Antwerp draws internationally mobile families from across Europe and beyond, and the city's school landscape reflects that breadth: parents arriving here can choose between free Dutch-language Flemish schooling and two well-established private international schools teaching in English and French. That choice is consequential in practical terms. Annual tuition at the international schools ranges from EUR 8,771 to EUR 39,530, so budget is one of the first filters most families apply. Location is the second: the two private schools sit in different parts of the city, and where a family enrolls their child often determines where they end up living. For secondary school entry in the Flemish public system, Antwerp runs a centralized allocation process rather than a direct enrollment model, which means families who miss the registration window can only access schools with remaining places.
Two distinct routes are available to expat families enrolling children in Antwerp: free Dutch-language schooling through the Flemish public and subsidized network, and a small set of private international schools teaching in English or French. The right fit depends on three practical questions: how long the family plans to stay, what language the child already speaks, and what the household education budget looks like.
All mainstream Flemish schools in Antwerp teach entirely in Dutch, with the exception of language classes. Children who arrive without Dutch can access newcomer language support, but parents should treat Dutch immersion as central to the transition plan, not an afterthought. For families wanting a different medium of instruction, Antwerp International School (AIS) offers an English-language IB program from age 3 to 19, and Lycée Français International d'Anvers (LFI Anvers) provides French-curriculum schooling with English and Dutch woven into daily lessons from the nursery years.
One practical difference families often discover only after arrival: Antwerp uses a centralized registration process for certain entry years rather than direct enrollment at the school of your choice. For secondary school entry in particular, parents rank preferences online and receive an allocation, which is a system quite unlike simply contacting a local school and confirming a place. Understanding this early makes the process considerably smoother.
Extracurricular life also differs between the two routes. Dutch-language local schools do not typically organize structured after-school activities within the school itself; families generally use community sports clubs, music schools, and leisure programs outside school hours. Private international schools tend to bundle more after-school activities and sports into the school setting. Transport similarly varies: AIS offers taxi transportation as a paid per-student option, while most local schools do not operate dedicated school buses, so the daily commute becomes a practical factor when choosing where to live in the city.
The city of Antwerp runs a program called Nederlands voor ouders op school, which provides Dutch lessons for parents in the school context, designed to help families bridge the gap between the language spoken at home and the one their child uses at school. For recently arrived children, hetpaleis, an Antwerp arts center, runs a summer school that uses theater and imagination to help children practice Dutch before the new school year begins. Antwerp's city-wide education program, Effectief Leren, links schools across the city with youth, sport, culture, and childcare partners, reflecting an environment where school life connects to broader family and community resources.
Flemish public and subsidized schools make up the majority of Antwerp's school landscape. Both community schools run by the city and Catholic-network schools (known as vrij katholiek onderwijs, or subsidized free schools) teach entirely in Dutch, charge no enrollment fee, and participate in the same centralized Meld je Aan registration system for covered entry years. For expat families, the distinction between these two governance types matters far less than it might initially seem: both offer the same core curriculum, the same language of instruction, and the same cost structure.
Within the Flemish network, a Steiner/Waldorf secondary school (Steinerpedagogie) is available in Antwerp and appears in the Meld je Aan secondary school finder, offering an alternative pedagogical approach within the standard Flemish system and at no tuition cost. Antwerp's Flemish network also includes special education (buitengewoon onderwijs) for children who need a specialist placement; more detail on this is covered in the public schools section below.
On the international side, Antwerp International School (AIS), located in Ekeren in northern Antwerp, is the city's main English-language option, following the full suite of IB programs from early childhood through secondary school. LFI Anvers, in the Zurenborg district of central Antwerp, follows the French national curriculum in a trilingual environment and also holds Cambridge International School recognition. OWL Academy, a private international school with a published fee schedule, has its campus in Mortsel, a municipality directly adjacent to Antwerp; families considering it should factor in the commute from central neighborhoods. D Y Patil International School and DaVinci International School are also identified by the University of Antwerp's International Staff Office as schools serving Antwerp's international families; curriculum details and fees are best requested directly from each school.
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International schools in Antwerp
Antwerp International School (AIS), located at Veltwijcklaan 180, 2180 Antwerp (Ekeren, northern Antwerp), is the city's primary English-medium option for internationally mobile families. The school serves children from age 3 to 19 across three consecutive IB programs: the Primary Years Program (PYP) for ages 3 to 12, the Middle Years Program (MYP) for ages 11 to 16, and the Diploma Program (DP) for ages 16 to 19. More than 40 nationalities are represented in the student body. Accreditations and affiliations include CIS, ECIS, IBO, and NEASC, and the school participates in the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award program. University and career counseling is available to support applications to universities both within Belgium and internationally, including in the UK and US.
