This page compares the education systems of Netherlands and Denmark.
Education System Overview
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | 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] | Public/private mix with decentralized municipal delivery. National legislation sets the main rules for compulsory education, while municipalities operate the public Folkeskole system and publicly supported private schools provide an alternative. [Ministry of Education] |
| Governing Body | Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), supported by executive agencies and the Education Inspectorate. [Government.nl] | Ministry of Children and Education for school and upper-secondary education; municipalities for public primary and lower-secondary schools; and the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Digital Affairs with the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science for most tertiary education. [Danish Ministry] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 5.0% of GDP for primary through tertiary educational institutions in 2022, compared with an OECD average of 4.7%. [OECD] | 6.4% of GDP in 2022, the latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series. [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | 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] | Compulsory education normally begins in August of the calendar year in which a child turns 6 and ends after completion of Grade 9, normally around age 16. Denmark requires education rather than attendance at a particular type of school. [Ministry of Education] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 11 years of full-time compulsory schooling, with the qualification duty potentially extending the education or training obligation to age 18. | 10 years: one compulsory preschool class, known as Grade 0, followed by Grades 1–9. Grade 10 is optional. [Ministry of Education] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Optional before age 5. Children may enter primary school from age 4; attendance becomes compulsory at age 5. [Government.nl] | Optional before compulsory preschool class. Participation is high: 94.7% of 3-year-olds were enrolled in early childhood education in 2023. [OECD] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 8 + 4/5/6: eight years of primary education followed by VMBO (4 years), HAVO (5 years) or VWO (6 years). [Government.nl] | 1 + 9 + 3 is the common general route: one compulsory preschool-class year, Grades 1–9 of compulsory school and usually three years of general upper-secondary education. An optional Grade 10 is also available. Vocational routes have different durations. [Ministry of Education] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | 69.6% Vocational / 30.4% General in 2023. [OECD] | Approximately 19% vocational / 81% general among 15–19-year-old upper-secondary students in the latest directly comparable OECD distribution. Danish VET students are often older than students in general upper-secondary education, so this age-based measure does not represent all VET participation. [OECD] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | August/September, depending on the regional summer-holiday schedule. [Government.nl] | August |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | July, with exact dates varying by region. [Government.nl] | June |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | — | Approximately 40 weeks in the most common Folkeskole calendar. [Ministry of Education] |
| Instruction Days per Year | — | Approximately 200 days in the most common school-year arrangement. [Ministry of Education] |
Grading System
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | Commonly a 1–10 scale, where 10 is the highest mark; secondary schools commonly use around 5.5 as the minimum passing level. | 7-point scale: -3, 00, 02, 4, 7, 10, 12. Grades 02, 4, 7, 10 and 12 are passing grades when a pass requirement applies. [Ministry of Education] |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | Commonly a 1–10 scale, with 6 generally representing a passing grade; higher education programs use ECTS credits. | The same 7-point scale is used across state-regulated higher education, with pass/fail assessment also permitted in specified courses. [Danish Agency] |
Language of Instruction
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | Dutch | Danish is the main language of instruction in ordinary public schooling. |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | Frisian is a compulsory subject in primary schools in Friesland, subject to permitted exemptions. Bilingual Dutch-English secondary programs are also available. [Government.nl] | German is used in recognized German-minority schools in Southern Jutland. International and bilingual schools may teach partly or fully in English or another language. |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 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] | At compulsory-school level, approximately 82% of pupils attend the municipal/public sector, based on the Ministry's reported 18% share attending free private primary and lower-secondary schools. [Ministry of Education] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 tuition at publicly funded primary and secondary schools. | $0. Municipal Folkeskole education is free of charge. [Ministry of Education] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes. Municipalities must ensure access to sufficient public-authority schooling, while both public-authority and eligible privately run schools receive government funding. [Government.nl] | Yes. Municipalities are responsible for providing public compulsory education throughout Denmark. [Ministry of Education] |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 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] | Approximately 18% of compulsory-school pupils attend a free private primary and lower-secondary school. These schools receive public subsidies and may charge parental fees. [Ministry of Education] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | Nationwide; government-dependent private schools form a large part of mainstream provision across the country. | Nationwide, with free private schools operating in both urban and regional areas. |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | — | 26 recognized international basic schools in the Ministry's official category. [Ministry of Education] |
