International School Hilversum

What International School Hilversum does

International School Hilversum (ISH) is a private international school located in Hilversum, Netherlands, founded in 1984 as one of the first IB schools in the country. It serves approximately 800 students drawn from over 100 nationalities and employs more than 100 staff, delivering a full International Baccalaureate continuum — Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP) — alongside a Tweetalig VWO bilingual secondary track for Dutch and bilingual students. The school holds accreditation from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and the Council of International Schools (CIS), and is a member of the Dutch International Schools (DIS) network.

ISH operates as part of the Alberdingk Thijm Schools Group, a larger educational foundation that runs 28 schools across the Gooi region and provides shared governance, HR, and back-office infrastructure. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition: international student fees range from €4,030 to €5,745 per year while bilingual VWO fees range from €999 to €2,365 per year, with the bilingual track partially subsidized by Dutch government funding in line with standard Dutch international school economics. Customer acquisition is driven by expat family relocations into the greater Amsterdam/Utrecht corridor and by local demand for bilingual secondary education, with no disclosed enterprise or institutional customer base.

Operationally, ISH runs a traditional K-12 international school delivery model based on admissions cycles, age-based grade progression, and parent-driven purchasing decisions. The school has recently invested in operational leadership by appointing a Deputy Head of Systems & Innovation, suggesting modest internal modernization, though no public AI, digital curriculum, or technology platform initiatives are disclosed in the available data.

Name

International School Hilversum

Legal name

International School Hilversum

Website

https://ishilversum.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

International School Hilversum is a private K-12 international school in the Netherlands serving roughly 800 students from 100+ nationalities, offering a full IB continuum and bilingual VWO program under the Alberdingk Thijm Schools Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years) (EDACADAK), Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB), World Languages Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAJ)

Keywords

• International education
• IB curriculum
• Primary education
• Secondary education
• Bilingual VWO

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilversum

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. International Student Tuition: Annual school fees for international students ranging from €4,030 (Kindergarten) to €5,745 (Grade 11-12), plus additional costs for laptops, examination fees, registration fee (€150), and deposit (€500).
2. Bilingual VWO Tuition: Annual school fees for Dutch students in Tweetalig VWO programme ranging from €999 (IT 7-9) to €2,365 (IT 10-12), with additional costs for laptops, excursions, and examination fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

International School Hilversum delivers a full International Baccalaureate (IB) educational continuum from Kindergarten through Grade 12 (ages 4-18), including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). The school also offers a bilingual Tweetalig VWO track for Dutch students combining the Dutch VWO diploma with the IB learning approach, alongside a STEAM programme for interdisciplinary project-based learning.

Product overview

International School Hilversum is a single-site international school offering a complete IB educational journey from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The core offering consists of three IB programmes (Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme) delivered as an integrated educational pathway. Supporting modules include the Tweetalig VWO bilingual track for Dutch students, STEAM Programme for interdisciplinary project-based learning, Student Clubs for extracurricular development, Excursions & Exchanges for experiential learning, and Well-being & Support Services for holistic student care. The school operates as one unified institution under the Alberdingk Thijm Schools group, with approximately 800 students from over 100 nationalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tweetalig VWO: Bilingual VWO programme for Dutch students combining Dutch VWO curriculum with International Baccalaureate learning approach, taught primarily in English with Latin as an additional subject.

