International School of The Hague

What International School of The Hague does

The International School of The Hague (ISH) is a non-profit international K-12 school located on a purpose-built campus in the Kijkduin district of The Hague, Netherlands, serving approximately 2,000 students aged 4-18 with 350+ faculty and support staff. The school is operated by Stichting 'Het Rijnlands Lyceum' (Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation), an educational foundation that oversees eight schools in the Hague and Leiden region and is led by CEO Arjan Kastelein. ISH runs the International Baccalaureate Middle Years, Diploma, and Career-related Programmes for Years 7-13, the International Primary Curriculum for Primary, and has Candidate School status for the IB Primary Years Programme as of 2025; it was the first school globally to receive IPC Mastering (2009) and Re-mastering (2013). It is partially subsidised by the Dutch Ministry of Education.

Core academic products span Primary (Early Years through Year 6, IPC with PYP candidacy) and Secondary (MYP, DP, CP with BTEC Business Management), supplemented by a Learning Support department using a Response to Intervention model, an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme, and a Mother Tongue programme for home-language development. Differentiated pedagogy is anchored in three proprietary frameworks: the ISH Community Profile (intercultural learning), a Translanguaging approach, and Units of Inquiry across Primary. Technology infrastructure is third-party and lightweight: Google SSO for staff, Finalsite for the public website, and OpenApply for admissions; no proprietary API or SDK exists.

ISH generates revenue primarily through annual tuition fees ranging from €8,500 (Pre-Early Years/Early Years) to €12,800 (Year 12 Career-related Programme), supplemented by a €300 non-refundable application fee, a €1,000 refundable acceptance deposit, and partial Dutch Ministry of Education subsidy. Admissions operate on a rolling basis via the OpenApply portal with a tiered priority system (siblings/staff first, then students from outside the Netherlands, then transfers from other Hague international schools). The school holds CIS accreditation (latest report 2020), Eco-Schools Green Flag status, and partnerships with IB, CIS, IPC, Eco-Schools, SPPOH, SWV 2 Zuid Holland West, SSAT, and Magic School AI.

Name

International School of The Hague

Legal name

The International School of The Hague

Website

https://ishthehague.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The International School of The Hague is a non-profit international K-12 school in The Hague, Netherlands, serving approximately 2,000 students aged 4-18 through the full International Baccalaureate continuum (PYP candidacy, MYP, DP, CP) plus IPC, funded by tuition and partial Dutch state subsidy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools (EDAJABAL)

Keywords

• International baccalaureate programmes
• Primary education services
• Secondary education programmes
• English language acquisition
• Special educational needs services

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Annual tuition fees charged per student across Primary and Secondary programmes. Fees vary by year group, with Secondary fees higher than Primary. Fees are payable according to School Fee Agreement terms.
2. Application Fees: Non-refundable application fee of €300 charged upon making an application to cover administration costs.
3. Deposit Fees: Refundable deposit fee of €1,000 charged upon acceptance of a place at the school.
4. State Subsidy: As a partially subsidised school under the Ministry of Education, receives government support in addition to parent fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

International School of The Hague provides international primary and secondary education for students aged 4-18, delivering the full International Baccalaureate continuum (PYP candidacy, MYP, DP, CP) alongside the International Primary Curriculum. The school complements academic programmes with Learning Support, English as an Additional Language (EAL), Mother Tongue, Co-Curricular and Summer School offerings, serving approximately 2,000 students with 350+ faculty and support staff on a single Kijkduin campus in The Hague.

