Compulsory education, special leave or exemption

How does it work?

Exemption few hours per week children of 5 years old

If a whole school week is still too tiring for your child at the beginning, you may keep your child home 5 hours a week until your child turns 6. You do not need permission for this. However, you must report it to the school principal or the school board.

Exemption enrollment in a school

In the following cases, you may request exemption from school enrollment: 

  • Psychological and physical complaints in your child.
  • No neighborhood school fits your beliefs or how you look at life.
  • Your child attends school abroad.
  • You lead a migratory life. For example, as a fairground operator or circus worker.

The exemption is valid for 1 school year. In case of severe physical or psychological complaints, a longer exemption may apply.

Exemption from school attendance 

Sometimes your child may be allowed to be absent from school for one or more days. For example:

  • illness;
  • suspension;
  • a religious holiday;
  • a marriage;
  • a funeral.

Please note that if you want to apply for an exemption because no school in the neighborhood fits your beliefs or how you view life, you can only do so if your child was not previously enrolled in a school.

What to do?

Exemption few hours per week children of 5 years old

  • You notify the school that you are keeping your child home for a few hours a week.
  • If you wish to keep your child home more than 5 hours per week, please ask permission from the school principal.

Exemption enrollment in a school

  • You report to the Parkstad Limburg ESL Office that you are not enrolling your child in a school.
  • Do this before your child turns 5. After that, you must do this by July 1 each year.

Exemption from school attendance

  • If your child is sick or there is a religious holiday, please notify the school that your child will not be coming to school.
  • In other cases, request a leave of absence from the school's principal.

More information on compulsory education can be found on the site of the Early School Leaving Office Parkstad Limburg.

What is it?

Children aged 5 to 16 are subject to compulsory education. This means that by law they must attend school. In some cases, you can request special leave or exemption and your child does not have to attend school. There are 3 types of special leave or exemption:

  • exemption for a few hours a week for children 5 years old
  • exemption from enrollment in a school
  • exemption from school attendance (approved leave)

Additional information

  • You may not take your child on vacation outside the school vacations. If you do, you are breaking the law and are liable to punishment.
  • If you cannot get time off work during the school vacations, you can request leave outside the school vacations 1 time per school year. You should do this at least 8 weeks in advance to the school principal.

Check out the rules and Requirements about this on the website of the Rijksoverheid.

What do I need?

Exemption enrollment in a school

  • For psychological and physical complaints: a statement from a physician, educator or psychologist.
  • If you feel that no school in the neighborhood fits your beliefs or how you view life: a statement explaining why this is so.
  • If your child is attending school abroad: a statement from the principal of the foreign school.

Exemption from school attendance

If you must request leave from the school principal: supporting documents that show the leave is needed. For example, the invitation to a wedding or an obituary.