Japanese Schools in the Netherlands: Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Saturday Programs (2026)
The Netherlands has two full-time Japanese schools, in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, as well as Saturday supplementary schools in several regions. Amsterdam publishes 2026 school information and fees; Rotterdam describes bus service toward The Hague and Rotterdam Centre. Some supplementary programs have moved or provide their exact location only on request. Choose from current addresses and routes.
Nijiiro is operated by NIJIN Inc. TOMODACHI JAPAN, introduced in this article, is also a NIJIN Inc. service. The schools and services below are included where their official information can be checked; the order is not a ranking.
1. Start with the region and commute in the Netherlands
Regional fit:The Netherlands has two full-time Japanese schools, in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, as well as Saturday supplementary schools in several regions. Amsterdam publishes 2026 school information and fees; Rotterdam describes bus service toward The Hague and Rotterdam Centre. Some supplementary programs have moved or provide their exact location only on request. Choose from current addresses and routes.
Options in the Netherlands include full-time Japanese schools and supplementary programs that meet alongside another weekday school. The two full-time schools are in separate Amsterdam and Rotterdam areas, while supplementary schools serve The Hague/Rotterdam, Tilburg (now using rented premises in Eindhoven), Maastricht and other communities. A program name or older embassy listing may not reflect its current building. Ask for the current street address and actual service area before planning a commute.
This guide separates school type, location, schedule and cost so your family can contact the right provider. Dates, admissions, fees and transport can change, so use the linked primary sources and confirm details directly before applying.
| Learning arrangement | Typical schedule | May suit families who |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time Japanese school | Weekdays | Want a Japanese school curriculum and daily school life |
| Japanese supplementary school | Often weekends | Want Japanese study alongside a local or international school |
| Local school plus home or online learning | Weekdays plus a family plan | Want the local curriculum while continuing Japanese |
2. A full-time school, a supplementary school and a local school serve different roles
School types:A name containing “Japanese School” does not always mean a Monday-to-Friday school. When comparing options in the Netherlands, ask how many days children attend, which subjects are taught and whether the child needs a separate weekday enrollment.
A full-time Japanese school is an overseas school recognized by Japan’s Ministry of Education for a curriculum corresponding to Japanese elementary or lower-secondary education. A supplementary school usually supports Japanese language and subjects for children who attend a local or international weekday school. Its venue, schedule, age range and entry rules are set by the operator.
A local or international school can provide the main weekday education in another language or curriculum. Some families add a Saturday Japanese class, home study or an online language program. These arrangements do not automatically provide the same enrollment status or qualifications, so confirm attendance, progression and transfer records with the relevant schools.
Use one comparison sheet for: school type, address and weekly travel, languages and subjects, age and entry requirements, total annual cost, and documents needed for a future transfer. This prevents options with very different schedules from being compared as though they were the same kind of school.
3. Japanese-language schools and institutions in the Netherlands
School options:The MEXT and official school listings reviewed for this guide include 2 full-time Japanese school campuses and 0 separately classified private overseas facilities. The table shows their locations and categories; it does not establish that a campus is reachable from your home or has a vacancy in your child’s grade.
The two full-time schools are in separate Amsterdam and Rotterdam areas, while supplementary schools serve The Hague/Rotterdam, Tilburg (now using rented premises in Eindhoven), Maastricht and other communities. A program name or older embassy listing may not reflect its current building. Ask for the current street address and actual service area before planning a commute.
