Welcome to the world of Harbour International... and what a special world it is!

Harbour International is a primary school located in the centre of Rotterdam, a short walk from Central station. Our school was opened in 1987 and served international parents for years under the name Blijberg international. In September 2019, we changed our name to Harbour International and are still offering quality education at an affordable price to mobile families. 

Respect and empathy for one another and for other cultures are at the heart of our school. Children have to be abel to cope with making and losing friends quite frequently, as most children only stay for a relatively short period of time with us. Homesickness can be common and our school is the substitute family for, not only the children, but also their parents who can feel isolated. it is thus important that our school acts as a safe and welcoming place for all. 

To meet the educational needs of our pupils, we use the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) combined with elements of the British curriculum. Pupils from all over the world are taught in English by experienced teachers who provide a broad, balanced curriculum aimed at developing the pupil's knowledge, skills and understanding.

We are privileged to represent over 69 different nationalities and our school has currently a population of 280 children. We also accept children who do not speak English and provide support via our English as an Additional Language (EAL) program. 

We pride ourselves on the caring and safe environment we provide for the international community and the individualised education we provide for all children. One way to do so is by guaranteeing small class sizes (our average class size is 18 children and never exceeds 22.

All lessons are taught in English with the opportunity for the pupils to learn connversational Dutch from a native Dutch speaker. The pupils experience Dutch culture through visiting the many museums and attractions in the Rotterdam area.

The international Department is a member of the DIPS school group in the Netherlands (Dutch International Primary Schools https://www.dutchinternationalschools.nl/). There are clear guidelines set down by the group for the admission of pupils to our school which we have to adhere to. You can read about our admission criteria here:  Admission Criteria

Discover our school with our virtual tour