Annual tuition at AIS ranges from EUR 13,580 for the youngest age groups to EUR 39,530 for Grades 9 through 12. In addition to tuition, an application fee of EUR 1,000per family is charged when an application is submitted, and an annual capital building fee of EUR 525 applies (capped at EUR 1,050 per family). The school invoices 70% of annual tuition on July 1 and the remaining 30% on December 1, each payable within 30 days. For students in the IB Diploma Program, examination fees are charged separately: approximately EUR 89 per subject, plus EUR 65 for the Extended Essay, EUR 33 for Theory of Knowledge, and EUR 7 for the CAS component. Most class field-trip costs are included in tuition; optional programs such as Model United Nations (approximately EUR 950) and Honour Choir (approximately EUR 1,000) are billed separately.
On admissions, AIS gives guaranteed places to families associated with international corporations or with expat-affiliated status, subject to standard admissions criteria. Local families are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Places for children with special educational or learning support needs are limited and reviewed individually, so families in this situation should contact the admissions team early. To start an application, families submit an online inquiry via the AIS admissions and fees page.
Lycée Français International d'Anvers (LFI Anvers), located at Lamorinierestraat 168/A, 2018 Antwerpen (Zurenborg, central Antwerp), offers French-curriculum schooling from nursery (TPS-PS) through sixth form (terminale). Teaching is trilingual: French, English, and Dutch from the earliest years, following official French national programs in a bilingual framework. The school is also recognized as a Cambridge International School and offers an IGCSE pathway. Families describe it as a smaller-scale environment, and the school accepts admissions appointments throughout the year.
Annual family tuition at LFI Anvers ranges from approximately EUR 8,771 for the youngest nursery levels (TPS-PS) to EUR 16,250 for Première/Terminale. A first-registration fee of up to EUR 1,250 applies for levels from MS through Terminale; applying before the end of March for the following school year qualifies for a reduced fee and secures the best chance of a place in popular year groups. Families can pay annually (with an early-bird option before July 31) or in three termly installments of 40%, 30%, and 30%. A sibling discount of 5% applies from the second child enrolled, and 20% from the third child onward. LFI Anvers may open waiting lists depending on available places, so early contact with the admissions team is recommended.
The LFI Anvers admissions process runs through the Eduka platform and requires an online application, including school reports for the previous and current school years; passport copies for parents and child; payment of the first-registration fee; and signature of the school's financial regulations after allocation. Non-francophone children joining from Grande Section (age 5) onward who have previously been schooled in a different system can access the paid Passerelle/FLE (French as a foreign language) integration support program, designed to help children transition into French-language schooling. The teaching model details are published on the LFI Anvers curriculum page.
Both AIS and LFI Anvers formally recognize employer-paid school fee arrangements. AIS states that parents remain financially liable for fees whether or not a company assumes all or part of the cost; LFI Anvers publishes separate company-paid tuition rates. Families whose employer covers school fees should clarify the billing and liability arrangements with their HR department in writing before completing enrollment, since neither school will pursue the employer directly if payment is not received.
OWL Academy in Mortsel has a published fee schedule available on the OWL Academy fee structure page. D Y Patil International School and DaVinci International School also serve Antwerp families; for curriculum details and fees, request them directly from each school.
Good to know: The IB Diploma issued by AIS is widely recognized by universities internationally, including in the UK and US. AIS provides university and career counseling to help students navigate applications to institutions both in Belgium and abroad.
Public schools for expat children in Antwerp
Expat children are eligible to attend any Flemish public or subsidized schoolin Antwerp regardless of nationality. No tuition fee is charged, and all mainstream classes are taught in Dutch except language lessons. The free-entry model makes local schooling a realistic option for families on any budget, provided the child can manage or develop Dutch-language skills over time.
For first-year secondary school entry, enrollment runs through Antwerp's centralized Meld je Aan secundair online portal. Parents register an account, rank school preferences during the official application window, receive an allocation result, and then complete enrollment at the assigned school. One practical detail: accounts are deleted annually, so you must create a new account each time the process opens. Outside the centralized registration period, families can enroll directly at schools that still have free places available. For registration, parents need an official document confirming the correct spelling of the child's name and date of birth; birth certificates issued abroad must be officially translated into Dutch, French, English, or German before submission.
Unlike many school systems where placing a child at a preferred local school is simply a matter of showing up, Antwerp's allocation process assigns children based on ranked preferences and available places. Families who miss the registration window can only enroll at schools with remaining capacity, which may not include their preferred options. Acting within the official window is therefore worth prioritizing.
Non-Dutch-speaking newcomer children at secondary level can be placed in OKAN (Onthaalonderwijs voor Anderstalige Nieuwkomers), intensive Dutch-language reception classes designed to bring pupils to a level where they can join regular education. At primary level, newcomer pupils can be enrolled in a school even when it is technically full, under Flemish newcomer-education rules. Parents should contact the school directly to ask about OKAN placement or newcomer reception.
