Municipality of Maastricht: exemptions from compulsory school attendance

Applying for an exemption because your child attends school abroad

Many children from Maastricht attend school in Belgium. This is permitted, but you must apply for an exemption from compulsory education in the Netherlands. Your child will then not be required to attend school here. To prove that your child is attending school abroad, you will need a certificate of enrolment from the foreign school. This certificate must also show that your child attends the school regularly. 

Applying for an exemption on other grounds

If your child is not attending school abroad, you can only be granted an exemption from compulsory education in exceptional circumstances. For example, in the case of:

• a physical or mental disability
  In such cases, we will require a statement from a doctor or a psychologist.
• objections to the philosophical orientation of schools in your neighbourhood

You can apply for an exemption on the grounds mentioned above. If we grant an exemption, your child will not have to attend school at all, or will attend for fewer hours.

More information and applications

Check our website (in Dutch) for more information and or if you want to apply for an exemption from compulsory education in the Netherlands.