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Groep 7 and 8 · newcomers

New to the Netherlands: schooladvies and doorstroomtoets for newcomers

Has your child only recently moved to the Netherlands, and are they in groep 7 or 8 (the last two years of primary school)? Then a few extra rules apply. Children who have lived in the Netherlands for less than four years and do not yet speak Dutch well enough do not have to take the doorstroomtoets (the national test in groep 8). The schooladvies (the school's recommendation for secondary school level) from the basisschool (primary school) then becomes even more important. This is how it works.

6 min readParents who are new to the NetherlandsUpdated on 23 October 2026

In short

Has your child lived in the Netherlands for less than four years, and do they not yet speak Dutch well enough? Then the school can decide, after talking with you, that your child does not take the doorstroomtoets. Taking part is still allowed.
If your child does not take the test, the secondary school will only look at the schooladvies.
On average, newcomers get an advice that is half a level lower than other children. After the test, their advice is also raised more often.
Children aged 12 to 18 who do not yet speak much Dutch can first go to an internationale schakelklas (ISK) (international transition class).

Does my child have to take the doorstroomtoets?

In principle, all children in groep 8 take a doorstroomtoets. There is an exception for newcomers. Your child does not have to take the test if:

your child has lived in the Netherlands for less than four years, and
your child does not yet speak Dutch well enough.

The school board makes this decision (in practice, usually the head teacher), after talking with you. Your child is allowed to take the test if you and your child want to.

If your child does not take the test, the secondary school will base admission only on the basisschool's schooladvies.

Take the test or not?

This is a choice you make together with the school. This may help you decide:

	What does it mean?
Take the test	If the toetsadvies (the advice based on the test result) is higher than the schooladvies, the school must in principle raise the advice. The test never makes the advice lower.
Don't take the test	Your child does not have to take a test in a language they are still learning. The schooladvies is then the only thing that counts.

Good to know: according to the Inspectie van het Onderwijs (the Dutch Education Inspectorate), newcomers on average get an advice that is half a level lower than other children. For newcomers, the advice is also raised more often after the test. Does your child already speak Dutch reasonably well, or are they strong at maths? Then ask the school whether taking part could be an opportunity.

Example

Amira has lived in the Netherlands for three years. She is good at maths, but still finds long texts in Dutch difficult. The school is allowed to exempt her from the test. Together with her parents, the school decides that she will take the test anyway: the toetsadvies can only raise her advice.

How is the schooladvies decided?

The basisschool looks at the whole child, not just at tests in Dutch. The Ministry of Education gives schools some advice about newcomers:

Look at the learning pace. How quickly has your child learned since arriving in the Netherlands? Learning a new language takes five years on average.
Use suitable tests. If there is a big language barrier, the school can use a test without language (non-verbal), or a test in your child's own language.
Be careful with IQ tests. They often do not suit children who are still learning Dutch, and they may only be given by qualified experts.
Involve the parents. The school should explain in good time how the Dutch school system works and involve you in the advice.

Also read the voorlopig schooladvies explained and vmbo, havo and vwo explained.

What is the ISK?

Children aged 12 to 18 who do not yet speak much Dutch can go to an internationale schakelklas (ISK). This is a special class at a regular secondary school. Your child mainly learns Dutch there, plus other subjects such as maths.

Once your child speaks enough Dutch, they move to a regular class: vmbo (pre-vocational education), havo (senior general secondary education) or vwo (pre-university education). How long this takes is different for every child.

For younger children, primary schools often have newcomer classes or language classes. In some regions there is also a kopklas: an extra year after groep 8 to improve their Dutch before your child goes to secondary school. Ask the school or your local council what is available near you.

What can you do as a parent?

Ask for an interpreter at the adviesgesprek (the meeting about the school's advice), or bring someone you trust.
Bring old school reports (rapporten), including ones from your previous country. This shows the school what your child could already do.
Ask how the school assesses the level: which tests were used, and was the test in Dutch, without language or in your child's own language?
Ask about a double advice or a broad first-year class (brede brugklas), for example vmbo-gt/havo. This gives your child more time to show what they can do.
Ask whether the basisschool and the secondary school will talk to each other (a warm handover, or warme overdracht). Then the new school knows what your child needs.
Keep reading and talking at home in your own language. That is fine, and a strong first language is a good basis for learning Dutch.

Do you disagree with the advice? Then read schooladvies too low: what can you do?

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Does my child have to take the doorstroomtoets if we have only lived in the Netherlands for a short time?

Not always. If your child has lived in the Netherlands for less than four years and does not yet speak Dutch well enough, the school board can decide, after talking with you, that your child does not take the test. Your child is still allowed to take the test if you and your child want to.

What happens to the schooladvies if my child does not take the test?

Then the basisschool's schooladvies is the basis for secondary school. There is no toetsadvies that could raise the advice.

Can the doorstroomtoets lower my child's advice?

No. The test can only raise the advice, never lower it. This applies to all children, including newcomers.

What is an ISK?

An internationale schakelklas is a special class at a regular secondary school for children aged 12 to 18 who do not yet speak much Dutch. They mainly learn Dutch there. Once your child speaks enough Dutch, they move to a regular class.

Can the secondary school make my child take an IQ test?

If your child has a schooladvies, the secondary school may not give an extra test at admission to decide their level. Only if there is no schooladvies may the secondary school carry out its own assessment.

Can I bring an interpreter to the adviesgesprek?

Yes. Ask the school beforehand whether it can arrange an interpreter, or bring someone you trust. It is important that you understand everything properly.

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