This page compares the education systems of Japan and Netherlands.
Education System Overview
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public-private mix; Governance model: Centralized (Curriculum standards set by national government, administration by local boards). [MEXT] | Mixed public-private provision; Governance model: Decentralized implementation under national rules, with extensive school autonomy. Public-authority and eligible privately run schools receive public funding under the same statutory conditions. [Government.nl] |
| Governing Body | Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) | Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), supported by executive agencies and the Education Inspectorate. [Government.nl] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | Approximately 3.4% (Lower than OECD average, high private household contribution). [OECD] | 5.0% of GDP for primary through tertiary educational institutions in 2022, compared with an OECD average of 4.7%. [OECD] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | From age 6 to age 15 (Elementary and Junior High School). | From age 5 to age 16 for full-time compulsory education. Young people without a basic qualification are generally subject to a qualification duty until age 18. [Government.nl] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 9 years (6 years Elementary + 3 years Junior High). | 11 years of full-time compulsory schooling, with the qualification duty potentially extending the education or training obligation to age 18. |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Optional; Enrollment rate for ages 3–5 is roughly 95% (High participation in Kindergarten/Nursery). [MEXT] | Optional before age 5. Children may enter primary school from age 4; attendance becomes compulsory at age 5. [Government.nl] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 6 + 3 + 3 (Elementary + Junior High + Senior High). | 8 + 4/5/6: eight years of primary education followed by VMBO (4 years), HAVO (5 years) or VWO (6 years). [Government.nl] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | Approx. 23% Vocational (including specialized courses/Kosen) / 77% General. | 69.6% Vocational / 30.4% General in 2023. [OECD] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | April | August/September, depending on the regional summer-holiday schedule. [Government.nl] |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | March | July, with exact dates varying by region. [Government.nl] |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | 35–40 weeks (Trimester system is common). | — |
| Instruction Days per Year | Approximately 200–210 days. [NCEE] | — |
Grading System
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | Typically 1–5 scale (5 is best) or S/A/B/C (Target-based grading). | Commonly a 1–10 scale, where 10 is the highest mark; secondary schools commonly use around 5.5 as the minimum passing level. |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | GPA 0–4.0 or S (90+), A (80–89), B (70–79), C (60–69), F (Fail). | Commonly a 1–10 scale, with 6 generally representing a passing grade; higher education programs use ECTS credits. |
Language of Instruction
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | Japanese (Sole medium of instruction in public schools). | Dutch |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | None officially in public system; English is a compulsory subject from Elementary grade 3. | Frisian is a compulsory subject in primary schools in Friesland, subject to permitted exemptions. Bilingual Dutch-English secondary programs are also available. [Government.nl] |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | ~98% in Elementary/Junior High; drops to ~67% in High School. [MEXT] | Approximately 30% in primary, 26% in lower secondary and 8% in upper secondary education in 2023. Most privately managed schools are government-dependent and publicly funded rather than fee-charging independent schools. [OECD] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 (Tuition-free for compulsory 9 years). High school is effectively free for many via support funds. | $0 tuition at publicly funded primary and secondary schools. |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes; public elementary and junior high schools are provided across the country through local education authorities. | Yes. Municipalities must ensure access to sufficient public-authority schooling, while both public-authority and eligible privately run schools receive government funding. [Government.nl] |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | ~33% at Senior High School level; very low (~1–7%) at compulsory levels. | 70% in primary, 74% in lower secondary and 92% in upper secondary education in 2023. Nearly all private enrollment at primary and lower secondary level is in government-dependent schools funded on the same basis as public schools. [OECD] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | Concentrated in large metropolitan areas (Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa). | Nationwide; government-dependent private schools form a large part of mainstream provision across the country. |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | Approximately 80–100 accredited major schools. | — |
| Number of IB World Schools | 122. [IB] | 41 IB World Schools. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | IB Diploma, Cambridge, American, Canadian. | International Baccalaureate, British/Cambridge, American and other international or European curricula, depending on the school. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | Bachelor’s Degree + Prefectural Teacher License. | A recognized teaching qualification is required. Primary teachers normally qualify through higher professional teacher education, while secondary qualifications depend on subject and teaching level; recognized lateral-entry routes are also available. [Government.nl] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | 27–35 students (Legal cap lowered to 35 recently). [OECD] | 22 students per class in 2023. [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | 30–35 students. | — |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | 35–40 students (Often larger lecture-style classes). | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 527 / 504 / 529 [OECD] | 519 / 485 / 503. [OECD] |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 536 / 516 / 547 [OECD] | 493 / 459 / 488. [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 525 / 503 / 538. Japan scored above the OECD averages of 463 in mathematics, 461 in reading, and 482 in science. [OECD] | 483 / 441 / 485. Mathematics was above the OECD average, reading was below it, and science was close to the OECD average. [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | Across more than two decades of PISA participation, Japan's results have fluctuated, especially in reading, without a clear long-term direction. From 2022 to 2025, mathematics and science were about the same, while reading was lower. The 2025 mathematics and science scores were close to Japan's historical averages, and reading was close to its 2018 level. [OECD] | Between 2022 and 2025, Dutch performance was not statistically different in mathematics and science and was lower in reading. Results in all three subjects were among the lowest observed for the Netherlands in PISA and were significantly below their 2018 levels. OECD data show a negative trajectory across all three subjects over the period since 2015. