Admissions Procedure

Please submit your formal application through OpenApply, our external admissions portal. You will be required to create an account so that you can follow the status of your child's application.

Apply here via OpenApply

In the portal, you will be asked to upload several documents through a checklist. For each type of application and year group, different checklist items are required. We may also request additional checklist items if necessary (IEP's, etc.).

Below are standard checklist items:

Next Steps

When you have created your parent accounts in OpenApply, you will receive an automatic confirmation email. This way, you know that we have received the application(s) and documents. 

Once the application is complete (form and checklist items), the application is assessed by the directorate. 

Via OpenApply, you will receive an update after the initial assessment. This may include a request for additional information, a meeting request, a confirmation of the placement offer or placement on the waiting list (Category III students). For Secondary School applications, it is common practice to schedule language and mathematics tests for children who are not transferring from another European School.

With the approval of the director, confirmation of enrolment letters are sent to parents to sign and return in acceptance of the offer.  

Subsequent arrangements such as class allocation, timetables, and introduction days (Early Years) will be communicated at a later stage. 

Apply here via OpenApply

Are you interested in becoming part of the ESH Community? We welcome all prospective parents to attend a group information session at one or both ESH campuses: Primary and/or Secondary.

Individual Visit

If you are unable to attend one of these sessions and would like to schedule an individual visit, please submit a Registration of Interest Form, together with school report copies (for pupils applying to P1 - S6), and then contact admissions@eshthehague.nl with a request to visit the school. 

When to apply?

• Early Years applications are accepted for children from the age of 2, but are processed at a later stage.
• We kindly ask that applications requesting pupils to join at the beginning of the school year be submitted by April 1, prior to the start of the new school year.
  • Any applications received after this date run the risk of delayed placement, meaning that pupils may not be able to start at the beginning of the new school year. 
  • We still encourage you to submit applications after April 1. We will inform you if there could be a delay in placement.
• Applications for pupils to join during the course of the school year should be submitted as soon as possible. 

How long does it take?

When the required documents have been submitted, it can take up to 2-3 weeks to process an application when applying for the current school year. This process may take longer for Category III applicants, as availability plays a role. 

If you're applying for the next school year, this can sometimes take longer. In the event that more information is necessary or tests need to be planned, the process can be extended, depending on what needs to be discussed/assessed.

In cases where there is a discrepancy between the decision made by the director and parents' request, the process can be extended even further for an additional evaluation. Therefore, it's very important to apply on time to avoid delayed placement. 

Additional Info for Category III applications

Category III students can be placed upon availability. If a place is/becomes available, parents will be contacted by our admissions officers.

For category III students, the time between submitting the full application and a placement offer depends on the availability and how far in advance parents are applying. If you are applying more than 1 year in advance, the application will only be processed at a later stage.

How to withdraw enrollment from ESH?

Do you need to withdraw your child(ren)'s enrollment at ESH? Please refer to the procedure outlined here.

For current ESH parents, the Withdrawal form can be downloaded from the Community Portal. 

Can I request that my child be placed in a specific class? (Primary School)

While we appreciate that families may have preferences, it is not possible for the school to accommodate requests regarding class placements. Class groupings are carefully determined by the teaching team, Team Leaders, and Support Coordinators, who consider a range of factors to create balanced and supportive learning environments. The final decision rests with the school to ensure the best possible outcomes for all children.