Overall responsibility for the public-private education system lies with the State. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is headed by the Minister of Education, Culture and Science. A State Secretary (junior minister) of Education, Culture and Science is appointed.

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science lays down conditions for early childhood education and care, primary and secondary education. The provinces have a limited role to play when it comes to managing education and its content. They are required to perform supervisory and jurisdictional duties. The administration and management of schools of primary and secondary general and vocational education is locally organized.

Since 1 January 1998 all adult and vocational education institutions have been incorporated in regional training centres (ROCs).

The Government lays down a framework within which higher education (HBO) institutions have to operate, but it is the responsibility of the competent authority to expand on the Government framework within the teaching and examination regulations. For the universities the same legal framework is applied as for the HBO institutions.

While Eurypedia provides comprehensive and comparable information on the education system of the Netherlands, further information may also be found on the website of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

Structure of the national education system 2011/12