The Best International Schools in Belgium

Published on January 17, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Choosing a school for one’s children is rarely a simple decision. In Belgium, the challenge is even greater: the country combines one of the most high-performing public education systems in Europe with a wealth of international schools. For expatriate families, employees of European institutions or NATO, as well as for Belgian parents seeking a genuinely multilingual curriculum, the question is always the same: where can you find the best international schools in Belgium, and by what criteria should you compare them?

This article reviews the main types of international schools, the country’s major references, and concrete criteria for making an informed choice, without getting lost in marketing or corridor reputations.

A very solid Belgian framework, but not always suited to mobile families

Before diving into the world of international schools, it’s important to understand the general backdrop. Belgium has a high-quality public education system, regularly ranked in the OECD top 10 for performance in science, math, and reading. Education is compulsory between ages 6 and 18, although over 90% of children already attend free preschool from age two and a half.

The country operates with three language communities, each managing its own school network:

– Flemish Community (Dutch-speaking)

– French Community of Belgium (French-speaking)

– German-speaking Community

For a child growing up in Belgium whose family is well-established in one of the national languages, this network offers an excellent education, with a strong focus on languages from primary school. But for a family arriving from abroad, staying a few years, leaving, then returning, the equation changes: integrating into a French-, Dutch-, or German-language program can be very demanding and does not guarantee educational continuity from one country to another. This is where international schools come into their own.

Why so many international schools in Belgium?

Brussels concentrates European institutions, NATO headquarters, thousands of diplomats, and over 2,000 multinationals. The Brussels region alone has over 400,000 expatriates, about 35% of the population, with strong French, Italian, Spanish, German, but also Japanese, Indian, and Nordic communities.

The advantages highlighted by these institutions are fairly consistent: internationally recognized diplomas (IB, A-Levels, IGCSE, American High School Diploma, European Baccalaureate, etc.), strong exposure to languages, small class sizes, enhanced support, numerous extracurricular activities, and a truly international community of students and teachers. In return, tuition fees are in a different league compared to public education, ranging from about €6,000 per year for some schools to over €35,000, even over €40,000 for the final years of high school in the most prestigious institutions.

Understanding the main types of international curricula

To compare the best international schools in Belgium, you first need to master the major families of programs on offer. These determine the portability of the educational path from one country to another, as well as access to universities.

The International Baccalaureate, backbone of the international offering

The International Baccalaureate (IB) occupies a central place in Belgium, especially in Brussels and Antwerp. The IB is managed by a non-profit foundation based in Geneva, which offers four standardized programs worldwide:

– Primary Years Programme (PYP), for ages 3–12

– Middle Years Programme (MYP), for ages 11–16

– Diploma Programme (DP), for ages 16–19

– Career-related Programme (CP), more oriented towards career paths

In Belgium, thirteen schools are officially recognized as IB World Schools. All offer the DP, eight also offer the MYP, six the PYP, and two the CP. Most teach primarily in English, several combine English and French.

British and Cambridge curricula: IGCSE, A‑Levels and BTEC

Many Belgian international schools rely on the British system, with:

– the National Curriculum or the Cambridge International Curriculum

– IGCSE (International GCSE) around age 16

– AS‑Levels and A‑Levels around ages 17–18

– sometimes BTEC (vocational qualifications) alongside or as an alternative to A‑Levels

A‑Levels are an international reference for university entrance, especially in the Anglophone world. IGCSEs serve as a solid foundation before the international baccalaureate or the IB Diploma. BTEC, more career-oriented, covers areas like business, sport, or hospitality.

The American system: High School Diploma and AP

A few schools, mainly in Brussels, follow the traditional American model: elementary, middle, and high school, with a High School Diploma based on a credit system, often accompanied by Advanced Placement (AP) courses for more advanced students. These AP courses, recognized internationally, can grant university credits.

European Schools and the European Baccalaureate

European Schools are a category of their own. These are public institutions created and managed jointly by the European Union and its member states. Their primary mission: to provide multilingual and multicultural education for children of staff of European institutions.

Other national systems: French, German, Japanese…

Some schools replicate the official curriculum of another country:

– French lycées accredited by the French Ministry of Education

– German schools awarding the Abitur

– Japanese schools following the Japanese Ministry’s programs

– Scandinavian or Polish schools, often in Brussels

They mainly attract families planning a future return to their home system, while enjoying an international environment.

Montessori, Steiner and alternative pedagogies

Finally, Belgium has a dense network of international schools inspired by Montessori or Steiner‑Waldorf pedagogies. Most cover preschool and primary, a few continue into secondary and then transition to the IB program. These schools emphasize autonomy, creativity, an individualized pace, and experiential learning.

