Secondary Education

In the Netherlands, secondary education (voortgezet onderwijs) begins at age 12 and lasts for four to six years, depending on the chosen track. This system is highly tracked from the start, with students placed into different levels based on a standardized test and a teacher's recommendation from primary school.

The main tracks are VMBO (pre-vocational secondary education), HAVO (senior general secondary education), and VWO (university preparatory education). At the end of their track, students take a national exam (centraal examen) in core subjects like Dutch, English, mathematics, and others. The diploma received determines their eligibility for further education, whether it's vocational training, a university of applied sciences, or a research university.

Higher Education

Higher education in the Netherlands is a binary system, consisting of research universities (universiteiten) and universities of applied sciences (hogescholen). The country is renowned for its high-quality education and is home to many internationally ranked institutions, such as the University of Amsterdam and Delft University of Technology.

Education at research universities is theory-driven and focuses strongly on research and critical analysis, while universities of applied sciences are more practice-oriented. A Bachelor's degree takes three years at a research university, followed by a one-year Master's degree. Dutch universities are known for their interactive teaching style, encouraging students to debate, think independently, and develop a global perspective.