Dutch education falls under the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The Inspection of Education oversees education, on behalf of the ministry. The inspections mission is "Effective supervision for good education." The inspection is able to change school policy, to impose fines and close schools. 

In the Netherlands, children from the age of 5 are required to go to school. From the first day of the month after his fifth birthday, every child in the Netherlands needs to attend school until he's 16 years of age. Hereafter he's up to 23 years, partially mandatory to study. 

This means that he must have a basic qualification, i.e. a HAVO or VWO diploma or a diploma from a vocational study, MBO, of at least level 2, to no longar be a mandatory student. 

In the Netherlands, pupils and their parents are free to choose a school that suits their views on education and/or belief. There are public, special and private schools. The first two are financed by the government, but may additionally require a parental contribution.

Private schools are funded entirely by the parents of the pupils.