14 020 or schoolwijzer@amsterdam.nl.

Enrolling a teenager (12–18)

For secondary-age children there is no central intake — you apply directly to an ISK school. The school invites your child for an intake interview and a placement test, then decides the right level and start group. Apply as early as you can: with high demand and a shortage of Dutch-as-a-second-language teachers, some ISKs in Amsterdam have waiting lists.

Amsterdam schools with newcomer provision

Confirmed July 2026. Capacity and locations change year to year — always confirm current availability directly with the school or the central intake before you count on a place.

Secondary — ISK / EOA (ages ~12–18):

Montessori Lyceum Oostpoort (ISK) — Amsterdam Oost
Mundus College (EOA) — Nieuw-West
DENISE (ISK/EOA) — Nieuw-West

Primary — language schools (ages ~4–12):

Taalschool de Vlugt — Nieuw-West
Taalschool Innoord — Amsterdam Noord
DENISE — Nieuw-West (also primary)

Remember that for primary, you don't apply to these schools directly — you register at a regular primary school and let the central intake place your child.

Compulsory school and the right to education

Dutch compulsory education (leerplicht) starts on the first day of the month after your child turns 5 and runs to age 16. After that, the qualification obligation (kwalificatieplicht) keeps young people in education until 18 unless they already hold a basic diploma. Most children in practice start at 4. Because school is compulsory, newcomer families are expected to enrol a child quickly; the municipal attendance officer (leerplichtambtenaar) oversees this and can be reached at leerplicht@amsterdam.nl.

Crucially, every child in the Netherlands has the right — and obligation — to attend school, regardless of nationality or residence status. That includes children of asylum seekers and children without a residence permit. A BSN is not required to start: if the child doesn't have one yet, the school arranges an education number (onderwijsnummer) through DUO.

One 2026 change to know

From 1 January 2026, the point at which a school starts receiving newcomer funding is the child's first enrolment at school rather than the date their residence right began. This is a funding-administration change on the school's side — it does not change how you enrol your child or your child's right to a place.