The Dutch education system had its beginning with the formation of the Netherlands as a united nation, ie: the Batavian Republic resulting from the French Revolution of 1789. In one of the articles of the Constitutional Civil Rules and Policies 1789, teaching the people occupied a central place. The attention given to the subject at that time competed to emerge in 1801 the first legislation on education.

In 1848, when the Netherlands had existed for 35 years as the kingdom was promulgated a constitution, which, among others, he was set free to teach. This same liberal political thought has led both to the government failed to engage the administration and direction of the schools. In the Netherlands there has never been a monopoly or a training school in the state. Today, just as before, municipalities continue to deal with the administration and direction of the schools. These public schools' were, and still are, totally funded by the government. This did not happen initially with the schools founded by private organizations. After a fight over the teaching for about 70 years (1848-1917), was instrumental in Dutch politics, was reached in 1911 an alignment total financial terms of the teaching called "special" through public education. Constitutionally, freedom of education has become a social right. At the moment about 75% of the existing Dutch schools were founded by private foundations or associations generally guidance Protestant or Catholic.
In the Netherlands there are:
- Schools for basic education;
- Schools for special education;
- School for secondary education;
- Schools for higher education;
- Schools for international education.