Which is the most suitable school?

Dutch Primary Education
Education starts at four. Primary schools are either faith-based (Protestant Christian, Catholic Christian, Muslim, Jewish or non-denominational) or state-owned. Faith-based primary schools are often also attended by non-religious children.
The curriculum is broad and progress is monitored by standard testing (Cito). The school year starts in August and is broken up by holidays. All primary schools are closed on Wednesday afternoons.

Dutch Secondary Education
Secondary education normally starts at age 12 and continues to 16 or 18. In the final year of primary school, parents, children and teachers decide together, with the help of a standardized national test (Cito), which form of secondary education is the most appropriate. The options are:

• VMBO (pre-higher secondary education)
• HAVO (senior general secondary education)
• VWO (pre-university education)

For a list of school holidays, see www.minocw.nl/factsheets/337#A672