Overview of the best international schools around Brussels

Brussels and its periphery concentrate the majority of the most renowned institutions, thanks to their proximity to European institutions, NATO, and large international corporations.

The British School of Brussels (BSB) in Tervuren

Often cited as one of the best international schools in the country, the British School of Brussels combines several rare assets. Founded in 1969, this school hosts about 1,350 students from 70 nationalities, ages 1 to 18. It is notably the only one in Belgium to offer three pathways to higher education:

– British A‑Levels

– International Baccalaureate diploma

– BTEC in areas like business, sport, or hospitality

Academic results confirm this leading position, with a pass rate above 99% for A‑Levels and BTEC, and a three‑year IB average around 37 points, well above the world average.

The school strongly emphasizes bilingualism: it offers a French‑English program for ten levels (ages 4 to 14), with co‑teaching by native teachers in each language, as well as a Dutch mother tongue program for younger children. The facilities match this: a 25‑meter pool, gym, fitness room, dance studio, large sports hall, 240‑seat theater with professional equipment, music and recording studios.

International School of Brussels (ISB)

Founded in 1951, the International School of Brussels is the oldest major English-speaking international school in Belgium. Located in Watermael‑Boitsfort, it hosts about 1,300 students from over 70 nationalities, ages 2.5 to 18.

ISB stands out with a very comprehensive educational offering: American program with a High School Diploma, Advanced Placement courses, but also IB and sometimes BTEC depending on the track. The school boasts a particularly developed learning support system, especially for students with special educational needs.

Its students achieve solid IB results, around 35 points on average, with large cohorts taking the diploma. The main language of instruction is English, but the linguistic and cultural diversity of the community is very marked.

St. John’s International School in Waterloo

In Waterloo, St. John’s International School is considered one of the best IB schools in Belgium. Founded in 1964, it offers all three IB programs (PYP, MYP, DP) for ages 1–18, with bilingual English/French teaching.

The school has over forty years of experience with the IB. Its graduates regularly gain entry to top‑tier universities like Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Columbia, Yale, KU Leuven, or Bocconi. Its average IB scores (around 35–36 points) place it among the top IB institutions in Europe in international rankings.

St. John’s also offers a boarding school, making it a popular choice for expatriate families with highly mobile parents, or for students coming from other regions of Belgium or abroad.

BEPS International School in Ixelles

BEPS International School, founded in 1972 in Brussels, has the reputation of being a school with a human scale and a “family spirit” often mentioned by parents. Located near Franklin Roosevelt Avenue, it welcomes children from 2.5 to 18 years old and follows a curriculum entirely focused on the IB, from preschool to the diploma.

Montgomery International School (MIS)

Montgomery International School, in Woluwe‑Saint‑Lambert, is an IB World School offering the PYP, MYP, and DP programs. The institution has chosen a resolutely IB offering, with two tracks: all‑English, or bilingual French‑English. Students thus have the opportunity to prepare for a bilingual IB diploma.

Its location in the heart of the European district – close to EU institutions and NATO – makes it a very practical option for many expatriate families. The school organizes, for example, university fairs dedicated to its IB students, demonstrating a strong focus on post‑high school guidance.

Brussels International Catholic School (BICS) and Agnes School

For families seeking a high‑level academic international school combined with a strong Catholic identity, Brussels has two references: Brussels International Catholic School (BICS) and Agnes School.

Agnes School combines Belgian and British programs as well as the IB, from age 1.5 to 18. The institution is trilingual French/English/Dutch, making it particularly interesting for families wishing to anchor their children long‑term in Belgium, while maintaining international portability of diplomas.

The European Schools in Brussels and Mol

Another pillar of the Brussels landscape, the four official European Schools (Brussels I in Uccle/Berkendael, Brussels II in Woluwe/Evere, Brussels III in Ixelles, Brussels IV in Laeken) together educate over 7,000 students. The fifth European School is located in Mol, in the province of Antwerp.

Their primary vocation is to welcome children of staff of European institutions, who benefit from enrollment priority and complete tuition fee exemption (Category I). Other categories exist, with considerable fees but still much lower than those of many private international schools, especially for Category III (families not working for the EU).

European Schools offer education from preschool to the end of secondary school, in various language sections, with advanced language teaching and a European Baccalaureate recognized in all EU countries. For families where a parent works for the Union, these schools often constitute the most natural option.

Comparison Table – Major international schools around Brussels

This table gives a simplified overview of some reference institutions, without claiming to be exhaustive.