The supplementary programs are shown separately below. They have different schedules, purposes and admissions arrangements, so do not count them as extra full-time campuses.
| School / option | Region | Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Japanese School of Amsterdam | Amsterdam | Full-time Japanese school |
| The Japanese School of Rotterdam | Rotterdam | Full-time Japanese school |
4. School profiles and types in the Netherlands
School profiles:The Japanese School of Amsterdam is a full-time japanese school option to investigate in Amsterdam. The school’s 2026 guide lists Karel Klinkenbergstraat 137, 1061 AL Amsterdam and an elementary and lower-secondary program. Its public fee table lists a €350 entrance fee, €5,640 total annual tuition, €360 facilities fee and €2,220 school-bus fee for the shown school year. Confirm whether bus use is required and the current stop list. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
The Japanese School of Rotterdam is a full-time japanese school option to investigate in Rotterdam. The official site describes a full-time elementary and lower-secondary school in Rotterdam, with school-bus routes toward The Hague and Rotterdam Centre. Its fee page currently lists a €300 entrance fee and monthly tuition; because fee pages may be revised, confirm the current school-year amount and any additional costs directly before budgeting. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
A national or embassy list is a starting point for identifying a school’s category. It does not tell you whether a child’s grade has an opening, what the daily timetable looks like or which neighborhoods are served. If a page is dated or discusses a previous school year, ask the office for the current admissions guide and fee schedule.
5. Supplementary schools and weekend Japanese programs
Supplementary programs:When no full-time Japanese campus is practical, a local supplementary school may offer a way to maintain Japanese. Amsterdam and Rotterdam are separate weekday-school areas, and supplementary programs may meet elsewhere. Amsterdam publishes its 2026 address and bus charge; Rotterdam describes routes toward The Hague and central Rotterdam, but actual stops and eligibility depend on the family’s home. The Hague Rotterdam Saturday School lists lessons from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for about 41 days per year and shares its exact venue after inquiry. The Japanese School of Tilburg says it moved to rented premises in Eindhoven in 2025. Confirm the current door-to-door route, class day and transport with each school rather than relying on an older program name.
Do not infer a program’s catchment from its name alone. Confirm the current building, day of the week, grade range, available places and admissions process. Some operators rent a host-school building, have moved sites or provide the precise address after an inquiry.
The table reports what public sources establish. A listing by an embassy does not mean that current fees or class availability have been confirmed. Ask whether you can observe a lesson, how Japanese-language readiness is assessed, what home practice is expected and whether parents have an operating role.
| Program | Region | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Japanese Saturday School | Amsterdam | The Dutch Embassy lists it as one of the country’s Saturday Japanese supplementary schools. It is a separate program from the full-time Amsterdam Japanese School. Check its current venue, age range, Japanese level, attendance days and fees with the operator. |
| The Hague Rotterdam Japanese Saturday School | Northern Rotterdam | The school says classes run Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:30, about 41 days a year, for ages corresponding to Japanese elementary through lower-secondary grades. Its published 2026 tuition is €1,189 for the year, with materials charged separately; the exact address is provided after inquiry for safety. |
| Japanese School of Tilburg | Eindhoven | The school’s current site says lessons moved in January 2025 to rented premises in Eindhoven and that 2026 enrollment is open for children of elementary-to-lower-secondary age. It lists Japanese language and mathematics, while the precise address is shared on request. Do not assume it still meets in Tilburg. |
| Maastricht Japanese Supplementary School | Maastricht | The Embassy lists this supplementary school and identifies United World College Maastricht as a venue for an Embassy consular service. Confirm the school’s current schedule, age range, enrollment status and fees directly; the consular venue is not by itself a full school timetable. |
The Dutch Embassy lists it as one of the country’s Saturday Japanese supplementary schools. It is a separate program from the full-time Amsterdam Japanese School. Check its current venue, age range, Japanese level, attendance days and fees with the operator. Official information
The school says classes run Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:30, about 41 days a year, for ages corresponding to Japanese elementary through lower-secondary grades. Its published 2026 tuition is €1,189 for the year, with materials charged separately; the exact address is provided after inquiry for safety. Official information
The school’s current site says lessons moved in January 2025 to rented premises in Eindhoven and that 2026 enrollment is open for children of elementary-to-lower-secondary age. It lists Japanese language and mathematics, while the precise address is shared on request. Do not assume it still meets in Tilburg. Official information
The Embassy lists this supplementary school and identifies United World College Maastricht as a venue for an Embassy consular service. Confirm the school’s current schedule, age range, enrollment status and fees directly; the consular venue is not by itself a full school timetable. Official information
6. Check whether the commute is sustainable
Commute:Amsterdam publishes its address and bus fee, while Rotterdam lists routes toward The Hague and central Rotterdam; individual stops and eligibility still depend on the family’s address. A daily full-time commute and one weekly supplementary-school trip have different tolerable travel times. Include transfers, the walk to the stop, rainy-day arrangements and who handles pickup on a specific weekday.