Atlas Antwerpen provides practical school guidance for non-Dutch-speaking newcomer families, covering the registration process, the difference between mainstream and OKAN pathways, and how to navigate the first enrollment steps. Families who feel uncertain about the system should contact Atlas before the registration window opens rather than waiting until they are inside it.
Regarding costs: Flemish primary schools may charge an annual supplementary invoice (the maximumfactuur, or maximum invoice) of up to EUR 550 for activities and materials beyond the core curriculum, a cap set by Flemish regulation. Secondary school supplementary costs are not covered by a single general cap and vary by program, materials, and activities. Antwerp city's Sociaal Fonds (social fund) can help eligible families reduce school-related costs at participating schools. The full cost framework for primary education is published by Vlaanderen.be.
For children who need a specialist placement, Antwerp's Flemish network includes special education (buitengewoon onderwijs). Providers in Antwerp include KOCA Basisonderwijs for special primary education and Leerexpert De Karavant for municipal special education. A CLB (pupil guidance center) report is required for enrollment in special secondary education. Place allocation for special education follows its own separate timeline from mainstream registration, so parents of children with additional needs should contact both the school and the CLB early. The city's special education overview page provides a starting point.
The Flemish school year runs from September to June, with fixed holiday periods including autumn break, Christmas, spring break, Easter, and a summer vacation. Official holiday dates are published annually by Vlaanderen.be. International schools may follow a slightly different calendar; parents should check the school's own published schedule after enrollment.
Choosing a school in Antwerp
Language is the first and most decisive filter. Dutch-language Flemish schools teach entirely in Dutch: a child without Dutch will need newcomer support and time to find their footing in lessons and friendships. AIS teaches in English; LFI Anvers uses French as its primary medium alongside English and Dutch from the earliest years. For most expat families, the child's current language skills and the family's next likely destination together drive the first cut between the international and local options.
Budget is the second major divide. Local schools carry no tuition cost, with ancillary expenses capped at EUR 550 annually in primary education. Private international schools start above EUR 8,700 annually and reach EUR 39,530 at the top of the AIS fee schedule, with additional registration and examination costs. Where an employer covers school fees, the realistic choice broadens considerably. Where the family pays independently, cost may effectively limit the options to the public route. Families whose employer provides an education allowance should get the coverage confirmed in writing before committing to a school, since both AIS and LFI Anvers hold parents financially responsible for fees regardless of any third-party payment arrangement.
How long the family plans to stay in Antwerp shapes the curriculum decision more than any other single factor. For a stay of several years, Dutch-language schooling offers genuine integration, opens the door to local higher education, and allows children to build lasting friendships in the city. For families expecting another international move within two to three years, a portable curriculum (IB from AIS, or the French baccalauréat from LFI Anvers) reduces disruption when the next relocation comes.
Location interacts directly with the housing decision. LFI Anvers is in central Antwerp's Zurenborg district; AIS is in Ekeren in the north of the city. A neighborhood Flemish school may allow a shorter commute and easier local friendships, but because Antwerp's registration system is city-wide rather than strictly catchment-based, you can't judge school quality purely by address. Testing the commute at school-run hours before signing a lease is more reliable than relying on neighborhood reputation alone.
Before deciding, arrange an open day or admissions visit. Published opendeurdagen (open-door days) for local schools are listed on the city's secondary school open-days page. AIS asks families to submit an admissions inquiry so the admissions team can follow up. LFI Anvers accepts admissions appointments throughout the year for the following school year's entry.
Questions worth asking every school before deciding include: Which language will my child use in lessons, homework, and parent communications, and what support exists if that language is not yet strong? Which examinations will my child be working toward at 16 to 18, and how does that transfer if we move again? What costs are compulsory beyond tuition, including meals, transport, books, activities, and technology? What does a typical school day look like, including start and finish times, lunch arrangements, and after-school care? And, critically: what happens if my preferred school has no places when we arrive?
The secondary curriculum a child follows in Antwerp determines which university options remain realistic at 18. A Dutch-medium Flemish secondary diploma gives the most direct access to local bachelor programs at Antwerp's universities. An IB Diploma from AIS supports international university applications and also provides access to Dutch-taught programs at the University of Antwerp, provided the student's IB results include Dutch Language 1 at a minimum grade of 5, or Dutch Level A at a minimum grade of 3. A French baccalauréat from LFI Anvers aligns with the French system and can access Belgian higher education under the same conditions as in France.
Dutch is the language of instruction for most bachelor programs at Antwerp's universities. For students who have completed secondary school elsewhere and hold a diploma giving access to higher education in their home country, the University of Antwerp's Linguapolis runs a Dutch Preparatory One-Year Program as a practical bridge into Dutch-taught study. English-taught programs at the university carry their own English proficiency requirements; prospective students should check current thresholds with the UAntwerp admissions office.