School	Location	Age Range	Main Programs	Languages of Instruction
British School of Brussels (BSB)	Tervuren	1–18 years	UK Curriculum, A‑Levels, IB, BTEC	English, FR/EN bilingual, NL
International School of Brussels (ISB)	Watermael‑Boitsfort	2.5–18 years	US Diploma, AP, IB	English, + foreign languages
St. John’s International School	Waterloo	1–18 years	IB PYP, MYP, DP	English/French
BEPS International School	Ixelles	2.5–18 years	IB PYP, MYP, DP	English/French
Montgomery International School	Woluwe‑Saint‑Lambert	5–19 years	IB PYP, MYP, DP	English or FR/EN bilingual
Brussels International Catholic School	Etterbeek	2–18 years	Cambridge (IGCSE, A‑Levels)	English/French
Agnes School	Woluwe & Etterbeek	1.5–18 years	Belgian program, UK, IB	FR/EN/NL
European Schools (Brussels)	Uccle, Woluwe, Ixelles, Laeken	4–18 years	European program, European Baccalaureate	Multilingual sections

Antwerp: an international hub in full expansion

In the north of the country, Antwerp is both a major port, a dynamic economic center, and a very cosmopolitan city. It attracts more and more foreign investment and is, logically, another major hub for international schools.

Antwerp International School (AIS)

Antwerp International School is a complete IB World School, offering PYP, MYP, and DP for ages 3–18. It educates students from over 40 nationalities, with a student‑to‑teacher ratio of about 7:1, allowing for strong individualized support.

Da Vinci International School Antwerp

Da Vinci International School, founded in 1997, is a small school deliberately human‑scale, which has chosen the IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP). It positions itself on highly personalized pedagogy, with close family support and a focus on transferable skills for the “fourth industrial revolution.”

In 2024, the school joined the Chatsworth Schools group, an international network of institutions, further strengthening its global anchoring and educational resources.

International School of Belgium (ISBe) – Aartselaar

Located near Antwerp, the International School of Belgium offers a mix of IB programs (notably in primary) and British curricula like Cambridge IGCSE, for ages 3–18. It is characterized by small class sizes, strong emphasis on values, arts, and sports, as well as complete facilities (laboratories, library, sports equipment).

Lycée Français International d’Anvers

For French‑speaking families, the Lycée Français International d’Anvers is the local equivalent of the French lycées in Brussels: a French‑language education, compliant with the programs of the French Ministry of Education, with a resolutely multilingual dimension and a high exam pass rate.

New generation: Owl Academy

Finally, Owl Academy in Mortsel (near Antwerp) illustrates the emergence of a new generation of hybrid schools. It announces a model blending the British curriculum (IGCSE, A‑Levels) and American (High School Diploma), with a blended learning environment using virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI). Targeting ages 10–18, it presents itself as a “green” and highly personalized school.

Table – Some flagship schools around Antwerp

School	Location	Age Range	Main Programs	Languages of Instruction
Antwerp International School (AIS)	Antwerp (Ekeren)	3–18 years	IB PYP, MYP, DP	English
Da Vinci International School	Antwerp	3–18 years	IB PYP, MYP, DP	English
International School of Belgium	Aartselaar	3–18 years	IB (primary), Cambridge IGCSE	English
Lycée Français Int. d’Anvers	Antwerp	3–18 years	French program	French, + languages
Owl Academy	Mortsel (Antwerp)	10–18 years	IGCSE, A‑Levels, High School	English

Mol, Mons, Ghent, Leuven: other hubs not to be overlooked

While Brussels and Antwerp concentrate the bulk of the offering, other Belgian cities host international or European schools of very good standard.

European School of Mol

The European School of Mol welcomes students from 3 to 18 years old in four main languages: Dutch, French, German, and English. Over 50 nationalities are represented. Like its Brussels counterparts, it prepares for the European Baccalaureate and is a quality option for families in northeastern Belgium, especially as it still has spaces where Brussels schools are often congested.

SHAPE International School in Mons

In Mons, the SHAPE International School is dedicated to children of military and civilian personnel working at the NATO military headquarters. Several languages are taught there, with a very international orientation and high family mobility.

International School Ghent, International School Leuven

Ghent and Leuven, major university cities, are not left behind. The International School Ghent, on the outskirts of Ghent, offers international education in English for ages 2–12. The International School Leuven, in Leuven, also offers primary education in English, in cities very popular with academic expatriates (UGent, KU Leuven universities, etc.).

IB, A‑Levels, European Baccalaureate: how to compare results?