Amsterdam and Rotterdam are separate weekday-school areas, and supplementary programs may meet elsewhere. Amsterdam publishes its 2026 address and bus charge; Rotterdam describes routes toward The Hague and central Rotterdam, but actual stops and eligibility depend on the family’s home. The Hague Rotterdam Saturday School lists lessons from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for about 41 days per year and shares its exact venue after inquiry. The Japanese School of Tilburg says it moved to rented premises in Eindhoven in 2025. Confirm the current door-to-door route, class day and transport with each school rather than relying on an older program name.
A school bus may not serve every address, grade or day. Ask for its current service area, stops, ride duration, price, seat availability and procedures after a move. For public transport, check age-appropriate transfers and whom to contact if a service is delayed.
A weekly supplementary class can still create a long weekend trip. Record the door-to-door journey for the real class day, then see how it fits with local-school homework, sport, family plans and rest. If travel is burdensome, compare a nearer Japanese-language activity or online study.
7. Admissions, grade placement and required documents
Admissions:Amsterdam asks families to contact the office when recruitment opens to receive the application materials. Rotterdam accepts an inquiry followed by an application and offers trial attendance. Supplementary schools set their own age and Japanese-language expectations, and some provide the exact address after a family makes contact. Start by sharing your child’s age, current school, likely address and intended start date.
Amsterdam’s school asks families to contact its office when recruitment opens to receive application materials; Rotterdam describes an inquiry, application and trial-visit route. Grade availability, start dates, bus stops and fees depend on the child’s address and age, so contact the school before preparing documents. Some weekend schools provide their venue only after inquiry, and the Japanese School of Tilburg now meets in Eindhoven. Confirm the operator and current location before planning travel.
Prepare your child’s date of birth, current grade, previous school, Japanese literacy, expected arrival date, likely address and intended start term. Transfer procedures can differ from new entry, and a school may not have a place in the requested grade midway through the year.
Ask about application windows, age ranges, grade placement, interviews or Japanese assessments, school reports, textbooks, trial visits, catchment rules and parent duties. Do not treat an embassy or MEXT listing as confirmation of a current opening or admission eligibility.
Families choosing a local school should contact the relevant school or education office after the likely address is known. Applying to a Japanese school or supplementary program does not complete local enrollment. Follow the receiving school’s instructions for translated records, health forms and residency documents.
8. Compare tuition and the full annual cost in the Netherlands
Total cost:Amsterdam’s 2026 guide lists a €350 entrance fee, €5,640 annual tuition, €360 facilities fee and €2,220 bus charge. Ask whether the bus fee is optional and whether textbooks or school-cooperation charges sit outside the table. Rotterdam’s published fees may change by year. For supplementary schools, check materials, insurance, activities and any parent contributions in addition to tuition.
Ask whether tuition is charged by month, term or school year, how long the year lasts, what the enrollment fee covers, and what happens if you leave or return to Japan. Supplementary-school tuition may be only one part of the cost; materials, insurance, events, travel and home-study resources can be additional.
Two prices in the same currency may still cover different periods. Keep annual recurring costs separate from first-year charges and one-time costs. Add transport, required uniforms and any activity fee, then compare the total rather than tuition alone.
