Infrastructure

An 18th-Century Castle and Estate

The campus unfolds across a forested estate rather than in standard academic buildings. At its heart stands a moat-encircled castle dating from 1715, which has anchored life at Eerde since 1934. Its library hosts both regular classes and evening sessions that sharpen information literacy, while the basement bistro gathers students, teachers, and staff for meals in a familial rather than institutional atmosphere. Located near Ommen in the eastern Netherlands—two hours from Amsterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht—the estate sits close to historic Zwolle and university town Enschede, about 70 kilometers from the German border. It remains the country’s only international institution offering day, flexible, and full boarding on one site.

Facilities at Eerde International Boarding School

A contemporary academic building neighbors both the castle and boarding houses, its sloping roofline echoing the landscape while floor-to-ceiling windows flood classrooms with daylight. Inside, traditional and modern resources coexist, and students reach their lessons within thirty seconds of leaving their rooms. The late-19th-century greenhouse, with its glazed southern wall, serves as the creative hub where painting, drawing, design, and sculpture classes unfold—a space that itself inspires experimentation with form and color. The castle park holds a sports hall and fitness complex available throughout the day, reflecting the philosophy that physical vitality supports intellectual growth. Equipped grounds, forest running paths, and cycling trails encourage movement beyond structured athletics.

Sports and Recreation Infrastructure

Beyond academic spaces, Eerde International Boarding School Netherlands maintains partnerships that expand what students can explore. Through collaboration with the nearby De Hazelhorst stables, riders can train, care for horses, and enter competitions, while others find ideal terrain for hiking and cycling through surrounding woodlands. A professional kitchen produces daily meals that blend international culinary traditions, and on weekends students themselves cook breakfast or lunch, testing recipes from different cultures. This emphasis on nourishing, mindful eating mirrors the broader conviction that physical wellbeing matters as much as intellectual development—a principle woven throughout campus life.