Rankings of “best schools” are often based on final exam results. Without reproducing all the figures, some trends emerge:

This data reinforces Belgium’s image as a country where the international offering is not only abundant but also highly academically performant.

Cost, scholarships, and employer support

Tuition fees remain the major obstacle. In Belgian international schools, they vary greatly by age, reputation, and location:

– general range: from about €6,000 to over €35,000 per year, some Brussels IB schools exceeding €40,000 for final years;

– as an example, the British School of Brussels charges over €20,000 for preschool and over €45,000 for the final years of secondary school;

– other schools like Bogaerts International School announce fees of a little over €10,000 for younger children, excluding registration fees.

– many international employers (European institutions, NATO, multinationals) partially or fully cover tuition fees;

– some schools offer scholarships or financial aid, usually based on academic or social criteria; in some cases, they can cover 10 to 60% of fees, or more in exceptional situations;

– children of teachers at IB World Schools sometimes benefit from free tuition or discounts.

European Schools constitute, for eligible families (EU personnel notably), a significantly less expensive alternative, even free, for a high academic level.

Bilingualism and immersion: a Belgian asset leveraged by international schools

Belgium is, by nature, a laboratory for multilingualism. International schools largely rely on this environment.

Most institutions offer at least one mandatory second language, often from primary school. IB schools require study of a Language A (mother tongue or near) and a Language B (second language) up to the DP. European Schools make mastery of several languages a pillar of their model, with teaching of non‑linguistic subjects in the second or third language.

Several international schools stand out for genuinely bilingual programs:

These environments are particularly suitable for children who will need to move between different countries, but also for those whose parents want to capitalize on the linguistic advantage of a childhood spent in Belgium.

Services for students with specific needs and newcomers

Another criterion for judging the best international schools is the support for special educational needs (SEN) and non‑native speakers.

Some schools stand out clearly. For example, the British School of Brussels has dedicated departments for English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Additional Educational Needs (AEN), complemented by school psychologists, speech therapists, nurses, etc. The International School of Brussels is also recognized for the quality of its support systems.

In the Flemish public system, specific reception classes (OKAN) welcome for one to two years young people who do not speak Dutch, before integrating them into mainstream education, with extended support. In Brussels and Wallonia, support systems for learning French also exist, but in a more fragmented way.

For families with children with special needs, a detailed interview with the school’s guidance service is essential before deciding, as capacity and resources vary greatly from one institution to another.

How to choose among the best international schools in Belgium?

Beyond rankings and reputations, the “best” choice depends on a combination of very personal factors. However, some key areas of analysis are necessary.

An obvious first criterion is the type of desired curriculum: IB, British, American, European Baccalaureate, French, German, or Japanese national system. For highly mobile families, the IB or Cambridge curriculum often offer the best portability. For those who know they will return to a given system (French, German, Japanese), continuity with that program is a strong argument.

Cost is obviously decisive. Between a European school free for children of EU officials and a highly reputed IB school charging over €40,000 per year, the gap is immense. It is important to factor in not only tuition fees, but also additional costs (transport, cafeteria, after‑school care, trips, exams).

The size of the institution and the general atmosphere finally play an important role. Some parents will prefer a large school like ISB or BSB, with impressive facilities and a very wide range of activities. Others will feel more in tune with a smaller, more family‑like structure, like BEPS, Da Vinci International School, or certain Montessori schools.

And the role of the Belgian state in overall quality?

Even though international schools generally operate without public subsidy, they exist in a national environment very structured in terms of quality assurance. Flanders, for example, has an active Education Inspectorate, a decree on education quality that strengthens school self‑evaluation, and several agencies (AKOV, NVAO) responsible for external evaluation in higher education.

In the world of private international schools, accreditations granted by the Council of International Schools (CIS), the European Council of International Schools (ECIS), the Middle States Association (MSA), or the IB network are important benchmarks. They don’t guarantee everything, but indicate an institution has been audited against international frameworks.

In conclusion: a small country, an immense offering

For a relatively modest territory, Belgium offers an exceptional choice in terms of international schools. This abundance is directly linked to its role as a European political and diplomatic capital, but also to a national education system of very good quality, which sets a high standard of excellence.

They have in common offering solid diplomas, a truly multicultural environment, and pathways to internationally recognized higher education.

The best international schools in Belgium

The trade‑off is a substantial cost and, for some, tight selection. But for families who need international educational continuity, who want their children to grow up in a high‑level multilingual environment, or who plan for higher education anywhere in the world, Belgium is, without exaggeration, one of the most attractive ecosystems in Europe.