Education
In the Netherlands, the government wants everyone to get an education and a diploma. Children through 16 and sometimes through 18 must go to school. In the Netherlands, we call this compulsory education. You can only perform many professions if you have a diploma.
Highlights
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Elementary and high school
In the Netherlands, children up to age 16 and sometimes up to 18 have compulsory education: they have no choice but to go to school. They only do not have to attend school if they are ill. They can also request time off from school for special occasions (like Eid-al-Fitr).

Studying
After you finish high school, you can start studying. You can study in the Netherlands at three different levels. On this page you can read more about those levels. You will also find information about how to pay for your studies.