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science (Score: 538), followed by mathematics at 525 and reading at 503. [OECD] | Science (Score: 485), followed by mathematics at 483 and reading at 441. [OECD] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | Over 800 Universities (plus Junior Colleges and Colleges of Technology). | 51 publicly funded institutions: 14 research universities including the Open University and 37 universities of applied sciences. Recognized private higher education institutions also operate in the Netherlands. [NVAO] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 86 National Universities. [JANU] | 14, comprising 13 research universities and the Open University. [NVAO] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | 57 Kosen (Colleges of Technology) + 300+ Junior Colleges. | 37 publicly funded universities of applied sciences. [NVAO] |
| Main Institution Types | National Universities, Public (Prefectural) Universities, Private Universities. | Research universities; Universities of Applied Sciences (hogescholen); recognized private higher education institutions. |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | Public: ~20% | Private: ~80% (Private sector dominates capacity). | — |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | 100+ (Available through a range of universities and graduate schools). | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | ~95% (Japanese is the dominant academic language). | At research universities in 2025/26, 53% of bachelor’s programs and 20% of master’s programs were taught exclusively in Dutch. At universities of applied sciences, 80% of bachelor’s programs were exclusively Dutch-taught in 2023/24. [Nuffic] |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | <5% (English-taught programmes represent a small share of total provision). | At research universities in 2025/26, 32% of bachelor’s programs and 71% of master’s programs were taught exclusively in English. [Nuffic] |
| Main Global Ranking Used | THE (Times Higher Education) and QS. | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 4 in QS World University Rankings 2027: The University of Tokyo (#39), Kyoto University (#64), The University of Osaka (#95), and Institute of Science Tokyo (#=97). [QS] | 2 in the QS World University Rankings 2027: Delft University of Technology (#48) and the University of Amsterdam (#60). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 10–15 | 13 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 30–40 | 13 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | NIAD-QE (National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement). | Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), which accredits programs and assesses quality assurance in Dutch higher education. [NVAO] |
| International Students (Total) | Approx. 280,000 (Recovering post-pandemic target: 400k by 2033). [Study in Japan] | 129,764 international degree students were enrolled in bachelor’s or master’s programs at publicly funded research universities and universities of applied sciences in 2025/26. [Nuffic] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | Approx. 5–8%. | 17% of bachelor’s and master’s students at publicly funded higher education institutions in 2025/26. The share was 27% at research universities and 9% at universities of applied sciences. [Nuffic] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | Standard: ¥535,800 (approx. $3,500). Fixed for National Universities. | Approximately $3,126 per year for students eligible for the statutory tuition fee in 2026/27, based on the official fee of €2,694. [Study in NL] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | Same as domestic: ¥535,800 (approx. $3,500). [JASSO] | Approximately $10,442–$23,204 annually for bachelor’s programs and $13,922–$34,806 for master’s programs, based on average institutional fees of €9,000–€20,000 and €12,000–€30,000 respectively for non-EEA students. [Study in NL] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | National: ¥535,800; Private: ¥1,000,000–¥2,000,000+ ($6,500–$13,000+). | — |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | ¥60,000–¥80,000 (approx. $400–$550). | — |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | Japan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | The Japanese Education System combines national curriculum standards with local administration and a 6-3-3-4 structure. The first nine years—elementary and junior high school—are compulsory and predominantly public, while senior high school participation is widespread. Governed nationally by MEXT, the system also includes private schools, colleges of technology, junior colleges, and a large private university sector. Tokkatsu activities such as student-led cleaning and lunch service form part of school life alongside academic study. Japan participated in PISA in 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, and 2025. In PISA 2025, Japan scored 525 in mathematics, 503 in reading, and 538 in science, with all three averages above the OECD mean. Recent changes include the GIGA School Program, the Common Test for University Admissions, elementary class-size reductions, digital learning materials, and the addition of Informatics to the university entrance testing structure. National universities remain an important part of Japan's research and higher education system. | The Netherlands operates a mixed-provider education system in which public-authority and government-dependent private schools receive public funding while schools retain broad operational autonomy. Full-time compulsory schooling runs from age 5 to 16, followed by a qualification duty for many young people without a basic qualification until age 18. Primary education lasts eight years and feeds into the differentiated VMBO, HAVO and VWO secondary pathways. Vocational programs account for 69.6% of upper-secondary enrollment. In PISA 2025, the Netherlands scored 483 in mathematics, 441 in reading and 485 in science. Mathematics and science results were not statistically different from 2022, while reading performance was lower. Higher education includes research universities, universities of applied sciences and recognized private institutions. In 2025/26, publicly funded bachelor’s and master’s programs enrolled 129,764 international students, representing 17% of students in those programs. Recent changes include new options to cap enrollment in English-taught program components and 2026 administrative agreements on international student intake. |