Products and services

• Primary Years Programme (PYP) International Baccalaureate programme for children ages 4-11 (Kindergarten through Grade 5), focused on inquiry-based learning, curiosity, and holistic child development through exploration and discovery.
• Middle Years Programme (MYP) International Baccalaureate secondary education programme for Grades 6-10 connecting learning to real life through STEAM projects, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary subjects.
• Diploma Programme (DP) Final two years of IB education (Grades 11-12) preparing students for university through independent thinking, subject specialization, and the Extended Essay. The IB Diploma is recognized and valued by universities worldwide.
• Tweetalig VWO Bilingual Dutch VWO programme combining the Dutch VWO diploma with the International Baccalaureate learning approach, taught primarily in English while maintaining Dutch language proficiency. Targets Dutch students aged 12-18 with a VWO recommendation, typically entering at Grade 7.
• STEAM Programme Interdisciplinary programme combining Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics through project-based learning, preparing students for real-world problem solving across the IB continuum.
• Excursions and Exchanges Experiential learning programme including regular field trips in the Netherlands and Europe, Erasmus+ exchanges with European schools, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Strong track record of excellent academic results and university pathways year after year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• International Baccalaureate (IB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Baccalaureate is the core educational framework provider for ISH. IB regularly reviews curriculum quality, teaching standards and student development. ISH offers full IB continuum from PYP through MYP to DP, with the IB diploma recognized and valued by universities worldwide.
• Council of International Schools (CIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIS is a globally recognised accreditation organisation that evaluates schools on teaching quality, student wellbeing, safeguarding, leadership and school culture. ISH undergoes thorough review process and continuous improvement cycle.
• Alberdingk Thijm Schools (ATS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISH is part of the Alberdingk Thijm Schools group, a network of 28 schools in the Gooi region sharing knowledge, expertise and resources. Provides access to shared facilities, student transport, student support, coaching, and ongoing professional development.
• Erasmus+majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union programme for education and international collaboration enabling students to participate in exchanges and projects with schools across Europe. Students experience different perspectives, cultures and ways of life from the inside.
• The Duke of Edinburgh's AwardmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational award programme challenging students to develop skills, support others and take on real-life adventures beyond school. Students Grades 10-11 hike, navigate, work together and take on real challenges discovering they are capable of more than expected.
• Dutch International Schools (DIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIS connects international schools throughout the Netherlands and encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing and educational development. Helps create consistency and strengthens quality of international education across the country.
• UNICEF BuddiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF Buddies helps schools raise awareness around global citizenship, empathy and supporting children worldwide. Students learn that caring for others and making a positive impact can start much closer to home.
• Eco-SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability programme encouraging schools to take sustainability seriously through practical projects and environmental action. Students learn that positive change starts with everyday choices.
• Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECIS connects hundreds of international schools and educators worldwide, providing access to research, professional development and new educational thinking. Teachers continue learning bringing fresh ideas and leading international practices into the classroom.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Nord Anglia Education: Large global operator of premium international schools offering IB and other curricula; represents the scaled incumbent benchmark for premium international school economics and brand reach.
• Cognita Schools: International schools group operating premium IB and bilingual campuses across Europe, providing a benchmark for multi-site operator economics that ISH could pursue via ATS expansion.
• United World Colleges (UWC): Global network of IB Diploma-focused schools with mission-driven positioning and scholarship model, useful reference for IB Diploma outcomes and international student demographics comparable to ISH's DP cohort.

Regional players

• Deutsche Internationale Schule Den Haag: Other-language international school in the Randstad serving a different linguistic community but operating under the same Dutch international-school funding and admissions framework as ISH.
• Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS): IB secondary school in the Randstad serving expat families in Rotterdam, with comparable Dutch-international school regulatory framework but a distinct metro catchment from Hilversum.

Direct peers

• International School of Brussels: Large European IB continuum school with comparable internationally mobile family target market and similar triple-accreditation posture, useful peer for benchmarking scale and fee economics.
• British School of Amsterdam: English-medium international school in the Randstad offering an alternative international curriculum pathway for expat families, competing for the same Hilversum/Amsterdam enrollment funnel.
• The International School of The Hague (ISH Rijnlands Lyceum): Dutch IB World School offering the full PYP/MYP/DP continuum for internationally mobile families, directly comparable curriculum footprint and accreditation profile to ISH Hilversum.
• International School Utrecht: IB continuum school serving internationally mobile families in the Utrecht region, sitting in ISH Hilversum's natural catchment and competing for the same employer-driven enrollment pool.
• Amsterdam International Community School (AICS): Directly comparable Dutch international school offering IB PYP/MYP/DP in the Randstad corridor, serving a similar internationally mobile family segment within commuting distance of Hilversum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/international-school-hilversum

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International School Hilversum