Eerde International Boarding School

"Eerde International Boarding School is a private institution nestled in the countryside of Ommen, in the eastern Netherlands, offering families a distinctive blend of rigorous academics and immersive community living."

With English as the language of instruction, the school serves an international student body and is particularly well suited to expat families and globally mobile professionals seeking a consistent, high-quality educational environment for their children. Founded in 1984, Eerde has built its identity around the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, one of the world's most respected pre-university qualifications. The IB DP prepares students in their final two years of secondary education for entry into universities across the globe, emphasizing critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and intellectual breadth. Students pursue a demanding curriculum that spans six subject groups alongside the programme's core components — Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service — all of which are hallmarks of a genuinely well-rounded education. What sets Eerde apart from many international schools is its boarding dimension. Rather than simply a day school serving an international community, Eerde offers a full residential experience, which means students live, study, and grow together in a close-knit environment. This fosters a genuine sense of belonging and mutual responsibility that is difficult to replicate in larger, more transient school settings. For families relocating to the Netherlands or moving between postings, this boarding model can provide children with a stable social world and a strong support network from the moment they arrive. The school's setting is another defining feature. Ommen is a quiet, green town in the Overijssel province, and Eerde's campus occupies a landscape that feels distinctly removed from urban pressures. For families accustomed to city-based international schools, the rural environment represents a genuine alternative — one where students have space, nature, and a calmer pace of life as the backdrop to their academic years. This setting naturally encourages outdoor engagement and a more grounded day-to-day experience. Because instruction is conducted entirely in English, students from a wide range of national backgrounds can integrate smoothly into the academic program. This makes Eerde an accessible choice for families arriving from English-speaking countries as well as those whose children are already working in English as a second or additional language. The international character of the student body means that cultural exchange is woven into daily life, giving young people exposure to perspectives from around the world well before they step onto a university campus. For parents weighing their options, Eerde International Boarding School represents a thoughtful choice for families who value academic rigor through the IB framework, the personal development that comes from boarding life, and a community that is genuinely international in character. Its location in the Netherlands — a country with excellent transport links to the rest of Europe — also makes it practical for families whose work takes them across borders. Small in scale and grounded in a clear educational philosophy, Eerde offers something meaningfully different from the larger international schools found in major European cities.