If the public source does not establish a current fee, mark it as “confirm with the school.” Do not reuse a figure from an older academic year as today’s price. Once you receive a written estimate, add tuition, enrollment, facilities, books, uniform, transport, activities, insurance and any donation or parent contribution to the family budget.
9. When local school options do not fit: online Japanese study
Online learning:If daily travel to a full-time campus is impractical, a weekend school’s address or day does not fit, or your child wants Japanese-speaking peers in the Netherlands, compare the online school Tomodachi Japan. Its official plan describes eight-student classes, current Japanese teachers, dialogue and project-based live lessons, morning meetings and an online after-school space, with a pilot opening planned for December 2026. Ask for European-time sessions, regular tuition and trial requirements. It does not replace a full-time Japanese school or a Dutch school enrollment.
Tomodachi Japan has a different role from a full-time local or Japanese school. It may be relevant to a family whose closest full-time campus is too far away, whose supplementary-school day does not work, or whose child wants more contact with Japanese-speaking peers while continuing another school. A family that needs daily campus life, local school enrollment or a recognized curriculum still needs a separate weekday school.
There is no single scale that ranks a Japanese school, supplementary program, local school and online class. First decide whether your priority is daily Japanese-language schooling, the local curriculum, a weekly literacy class or a flexible way to speak Japanese with peers. Then compare age fit, lesson time, friendships, travel and total cost.
In a consultation, explain the current school and grade, languages used, Japanese goals, preferred time zone, address and likely return date. Treat opening dates and fees as current plans rather than guarantees, and verify them through the official guide.
| Question | Full-time Japanese school | Supplementary school | Online Japanese learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Every weekday | Often one weekend day | Based on the available timetable |
| Main role | Japanese-language school education | Japanese study alongside another school | Flexible dialogue and learning |
| Travel | Daily route and bus | Weekly venue and route | Internet access and time zone |
| Enrollment status | Check recognition and entry terms | Often used with another weekday school | Does not replace a recognized day-school enrollment |
| Confirm | Grade, vacancies, fees, transport | Age, Japanese level, day, materials | Opening plan, timetable, cost and fit |
10. Keep Japanese and the local language in balance
Japanese continuity:Balancing the language used in daily Dutch life with Japanese reading and writing is central to the decision. Amsterdam’s 2026 guide describes a curriculum based on Japanese education standards. Because supplementary schools meet on limited days, families should plan time at home for reading aloud, kanji, writing and textbook review. If grade placement on a future return matters, discuss progress with both the current and receiving schools.
Put the weekday school in the Netherlands, any supplementary class, online learning and home reading on one weekly calendar. A plan should leave room for local-language learning, friends and rest rather than simply adding more Japanese hours.
A child may have grade-level reading and writing in Japanese but a different vocabulary or subject pace after schooling abroad. If a return to Japan is approaching, ask the current school about reports, textbooks, lesson records and enrollment certificates, then ask the receiving school which documents it needs.
If your child resists Japanese homework or seems tired, review the learning partner, topic, timing and rest before adding more assignments. Ask what the child wants to continue and separate required work from activities the child can choose.
11. Combining a local school with Japanese learning in the Netherlands
Combining programs:If a Dutch or international school is the weekday setting, compare the supplementary program’s actual lesson time, subjects and travel. The Hague Rotterdam school lists Japanese, mathematics and lower-secondary math on Saturdays; Tilburg describes Japanese and mathematics within a limited schedule. A supplementary school does not provide the same number of school hours as a full-time Japanese school.
Two schools can mean two sets of calendars, absence procedures, health information, learning materials and family messages. Ask which school needs which information, and compare holidays, exam weeks and major events at the start of the year.
For Saturday programs, plan Friday homework, Saturday transport and Sunday rest as one weekend routine. If online lessons are added on a weekday, check whether the child would spend too long on a screen after school and extracurriculars. Try the schedule for a few weeks and review it together.
The right balance changes with age and plans. Families may prioritize Japanese textbooks, the local language, peer relationships or a smoother transition back to Japan. Narrow the goals to two or three, then share them with the school so the advice can address your actual situation.