Product overview

The International School of The Hague operates as a single-campus international school offering a unified educational programme across two sections: Primary (Early Years to Year 6) and Secondary (Years 7-13). The school follows International Baccalaureate frameworks including the PYP (Candidate School status), MYP, DP, and CP, alongside the International Primary Curriculum for Primary. Core academic products are complemented by support services for language acquisition (EAL, Mother Tongue), learning support, and a comprehensive co-curricular programme. The school is part of the Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation and serves approximately 2,000 students with over 350 staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Education Programme (Early Years and Primary Years) Comprehensive primary school education from Early Years (age 4) through Year 6 (age 11), following the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) with a candidate status for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). Delivered to internationally mobile families on the Kijkduin campus.
• Early Years Programme Child-centred early education for ages 4-6 inspired by Reggio Emilia and Montessori approaches, featuring free-flow learning environments and self-directed experiential play. Delivered on the ISH Primary campus.
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) International Baccalaureate programme for Years 7-11, providing a framework of academic challenge through concept-based inquiry learning. Designed for secondary students aged 11-16.
• IB Diploma Programme (DP) Two-year pre-university programme for Years 12-13 offering academically rigorous education with a core consisting of Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). Achieved 98.47% pass rate for Class of 2026.
• IB Career-related Programme (CP) Career-related education programme for Years 12-13 combining IB courses with BTEC Business Management qualifications, designed for students pursuing vocational or career-related pathways. Achieved 100% pass rate for Class of 2026.
• Learning Support Services Multi-tiered student support including Response to Intervention (RTI) approach, a dedicated Learning Support team, dyslexia practices using the Wilson Reading programme, and dyscalculia support. Available across Primary and Secondary phases.
• English as an Additional Language (EAL) Full EAL programme supporting English language learners to access the curriculum, with classroom teachers trained in EAL practices. The EAL department was recognised by the CIS evaluation team for creating a whole-school, innovative research-based language acquisition programme.
• Mother Tongue Programme Programme supporting continued development of students' home languages, including after-school sessions focused on Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) development. Supports the school's Translanguaging approach.
• Co-Curricular Activities Wide range of extracurricular activities including sports teams, the Silverbacks Engineering Team, arts, music, clubs, academic trips, Service & Learning, and the International Award programme. Available to ISH Secondary students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.47% IBDP pass rate (Class of 2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation (Stichting 'Het Rijnlands Lyceum')coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISH is part of the Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation, an educational organisation for primary and secondary education in The Hague and Leiden area. The foundation oversees eight schools offering national and international programmes. The CEO for Rijnlands is Arjan Kastelein. As a partially subsidised school, ISH receives support from both parent fees and the Ministry of Education.
• SPPOH Partnership (Samenwerkingsverband Passend Onderwijs Haaglanden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISH Primary is part of the SPPOH partnership for providing student support. This alliance works with mainstream and special education schools in the region to arrange guidance and support for students, and coordinates with municipalities for youth services deployment.
• International Baccalaureate (IB)coreTechnology or IntegrationISH is an authorised IB World School offering the Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), and Career-related Programme (CP). ISH Primary is a Candidate School for the Primary Years Programme (PYP). IB authorises schools to offer IB programmes after rigorous evaluation.
• Council of International Schools (CIS)coreTechnology or IntegrationISH has received CIS accreditation, demonstrating compliance with international standards for schools. CIS accreditation involves comprehensive evaluation of educational quality, governance, and student services.
• International Primary Curriculum (IPC)coreTechnology or IntegrationISH Primary uses the IPC curriculum framework. The school was the first to receive IPC 'Mastering' in 2009 and 'Re-mastering' level in 2013, demonstrating excellence in curriculum implementation.
• Eco-Schools ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISH participates in the Eco-Schools programme, an international environmental education initiative for schools aimed at fostering environmental awareness and sustainable practices among students.
• SWV 2 Zuid Holland West (Educational Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISH Secondary is part of the SWV 2 Zuid Holland West alliance, which arranges guidance and support that mainstream schools in the region can offer, and arrangements with municipalities for youth services (jeugdhulpverlening).
• SSAT Embedding Formative Assessment ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISH participates in the SSAT Embedding Formative Assessment Programme, a professional development initiative to enhance teaching and learning through formative assessment practices.
• GreenpowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISH Silverbacks Engineering Team participates in Greenpower competitions, building and racing electric cars. The team secured 3rd place in the F24 category at the Benelux Netherlands Final.
• School Formaat Social WorkerminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal school social worker service that participates in JES meetings with the ISH Student Support Team to address complex student needs.
• GGD/CJG (Youth Healthcare)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSchool Doctor and School Nurse from the local youth healthcare service (Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst/Centrum Jeugd en Gezin) provide health services and participate in student support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• United World Colleges (UWC): Global network of IB Diploma-focused residential schools with locations across Europe. Comparable as a high-credibility IB provider for senior secondary students, including in the Netherlands-adjacent markets.

Others

• Council of International Schools (CIS): Accreditation and membership body for international schools. Relevant as the standards-setting ecosystem ISH participates in, shaping peer evaluation criteria rather than direct competition.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): Curriculum and assessment organisation that authorises IB World Schools and certifies PYP, MYP, DP, and CP programmes. ISH's full-stack IB offering is built on this framework, making IB the central enabling partner for its academic product.

Regional players

• Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS): IB-based secondary school in Rotterdam serving internationally mobile families in the Randstad. Comparable as an IB secondary provider competing for the same Dutch regional expat demand.
• The Hague International School: Independent international school operating in The Hague area with comparable primary and secondary programmes. Overlaps in mission and customer segment while operating in the same city as ISH.

Direct peers

• International School of Amsterdam: Premier IB-continuum international school in the Randstad, serving a similarly internationally mobile population. Comparable as a long-established IB World School competing for the same Dutch expat-family segment.
• American School of The Hague: K-12 international school in The Hague offering US-style and IB programmes. Directly comparable in mission, location, and target customer base, with overlapping IB offerings and similar admissions posture.
• The British School in the Netherlands (BSN): Largest international school in The Hague region serving British and international curricula across Primary and Secondary. Directly comparable as a co-located K-12 international school competing for the same expat-family admissions pool.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ishthehague
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-school-of-the-hague
• Instagraminstagram.com/official_ishthehague

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about International School of The Hague