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6.Recognition of qualifications

Welcome to Eurydice, a network of 40 national units based in 37 countries of the Erasmus+ programme. Our task is to explain how education systems are organised in Europe and how they work.

Eurydice publishes descriptions of national education systems, comparative reports devoted to specific topics, indicators and statistics, as well as news and articles related to the field of education.

Our reports show how countries tackle challenges at all education levels: early childhood education and care, primary and secondary education, higher education and adult learning. Find out more in the About Us section.

EACEA A6, the Education and Youth Policy Analysis Unit in the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), provides information and comparative analysis on systems and policies in education and youth in the EU and beyond. The purpose is to improve understanding, enhance co-operation and support policy-making. The unit co-ordinates the Eurydice Network and the Youth Wiki National Correspondents Network of data providers based in most European countries.

On this page you can find links to the Eurydice site, the Youth Wiki, and the Mobility Scoreboard. Information on all Eurydice publications and links to download them, as well as detailed descriptions and overviews of national education systems can be found on the Eurydice site. The Youth Wiki is a comprehensive online encyclopaedia on national youth policies. The Mobility Scoreboard, developed in partnership between Eurydice and Cedefop, is a framework and interactive platform for monitoring the progress of European countries in encouraging learner mobility.

Here you can consult the pages of the 40 national units based in the 37 countries participating in the Erasmus+ programme (27 Member States, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Swizerland and Turkey). You can either browse by national unit or by chapter.

National units are responsible for the drafting of their education system descriptions and the content of all 14 chapters.

The Dutch education system is characterised by obligatory school attendance from the age of 5 till the age of 16. Schools are free to decide which subjects they teach or do not teach. The education system consists of primary education and secondary education. Primary education is spread over 8 years/classes. Children start primary school at 4 or 5 years old until they are 12 (on average). Then they continue on to secondary education which comprises the following three levels:

1. 
   Preparatory Middle-level Vocational Education (VMBO). VMBO offers various tracks and prepares children for a specific profession. VMBO lasts four years.
   
2. 
   Higher General Continued Education (HAVO). HAVO prepares children for higher education (Bachelor’s degree) and lasts five years.
   
3. 
   Preparatory academic education (VWO). VWO prepares children for academic education (Master’s degree) and lasts six years.