12. A checklist for comparing schools
Decision checklist:Travel: confirm campus address, bus zone, nearest station, normal arrival and dismissal, and the plan for delays.
Fit: confirm grade placement, teaching language, Japanese reading and writing level, group setting and visit or trial options.
Cost: include tuition, enrollment, facilities, materials, transport, uniform, activities, insurance and refund rules.
Family routine: map work hours, siblings, supplementary-school homework, rest days and time-zone constraints across a full week.
Continuity: ask what report cards, enrollment certificates, textbooks and learning records are available if the family moves.
| Family priority | Options to review first | Question for the school |
|---|---|---|
| Daily schooling in Japanese | Nearby full-time Japanese school | Grade, place, route and total fee |
| Japanese study beside a local school | Regional supplementary program | Day, subjects, language level and home study |
| Fewer trips and more peer contact | Online Japanese learning | Time zone, class size, opening date and qualification limits |
13. Preparing before a move to the Netherlands
Before you move:Once a move is likely, write down possible neighborhoods, the child’s age and grade, Japanese reading and writing, and the expected start date at a local school. Use the embassy and MEXT pages to identify the school type, then check each operator’s current-year admissions page.
Several months before the intended start, ask about places, selection, catchment, transport, fees and visits. If the move is soon, contact the school immediately rather than waiting for a standard window. Supplementary schools may have grade-specific limits and trial dates that do not match weekday-school admissions.
Before departure, request the current school’s transcript, enrollment certificate, health records and textbook paperwork, and ask the receiving school whether translations are required. After arrival, verify the address and travel plan, then check in with the child after the first weeks to review homework, fatigue and friendships.
14. Frequently asked questions about Japanese schools in the Netherlands
Where to confirm:Use current school and consular notices for the final decision. If a school’s page and an embassy list differ, check the publication dates and contact the operator directly.
What Japanese-language school options are listed in the Netherlands?
This guide identifies 2 full-time Japanese school campuses and 0 separately classified private overseas facilities. Supplementary programs are a separate category. Confirm current vacancies, entry rules and service areas with each operator.
What is the difference between a Japanese school and a supplementary school?
A full-time Japanese school meets on weekdays and provides a Japanese school curriculum. A supplementary school usually offers Japanese or subject study alongside a different weekday school, often on weekends.
How much does tuition cost?
Amsterdam’s 2026 guide lists a €350 entrance fee, €5,640 annual tuition, €360 facilities fee and €2,220 bus charge. Ask whether the bus fee is optional and whether textbooks or school-cooperation charges sit outside the table. Rotterdam’s published fees may change by year. For supplementary schools, check materials, insurance, activities and any parent contributions in addition to tuition.
Can Tomodachi Japan replace a local school?
Tomodachi Japan is an online Japanese-language school. It is not a recognized full-time Japanese or local school, so families should confirm local enrollment and qualification requirements separately.
What should I ask before applying?
Share the child’s grade, Japanese level, intended address and move date. Ask about vacancies, documents, transport, tuition, additional costs and refund rules.
Primary sources
Use current official guidance: Admissions, fees and availability can change; confirm them directly with the school or public authority.
- MEXT: 認定した在外教育施設の一覧
- Embassy of Japan in the Netherlands: 全日制校・補習授業校の案内
- Japanese School of Amsterdam: 2026年度学校案内・入学案内
- Japanese School of Rotterdam: 入学金・授業料・諸費用
- The Hague Rotterdam Japanese Saturday School: 2026年度入学案内
- Japanese School of Tilburg: 現行の授業地・募集
- Tomodachi Japan: 学びのしくみ・料金・FAQ
- Amsterdam Japanese Saturday School: official information
- Maastricht Japanese Supplementary School: official information
- Tomodachi Japan: Pricing
- Tomodachi Japan: FAQ