Antwerp's mainhigher education institutions are:
The University of Antwerp (UAntwerp), a research university offering Dutch-taught bachelor and master programs across applied economics, business, law, medicine, sciences, and social sciences.
AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp, covering business, care, communication, education, science, and arts, including the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and Arts (KdG), which offers practice-oriented bachelor programs including an English-taught Applied Computer Science track.
KU Leuven Antwerp Campus, hosting bachelor and master programs from the Faculties of Arts and Business and Economics in Antwerp's historic center.
The Antwerp Maritime Academy, offering specialist nautical and maritime training.
For science, life science, and medicine bachelor programs at UAntwerp, entrance examinations or start tests apply in addition to secondary qualification requirements. Families should check program-specific conditions well before the end of secondary school, since subject choices in the final school years affect whether these conditions can be met. The University of Antwerp publishes full program and admission information on its website.
Frequently asked questions
The right school depends on curriculum continuity, language, and how long the family plans to stay. For families needing an English-medium international curriculum, Antwerp International School (AIS) in Ekeren offers the full IB program from age 3 to 19. For francophone or multilingual families, Lycée Français International d'Anvers (LFI Anvers) in the Zurenborg district teaches in French, English, and Dutch, with an IGCSE pathway. Families settling long-term can enroll children in free Dutch-language public or subsidized schools, which provide full local integration. D Y Patil International School and DaVinci International School are also options serving Antwerp's international families.
Dutch-language public and subsidized schools charge no tuition; families pay only ancillary costs, capped at EUR 550 per year in primary education. LFI Anvers charges annual tuition ranging from approximately EUR 8,771 for the youngest nursery levels to EUR 16,250 for the final secondary years, plus a first-registration fee of up to EUR 1,250. AIS charges annual tuition from EUR 13,580 to EUR 39,530 depending on grade, plus a EUR 1,000 application fee and an annual capital building fee of EUR 525. Both international schools recognize employer-paid fee arrangements but hold parents financially responsible regardless of whether a company covers all or part of the cost.
Yes, expat children of any nationality can enroll in Flemish public and subsidized schools in Antwerp at no tuition cost. All mainstream classes are taught in Dutch, so non-Dutch-speaking children will need language support. For secondary school, families must register through the centralized Meld je Aan system during the official application window. Atlas Antwerpen provides multilingual guidance for newcomer families navigating the enrollment process.
For public Dutch-language schooling, Antwerp uses a city-wide registration system rather than strict catchment zones, so a home address does not guarantee access to a specific school. For families choosing a private international school, proximity to AIS in Ekeren or LFI Anvers in the Zurenborg district often shapes the housing decision. Testing the commute at school-run times before signing a lease is more reliable than relying on neighborhood reputation alone.
Demand can exceed supply at popular schools across all types. For first-year secondary entry in the public system, Antwerp runs a centralized allocation process with fixed registration windows; families who miss the window can only enroll at schools with remaining free places. At AIS, places for children with special learning support needs are limited and reviewed individually, and corporate-affiliated families receive priority subject to standard admissions criteria. LFI Anvers operates waiting lists when full. Applying from winter or early spring for the following school year gives the best chance across all school types.
In Flemish public schools, non-Dutch-speaking newcomer pupils at secondary level can be placed in OKAN (Onthaalonderwijs voor Anderstalige Nieuwkomers) reception classes, which provide intensive Dutch instruction before integration into regular classes. Primary-age newcomers can be enrolled even when a school is technically full, under Flemish newcomer-education rules. LFI Anvers offers a paid Passerelle/FLE program for non-francophone children joining from age 5 onward. The city of Antwerp also runs Dutch lessons for parents through the Nederlands voor ouders op school program, helping families bridge the gap between the home language and the school environment.
The Flemish school year runs from September to June, with fixed holiday periods including autumn break, Christmas, spring break, Easter, and a summer vacation. Official holiday dates are published each year by the Flemish government. International schools may follow their own calendar, so families should check the school's published schedule after enrollment.
For Dutch-language public schools, parents register through the Meld je Aan online portal during the official window, rank school preferences, receive an allocation result, and complete enrollment at the assigned school; a new account must be created each year. For AIS, families submit an online admissions form and pay a EUR 1,000 application fee, after which the admissions team follows up. For LFI Anvers, families apply via the Eduka online platform with school reports for the previous and current years, passport copies for parents and child, and payment of the first-registration fee; the school reviews the file and confirms a place subject to availability. Both international schools accept applications from families arriving later in the year.
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I fell in love with words at an early age After a break to focus on my studies, I rediscovered the joy of writing while keeping a blog during my years between London and Madrid. This passion for storytelling and for exploring new cultures naturally inspired me to create Expat.com, a space for my own reflections as well as for anyone wishing to share their experiences and journeys abroad.
