The International School Eindhoven

The mission and vision of the International School Eindhoven is communicated by all departments through our ‘Guiding Statements’

Our Guiding Statements:

The ISE provides a caring and challenging learning environment which fosters international mindedness. We educate and inspire our students to become creative, resilient and responsible citizens who will thrive and be happy within an ever-changing world.

There are three key strategic pathways embedded in our Guiding Statements. These are central to advancing the school, making decisions and setting out action.

Our international community consists of dedicated responsible people.

In this context, we are expected to treat each other and our environment with respect. We develop international mindedness: we find it important to treat each other honestly and openly and value the cultural identity of each person. We show respect for human rights and we value cooperation within the school, with Brainport and with national and international communities.

Our educational environment ensures that students become experts, that they are cared for and that they are challenged in the right way.

In this context, the ISE offers nationally and internationally recognized curricula to meet the different educational needs of our students.

We believe it is important that our students come to school every day with great pleasure and learn skills to be able to develop successfully at school. We teach our students to solve problems independently, but also in collaboration with others, to develop their knowledge and skills and to learn to deal efficiently and responsible with modern technology. We also believe it is important that our students appreciate and continue to develop their home language and also learn to use and appreciate other languages. We want to prepare our students well for further education.

We expect our staff to deal well with the individual educational needs of our students and to challenge them to achieve as much as possible at their (academic) level. Our staff create opportunities for our students to develop their talents and skills and to find their passion. The curriculum is offered from an international perspective and an environment is created in which new students quickly feel at home. We believe cooperation with parents is very important in this. After all, we do it together!

We expect parents to be involved in the school and in the development of their child. We believe it is important that parents share their knowledge about their child’s interests, achievements and educational needs with the school and are aware of the ISE curriculum and the opportunities at school to challenge their children. We expect parents to adhere to the ISE Code of Conduct and to participate in the election of parents for the participation council (MR).

The ISE community prepares students for an ever-changing world by encouraging students to approach challenges creatively.

At ISE, we teach creatively, using a variety of tools and strategies that help our students develop into critical, reflective thinkers and that encourage creativity. We give our students responsibility for their own learning and provide them with regular feedback to continue to develop. We offer a variety of activities. Inside and outside the classroom, as well as extracurricular activities.

At ISE, we create a culture of creativity by valuing the input of others, accepting constructive criticism, and recognizing that lesson planning, strategic planning, and problem solving benefit from a positive exchange of ideas. We demonstrate flexibility in working with each other and create an atmosphere where our students value creativity, reflection, and the positive exchange of ideas that fosters a growth mindset.

International mindedness

International mindedness is a way of thinking and acting that leads to a deeper and broader understanding of our world. “One of the benefits of being multicultural is simply the awareness that how you live is not the only way”

In order to become responsible members of our community, we provide opportunities for our students to develop an awareness and identity in relation to others and to develop intercultural understanding. We believe it is important that our students are confident and happy in their own identity, while being open to different perspectives and viewpoints, and embracing diversity.

In order to promote international mindedness, ISE is committed to:

Strengthen our students’ sense of identity, while encouraging understanding and respect for their own and other cultures and people;
Provide a school environment that welcomes new people into the school community;
Encourage diversity within the curriculum;
Use teaching and learning opportunities to acknowledge students’ cultural backgrounds and experiences;
Ensure that students can communicate effectively and remain fluent in their home language, while also having opportunities to learn other languages;
Provide students with opportunities to think critically and without prejudice about the perspectives of others;
Encourage students to interact with each other in positive, productive and enjoyable ways;
Foster a community that works together, connects, interacts and communicates effectively;
To ensure that students are aware of local, international and global issues; create awareness of the fact that individuals can make a positive difference to the world and a corresponding acceptance of the responsibility to take action to do so;
Develop caring individuals who recognise universal human rights.

Alongside our consideration of International mindedness we have created a Global Citizenship Statement to express our commitment to preparing students to understand, respect, and positively contribute to an interconnected world.

Global citizenship is an awareness of and respect for oneself and cultural, political, environmental, and social diversity within the larger international community. We understand global citizenship as a decision to make a difference in issues that our communities face by taking an active role through communication and collaboration to strengthen our local and global civil society. At the ISE, we aim to empower students of all ages to build more inclusive, open-minded, and accepting societies. We encourage empathy, responsibility and respect towards our planet, peers, and ourselves.

To that end, our community is expected to….

Enrich the understanding of one’s self, culture, and place in the world while harboring respect and empathy for the differences and commonalities in others.
Develop an understanding of global interactions, and appreciate other people’s beliefs and perspectives, challenging one’s own and others’ stereotypes and biases.
Participate in discussion about global and local issues using a range of diverse resources and materials.
Engage in collective problem solving across disciplines to creatively address current and future challenges.
Demonstrate an awareness and responsibility to influence the wider world, and contribute to personal, local, and international development through community engagement.
Reflect on how one’s actions impact the environment, and take responsibility for sustainably and equitably using resources in order to preserve the earth we live on.
Strengthen our communities to build social cohesion, share knowledge, and make collaborative decisions.
Recognize the importance of language, communication, and culture to support efforts to create change.
Endorse the human rights and dignity of all peoples by challenging injustice.

Importance of the ISE for Eindhoven

Brainport Eindhoven relies on attracting and retaining international talent, and the International School Eindhoven (ISE) plays an important role in supporting this ambition. In addition to providing high-quality education, the school serves as a cultural hub and offers a strong social network for both students and parents.

In line with the innovative character of the region and its many international companies, we place a strong emphasis on technological innovation and sustainability. Beyond educational, sporting, and cultural opportunities, we aim to help international professionals and their families integrate into life in Eindhoven and the surrounding area.

Education, the development of children, and the school as a learning community are at the heart of everything we do. If you would like to learn more about our vision and ambitions, we warmly invite you to contact us and arrange a visit to our school.

Brief history of the Primary Department

In 1964, the Board of Directors of Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken N.V. proposed the establishment of an international school in Eindhoven. This led to the founding of the Philips International School, which opened on 5 September 1966 with 28 students enrolled across Dutch, English, and French language streams. Although originally established to serve Philips employees, the school also welcomed students whose parents did not work for Philips N.V.

The school grew steadily, reaching 45 students within a year and 65 students by September 1969. To meet increasing demand, a German language stream was introduced for the 1970–1971 school year. By then, enrolment had risen to 109 students representing 22 nationalities.

To accommodate the growing enrolment, on 1 April 1975, the property at which the school was previously located – Humperdincklaan 4 – was prepared for construction and on 16 June 1975, students representing the 20 nationalities attending the school at that time laid the first stones. The construction of a school located on the Humperdincklaan put the school on a new path, which also entailed a name change. As of September 1975, the Regional International School, RIS, became a reality. In September 2013 the school, now called the International School Eindhoven, took up residence at the current location on the Oirschotsedijk.

Since then, the school has grown to be a fully-fledged international school with students representing over 50 nationalities, spread over two departments and two locations, a Dutch Bilingual and an International Department. As an independent non-denominational school, the school is a VBS (Association for Special Schools) member and is furthermore part of DIPS (Dutch International Primary Schools). The school is also an ECIS member (European Council for International Schools).

The School’s Location

The school is located in the North of Eindhoven, close to the Ringweg (Ring road) around the city and near the arterial roads to Den Bosch/Weert/Maastricht (A2), Venlo/ Antwerpen (A67) and Tilburg/Breda (A58).

The School’s Size

The total enrollment as of January 2026 is 486. The overall team in the Primary Department consists of approximately 80 members of staff.