| Number of IB World Schools | 41 IB World Schools. [IB] | 20 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Denmark; 17 offer the Diploma Programme. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate, British/Cambridge, American and other international or European curricula, depending on the school. | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International and school-specific British, American or bilingual programs. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | 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] | For the standard Folkeskole teacher pathway, a four-year Professional Bachelor's degree in teacher education totaling 240 ECTS, including teaching practice. Upper-secondary teacher qualification requirements differ. [Danish Agency] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | 22 students per class in 2023. [OECD] | Approximately 19 students in 2023. [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | — | Approximately 20 students in 2023. [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 519 / 485 / 503. [OECD] | 509 / 501 / 493 |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 493 / 459 / 488. [OECD] | 489 / 489 / 494. [OECD] |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 483 / 441 / 485. Mathematics was above the OECD average, reading was below it, and science was close to the OECD average. [OECD] | 471 / 460 / 478. [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | 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] | Performance was lower in 2025 than in 2022 in mathematics, reading and science. Mathematics declined by 19 points, reading by 29 points and science by 16 points. OECD reports that 2025 performance in all three subjects was lower than in any Danish PISA assessment conducted before 2022. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science (Score: 485), followed by mathematics at 483 and reading at 441. [OECD] | Science — 478 points. [OECD] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 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] | 25 core institutions across the main state-regulated categories: 8 universities, 7 university colleges, 7 business academies and 3 architecture/art institutions. Additional specialized institutions fall under other administrative arrangements. [Danish Agency] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 14, comprising 13 research universities and the Open University. [NVAO] | 8 universities: University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, University of Southern Denmark, Roskilde University, Aalborg University, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen Business School and IT University of Copenhagen. [Danish Agency] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | 37 publicly funded universities of applied sciences. [NVAO] | 7 university colleges and 7 business academies. Denmark does not use a single formal “University of Applied Sciences” category equivalent to some other European systems. [Danish Agency] |
| Main Institution Types | Research universities; Universities of Applied Sciences (hogescholen); recognized private higher education institutions. | Universities, university colleges, business academies and architecture/art institutions, alongside additional specialized tertiary providers. |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | — | Public institutions: 99.6% / government-dependent private institutions: approximately 0.3% / independent private institutions: approximately 0% in 2023. [OECD] |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | — | 500+ English-taught higher education programs across Danish institutions. [Study in Denmark] |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | 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 (%) | 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 | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 2 in the QS World University Rankings 2027: Delft University of Technology (#48) and the University of Amsterdam (#60). [QS] | 1 in QS 2027: University of Copenhagen (=90). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 13 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | 5 in QS 2027: University of Copenhagen (=90), Technical University of Denmark (105), Aarhus University (=128), University of Southern Denmark (=283) and Aalborg University (=329). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 13 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | 5 in QS 2027. Roskilde University is ranked in the 1001–1200 band, while Copenhagen Business School and IT University of Copenhagen do not have an overall QS World University Ranking position in this edition. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), which accredits programs and assesses quality assurance in Dutch higher education. [NVAO] | Danish Accreditation Institution (Danmarks Akkrediteringsinstitution), which conducts accreditation work within Denmark's higher education quality-assurance system. |
| International Students (Total) | 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] | Approximately 30,000 international tertiary students in 2023, the latest OECD internationally comparable total. [OECD] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | 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] | 9.9% in 2023, down from 10.7% in 2018. [OECD] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | 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] | $0 for Danish students and generally for eligible students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland in public higher education. [Study in Denmark] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | 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] | Typically $8,000–$21,000 per year for fee-paying full-degree students, equivalent to the official published range of DKK 45,000–120,000. Exact fees are set by institutions. [Study in Denmark] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | — | $0 for eligible EU/EEA/Swiss students; generally $8,000–$21,000 per year for other full-degree students. [Study in Denmark] |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | — | — |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | Netherlands | Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | 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. | Denmark has a decentralized public/private education system in which municipalities operate the public Folkeskole within national legislation. Compulsory education lasts 10 years, beginning with preschool class in the year a child turns six and continuing through Grade 9. Municipal schools provide free education, while about 18% of compulsory-school pupils attend publicly supported free private schools. General upper-secondary programs and vocational education provide the main routes after compulsory school. Danish is the principal instructional language, with German-minority and international-school provision also available. In PISA 2025, Denmark scored 471 in mathematics, 460 in reading and 478 in science; all three results were lower than in 2022. Higher education includes eight research universities, seven university colleges and seven business academies, with 99.6% of tertiary students enrolled in public institutions in 2023. Current school changes include greater local flexibility, fewer compulsory leaving examinations and revised subject plans, while a new epx upper-secondary route is being prepared for introduction in 2030. |