Children aged 5 to 16 are subject to compulsory education. And young people between the ages of 16 and 18 who do not yet have a havo, vwo or mbo diploma are subject to compulsory qualification. This means that by law they must attend school. In some cases you can request special leave or exemption and your child does not have to go to school. You will receive the decision from the school attendance officer within 8 weeks.

There are 3 types of special leave or exemption:

Exemption few hours per week children of 5 years old

Is a whole week of school at first too tiring for your child? Then you may keep your child home 5 hours a week until your child turns 6.

  • No consent is required for home keeping.
  • However, you must notify the school that you keep your child home for several hours a week.
  • Do you want to keep your child home more than 5 hours a week? Then you must seek permission from the school's principal.
     

Exemption from school attendance

Sometimes your child may receive permission to be out of school for one or more days. For example:

  • disease
  • suspension
  • a religious holiday
  • a marriage
  • a funeral

Is your child sick? Or is there a holiday from your religion? If so, please notify the school that your child will not be attending school. In other cases, please request written permission for additional leave in advance from the school's principal. 

  • You must show proof that the exemption is needed (for example, a wedding invitation or bereavement card).
  • If a request for leave of absence exceeds 10 school days, the compulsory education officer will decide.

Vacations outside school vacations

You may not take your child on vacation outside the school vacations. If you do, you are breaking the law and are liable to punishment. 

Can't get time off work during school vacations

  • Then you can request leave outside the school vacations 1 time per school year.
  • Please do this at least 8 weeks in advance with the school principal.

You can read all the information and conditions on the website of the Central Government | vacations outside school vacations.
 

Exemption enrollment in a school

In some cases you can request exemption for your child for part of the school year. This must be done with the municipality at least one month before your child turns 5. You must submit the request for exemption before July 1 of each school year. You will be invited by the school attendance officer for an explanation. 

These are the special situations for which you can apply for exemption:

Due to mental and/or physical symptoms, your child cannot attend school.

  • You need a statement from a physician, educator or psychologist. This may not be the attending physician. 
  • The compulsory education officer may ask an independent doctor to assess the application. This doctor will also contact the partnership for appropriate education to see what is possible within (special) education. 
  • An exemption due to mental and/or physical disability may be issued for a period longer than one year.

No school in the neighborhood matches your faith or worldview.

  • You must explain per school why this is so.
  • The statement does not apply if your child was educated in the previous school year at a school with a direction that is being objected to.

Your child attends school abroad.

  • You need a statement from the principal of the foreign school. 
  • At the end of the school year, the foreign school must confirm that your child actually attended school. Otherwise, the school attendance officer will initiate an investigation.
  • If your child spends more than 8 months abroad you must notify the municipality.

You travel around the Netherlands

  • For example, because you work at a carnival or circus. 

Useful links

Contact

Compulsory education (5-18 years)

Do you have a question and would like to contact Team Compulsory Education? Then please fill out the form:

Contact Team Compulsory Education

Mailing address:

Team Leerplicht
PO Box 15
2700 AA ZOETERMEER