Lower Secondary (Onderbouw) – learning, discovering, and experiencing the world

In the lower years (Years 1 and 2 of mavo, and Years 1 to 3 of havo/vwo), most lessons are taught in English. In French and German, you speak as much as possible in that language — the target language is the language of learning. And from Year 1 of havo/vwo up to Year 3 vwo, you’ll even have Chinese language and culture!

Each year includes two project weeks full of language and culture. In Year 1, you’ll work with UNICEF on a project about children’s rights. In Year 2, the theme is identity — who are you and where do you come from? These projects help you understand the world better and get to know yourself more deeply.

During Immersion Camp in Year 1, you’ll get to know your classmates through fun team-building activities. In Year 2, you’ll travel to Normandy for a study trip to explore how the Second World War still shapes our lives today. In Year 3, you’ll take part in an international exchange — not just online, but in person — with a partner school in Europe, for example in Spain, Italy, North Macedonia, or France. You’ll learn how your peers in other countries live and study, and you’ll experience new cultures up close.

In Year 2 of mavo and Year 3 of havo/vwo, you’ll choose your study profile. Your mentor and the careers adviser will help you make a choice that really suits you. You’ll visit mbo, hogeschool, and university campuses to explore future options, and you’ll spend a day doing work experience to find out what interests you and where your talents lie.

Alongside all these exciting activities, you’ll also develop key skills for the future:

• Research skills
• Communication and teamwork
• Critical and problem-solving thinking
• Reflection on your own learning process

You’ll track your progress in a portfolio, helping you see how far you’ve come. This way, you’ll be well prepared for the upper years — and for a future in an increasingly international world.

Upper Secondary (Bovenbouw) – Years 4 and 5 HAVO, Years 4, 5, 6 VWO

In the upper secondary phase of HAVO and VWO in bilingual education, you build on what you’ve learned in the lower secondary. The focus is primarily on the International Baccalaureate (IB) in English. This is not just about learning the English language, but more about study skills such as conducting research, communicating well, thinking critically, and organizing yourself effectively. This helps you grow academically and personally.

You’ll also take subjects like Global Citizenship (GC) and/or Global Perspectives (GP). In GC, you’ll learn about global issues and challenges, while GP focuses on critical thinking, research, and understanding global problems from different perspectives. In year 4 HAVO/VWO, you’ll go on a senior trip, which is part of the GC program.