International (English)
Curio offers valuable and attractive pre-vocational education and vocational education and training and life long learning in the region of West-Brabant in the south-western part of the Netherlands.
The language of instruction of our programmes is Dutch. With around 6.000 Pre-VET students, 16.000 VET students and over 3.000 staff across 34 locations, we are the leading (pre-) vocational training institute in the region, facilitating life-long learning.
Curio's educational vision revolves around curiosity, expertise, and self-awareness. We emphasize on a rich, realistic learning environment where students are actively involved in their own learning process and where learning by doing is central. Curio aims to prepare students for the future by developing them into skilled professionals with a curious, critical, and self-aware attitude.
Pre-vocational Education - vmbo
In the Netherlands, secondary education starts at age 12 and follows primary school. It is divided into different levels based on students' academic abilities and interests.
vmbo (Pre-vocational), havo (Senior general secondary education), vwo (Pre-university education). In the Dutch secondary education system, students who benefit from a more practical approach to learning often follow either vmbo or attend the praktijkschool (Practical School).
Vmbo is a four-year program that starts at age 12. It combines general education with vocational training. Vmbo prepares students for further vocational education at mbo (secondary vocational education). Within vmbo, there are different learning paths, ranging from more theoretical routes to more practical.
Curio locations
Our pre-VET schools are located throughout the region of West-Brabant. Check our website.
For students who need more support and learn best through very practical, individualized instruction, there is the praktijkschool (Practical School). This type of education focuses on developing life skills, basic knowledge, and work experience.
Vocational Education and Training - mbo
Mbo stands for Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs, which translates to vocational education and training. It is the next step after vmbo (pre-vocational training) and prepares students for specific professions through a combination of classroom learning and practical training. Mbo is an important part of the Dutch education system because it trains students for essential roles in society, such as in healthcare, technology, construction, and business.
Mbo programs are offered at different levels, depending on the student’s prior education and career goals:
level 1 entry level
level 2 basic vocational training
level 3 full professional training
level 4 middle-management and specialist training
The two learning pathways in VET (work-based and school-based) have been placed in the same qualification framework. The school-based option with full-time education is called the bol system and the work-based pathway, offering a combination of work and study, is called bbl. In both the school-based and the work-based pathways and on every training level, all students need to spend part of their time on work placements in recognized learning companies in order to obtain a diploma.
There are several VET-institutes within Curio in the cities of Breda, Roosendaal and Bergen op Zoom and the surrounding areas in:
Economics and entrepreneurship
Technics and technology
Health and social care
Food, green and hospitality
We do not offer English-language education. The three courses mentioned below can be followed by foreign students with sufficient command of the Dutch and English language and with sufficient commitment. Curio will investigate with the candidate whether he or she is admissible to the course.
Commercieel medewerker (tweetalig) | Curio (bilingual)
Junior manager groothandel (tweetalig) | Curio (bilingual)
Junior manager internationale handel (tweetalig) | Curio (bilingual)
More Curio educational activities
In addition to vmbo and mbo courses, Curio offers even more educational activities to meet the training needs of the region.
Life long learning: We offer a wide range of courses and training programs for adults, as well as customized solutions for businesses.
Dutch class youth (isk): We offer non-Dutch participants a course in which they learn the Dutch language and culture.
Dutch class adult (Nt2): There are Dutch courses for Dutch people who have difficulty reading and writing, but also courses for non-Dutch speakers who want to learn Dutch.
Vavo: vavo stands for secondary general adult education for participants over 18 years of age to obtain a diploma or certificates for vmbo, havo and vwo.
By offering pre-VET and VET education under the same umbrella, we can easily guarantee a flexible and continuous learning path for our students and offer our students a large variety of courses and educational possibilities to stimulate lifelong learning.
We are guided by the learning needs of our students. We offer our students the possibility to transfer fluently from pre-vocational to vocational education within Curio and afterwards to higher vocational education and training externally. Through career learning, we motivate our students to develop their soft skills and to be prepared and to embrace lifelong learning. Our students are well-equipped for the path to their future jobs.
Curio contributes to the European Pillar of Social Rights by putting into practice the first principle:
‘Everyone has the right to quality and inclusive education, training and life-long learning in order to maintain and acquire skills that enable them to participate fully in society and manage successfully transitions in the labour market.’
Education, Business, and (Regional) collaboration
Together with municipalities, and internship providers and the business community we are building a successful and strong regional economy, where labor supply and demand are continuously aligned. Close regional collaboration has led to new, innovative programs. But we also look beyond our borders. Our students have the opportunity to do internships in Europe. Our employees regularly develop their professional skills abroad. These mobilities are made possible by the Erasmus+ Grant. Curio participates in several international projects and networks and are open to further collaborations.
Erasmus+ Accreditation
In 2015 Curio received the Erasmus+ VET Mobility Charter, followed by the official Erasmus+ VET accreditation in 2020. In 2025, Curio was awarded accreditation for secondary education. This means that it is officially recognized that Curio possesses the operational capacity and ability to manage high quality mobility projects and consequently achieves greater internationalization in (pre-)VET through the Erasmus+ program. The charter also recognizes the high quality of previous mobility projects, the long-term commitment to continuous improvement of mobility and the strategic approach of Curio to incorporate international mobility of its students, alumni and staff in its educational activities.
Application for accreditation of international internship provider
Would you, as a company or organization, like to become an accredited training company to help Curio students gain practical experience in their field?
Submit an application to the S-BB organization, which forms the basis for collaboration in vocational education. They assess whether companies offer students a good and safe internship.
Curio International
Curiosity is one of our core values and knows no bounds. We encourage our students to go abroad for internships or learning mobility at a school abroad. To support students who cannot easily travel, we organize customized group trips. We offer all our faculty and staff the same opportunities to broaden their horizons and gain experience in other countries through international conferences, job shadowing, or educational activities abroad. We maintain our relationships with partner institutions abroad and form strategic partnerships worldwide. Curio is interested in participating in EU-funded projects in the future.
International and intercultural competences
One of the main goals of internationalised VET is to provide the most relevant education to students, who will be the citizens, employees and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Internationalisation is not an goal in itself, but a driver for change and improvement – it should help generate the skills, spur on innovation and increase the options on the labour market. The other main goal is to raise intercultural and international awareness and to make students globally competent. It refers to the knowledge, skills, and other capacities used to examine, appreciate, understand, and use local, national, and international elements to navigate around the world successfully.
Contact Curio
General enquiries
Infopunt +3188-2098000
E-mail infopunt@curio.nl
Information learning Dutch language
If you are interested in learning Dutch as a second language, please contact klantbureau.startnt2@curio.nl for more information Nederlands als tweede taal (Nt2) | Curio).
International office Curio
International enquiries: worldwise@curio.nl
Curio is internationally represented by Curio International office.
Team International office:
Robertine Anssems - Contact person for vocational education (mbo)
Sabrine de Weerdt - Contact person for pre-vocational Education (vmbo)
Marieke van Aard - Contact person for international internships
Address HQ
Trivium 74
4873 LP Etten-Leur
The Netherlands
Postal address HQ
Curio
PO Box 699
4870 AR Etten-Leur
The Netherlands
