Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there rules for registration?

These rules have been created to ensure a clear, fair and equal way of registering and placement at primary school for all children. The rules have also been made so that schools can make efficient schedules for their school/classes. The Amsterdam school boards, in consultation with the municipality, decided to do this in 2013.

Which schools does my child have priority at?

Your child has priority at the 8 schools closest to his or her officially registered home address. Enter your child's address and date of birth at https://schoolwijzer.amsterdam.nl/nl/po/lijst/. Then you can see which schools are involved. In addition, there are schools that have specific requirements on the admission of students. They can do this, for example, on the grounds of freedom of religion or belief. These schools do participate in the admissions policy, but they have specific requirements. This concerns the bgs Veerkracht (reformed), Rosh Pina (Jewish), Crescendo and de Morgenster (evangelical).

What are the Rules of assignment?

The allocation of places at all schools takes place in the following order. For the school of your first preference, this is as follows:

• An older brother or sister already goes to school when the child turns 4; your child is guaranteed a place on the same school.
• The child has a positive VVE ‘early child education and care' indication, follows preschool education at the preschool affiliated with the school and has the school as a priority school; b. The child goes to an Integrated Child Center (IKC) twice a week for at least 8 months and has the school as a priority school. 
• The child's parent has an permanent employment contract at the school. 
• The child has the school as a priority school. 
• The child does not have priority at this school, but lives in Amsterdam.

How is the distance to the priority schools calculated?

The Research, Information and Statistics (OIS) office of the municipality of Amsterdam calculates the walking distances between residential addresses and schools based on Open Street Maps (OSM). You can see these distances on this website after you have entered your home address.

Do all schools participate?

Almost all primary schools in Amsterdam participate in the joint admission policy. Of the 210 primary schools in Amsterdam, 10 schools do not participate in this. For the 2023-2024 school year, these are the following schools:

• Center: ASVO
• South: Amsterdam Montessori School (AMS), Willemspark School, Cornelis Vrij, Peeterschool, Hildebrand van Loon School, 1st Openlucht School, 2nd Openlucht School, Buitenveldertse Montessori School (BMS), Cheider.

Would you like to register your child for one of these schools? Please contact this school. 
In addition, there are schools that have specific requirements on the admission of students. They can do this, for example, on the grounds of freedom of religion or belief. These schools do participate in the admissions policy, but make it clear that they set requirements. This concerns the bgs Veerkracht (reformed), Rosh Pina (Jewish), Crescendo and de Morgenster (evangelical).

I have lost my preference form. What should I do?

You can request a new blank preference form from the Amsterdam school boards (BBO) by sending an email to toelatingsbeleid@bboamsterdam.nl and print it out, or pick one up at a primary school. When submitting the preference form, you must submit a valid proof of address.  
A valid proof of address is, for example, a purchase deed, rental contract, an extract from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP), a temporary housing contract or  something similar.

What happens if I specify only one preference?

​If you indicate only one preference for a school and there are more applications than places at this school, there is a chance that you will not be selected from the draw. In that case, after placement you will have to rely on the places still available.

Specifying more preferences increases the chance that your child will be placed at a school of your preference. The advice is to specify at least five preferences.

When will I be notified about the placement?

You will receive the notification of placement within two weeks after the closing date. You will receive this message from the school of placement.

How do I know that the draw is fair?

All steps of processing and placing the registrations are recorded by a special system in a digital logbook. The placement and possible draw will take place in the presence of representatives of school boards, participation council, project management and municipality. The application used has been extensively tested (preliminary and recurring) and has proven itself to be solid and reliable over a long series of deployments.

I have not received a notification placement. What should I do?

Have you not received a message two weeks after the closing date? Please contact the school where you submitted your preference form.

I have a complaint about the placement. What can I do?

You can file a complaint with the school board of the school where you submitted the preference form. The school board is responsible for handling the complaint

I'm too late to register. What can I do?

After the closing date, you can only choose from the schools that still have places left. A recent list of schools that still have availability can be found on the BBO website (Dutch only). You can also contact the Helpdesk for city admission policy. By email: toelatingsbeleid@bboamsterdam.nl and by phone: 020 244 6345

Do you still have questions or uncertainties?

Please contact the BBO Helpdesk for city admission policy via toelatingsbeleid@bboamsterdam.nl or call +31 20 244 6345 during office hours.

For other questions or comments, please contact Schoolwijzer Amsterdam via email: schoolwijzer@amsterdam.nl.