British schools in Belgium: Brussels, Antwerp and beyond
British, European and international schools in Belgium: options in Brussels and Flanders, the European Schools, and how to choose for your family.
As the home of the EU institutions and NATO, Belgium, and Brussels in particular, has one of Europe’s densest concentrations of international families. The British school scene grew alongside that community from the 1960s onwards.
Options at a glance
- Independent British schools. Follow the English curriculum through to IGCSE, A-Level and often the IB Diploma. The largest cluster is around Brussels, including the leafy south-eastern and southern suburbs such as Tervuren and Waterloo.
- European Schools. Multilingual schools mainly for children of EU staff, organised in language sections and leading to the European Baccalaureate.
- Other international schools. IB, American and national schools (French, German, Scandinavian and others).
- Belgian schools. Free and in French, Dutch or German depending on the community. Brussels has both French-speaking and Dutch-speaking networks.
Brussels geography matters
Brussels sits at the junction of Belgium’s language communities, and the city’s traffic is notorious. Families often choose:
- the eastern side (Tervuren, Kraainem, Woluwe) for schools near the EU district and NATO,
- the southern side (Uccle, Rhode-Saint-Genèse, Waterloo) for its cluster of international schools.
Settle on the school first, then the house.
The European Schools
European Schools offer teaching in the pupil’s mother tongue with a second language from early on, and the European Baccalaureate is recognised across the EU. Children of EU staff have priority. Other families can apply, but entry is far from guaranteed.
Antwerp and Flanders
Antwerp’s international business, port and diamond communities support several international schools, including British-curriculum options. Elsewhere in Flanders, for example in Ghent and Leuven, choices are more limited.
Next steps
- Shortlist schools with our checklist.
- Compare systems with British vs IB vs American.
- Plan the move with the relocation checklist.
Directory: British schools in Belgium
| School | City | Ages | Curricula |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Junior Academy of Brussels | Brussels | 2.5–18 | British curriculum, IGCSE, IB Diploma |
| The British School of Brussels | Tervuren (Brussels) | 2.5–18 | British curriculum, A-Level, IB Diploma, BTEC, French–English bilingual programme |
Frequently asked questions
Can any family attend the European Schools in Brussels?
Priority goes to the children of staff of the EU institutions (Category I). Other families can apply under other categories, but places are limited and fees apply.
At what age is school compulsory in Belgium?
Compulsory education in Belgium starts at age 5 and continues to 18.