90 Years of the BSN

1930s: HOW IT ALL BEGAN A handful of students

The school was founded in 1931 by Gwen Brunton-Jones, a New Zealander living in The Hague. It was initially a kindergarten for the children of English-speaking diplomats and businessmen but soon other nationalities started to join.

Van Diepenburchstraat 1, The Dutch school where we started in two rented rooms.

1935

The numbers grew and it was formalised with a committee, a treasurer and the backing of the British and American ambassadors. It was named The English School at The Hague.

Early in 1932. The little dark-haired girl third from the left is Clare Macgillivray, the daughter of the Canadian Government Commissioner.

1939

By 1939 it was clear that the school was under threat as the war took hold and many families left.

1940s: A SECOND CHANCE 0 - 26 students

The last pre-war photo, probably from early 1940. On the left is Margaret Davies, the Vice-Principal.

1940

In May 1940, with the invasion of the Netherlands, the school ceased to exist.

A cultural celebration; students proudly wearing their national dress.

1946

After the war, one of the teachers from the 1930s, Nancy Macdona, returned to the Netherlands with the intention of re-starting the school. Initially, during that time of austerity and national reorganisation, she received no support and almost gave up. Finally, with the financial help of a wealthy Dutch family (the Weise family), she was able to rent a couple of rooms in a Dutch school at Jan van Nassaustraat in The Hague.

Yolande van Beek feeding Caspar the dog, who attended most lessons with the children.

Nancy Macdona and Class in 1946.

1948

By Christmas 1948 the school had 26 students.

1950

During the 1950s, student numbers grew from around 26 to over 130. The school had to move several times to accommodate growth.

1955

In 1955 the Dutch authorities created an International School for the Americans, British, French and Germans to work side by side. A great idea in theory, but difficult in practice, with three different systems and philosophies under one roof. The English School withdrew from the project after one year and moved into the Anglo-American Church Hall in the Riouwstraat for the next four years.

The 1955 Christmas Performance.

Erna Siegel (staff), students and the embassy Rolls Royce at the end of the school day, 1956.

Parkweg 19, The International School, in 1955-1956.

1958

A great boost to morale occurred in 1958 when Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Juliana visited the school. Student numbers grew considerably and in 1959, at last (after 11 years of moving), the school was able to buy its own premises – a fine old house called Duynrose on the Tapijtweg.

Students playing in the sand that surrounded the recently acquired school buildings (Duynrose) 1959.

1960s: A NEW ERA 130 - 500 students

1960

A school uniform was introduced and a school badge was designed. Houses were established (Leiden, Gouda, Delft and Amsterdam).

1963

By now there were quite a number of teenagers attending the school but it became increasingly clear that having all ages, Reception through to A Levels, crowded together in the same building was not satisfactory.

Students meeting H.R.H. Princess Beatrix at Soestdijk Palace on the occasion of her engagement to German diplomat Claus von Amsberg in February 1966.

1966

In 1966 a second house was purchased at 17 Parkweg to accommodate a separate Senior Division. Duynrose became the Junior Division and the school’s administrative centre (and was to remain as such until 1997 when the Vlaskamp school was built).

One of the BSN’s first ever ‘pop groups’ – The Three Lazy People 1967.

The BSN’s first delegations to the Model United Nations (now THIMUN) held in Leiden in 1969.

1970s: A TIME OF ACTION 500 - 1,000+ students

1970

Van Stolklaan 1-3 The new Middle Division purchased in 1970.

Van Stolklaan 1-3. The new Middle Division purchased in 1970.

With numbers still rising, a third building was purchased on the van Stolklaan for a so-called Middle Division. It is then that regular school plays and musicals began, two particularly notable successes being The Jungle Book and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat which was staged in the Congresgebouw (World Forum Centre) in 1976.

About to be photographed for the cover of the first school magazine in 1974. S. Kongsamut, D. Ajanoviċ, F. Ahmadu Suka, S. Crane, R. Morris.

The school's first football team 1973-74.

1977

This was the decade of most rapid expansion. Examination results improved considerably (a major factor in marketing which boosted numbers in the Senior Division), sport and extra-curricular activities were developed, field trips got underway to Luxemburg, Switzerland, Germany and France as well as inside the Netherlands; a ‘dépendance’ was opened at Assen (where there were a lot of Shell families), the Infants moved to separate accommodation and in 1977, after lengthy negotiations with the local gemeente, the foundation stone for a completely new school was laid at Voorschoten.

The laying of the foundation stone for the new Senior School at Voorschoten, October 15 1977.

At the Open Air Museum in Arnhem 1977.

1980s: SETTLING DOWN 1,000 - 1,200 students

1980

When the old Middle and Senior Divisions merged in the wonderful new premises at Voorschoten there was a tremendous feeling of optimism and enthusiasm. In every walk of school life, whether academic or extra-curricular, the growth that had begun in the 1970s expanded and gained pace.

1982 - 1985

New subjects were added to the curriculum, new facilities became available and the first computers arrived. There were particularly exciting developments on the musical front with the production of a string of glamorous musicals such as Oklahoma, Carousel, West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof (which even went on tour to Germany).

Ahrweiler Field Trip in 1982.

Noye's Fludde (Noah's Flood) performance 1982.

The first computers in February 1985.

1989

In 1989 an additional four hectares and the Boerderij were purchased, tripling the SSV footprint; and at the same time the Infants and Nursery Division moved to Granaathorst, Mariahoeve.

The Language Centre moved from the British Council to The British School in The Netherlands.

The BSN girls' basketball team in 1985.

1990s: A NEW SITE 1,200 - 1,600 students

1990

Astronaut Helen Sharman talking to the students at ESTEC Expo Centre in January 1992.

1992

In 1992, after a move to more suitable premises on the Lottingstraat, the Junior School at Assen was renamed The Helen Sharman British School in honour of the British astronaut who became a regular visitor.

In the same year, at Voorschoten, a beautiful new Music and Technology building was opened by Princess Margriet.

Sports Day at SSV July 1997.

The new Science, Technology and Music Building in 1992.

Prince Willem Alexander and Headteacher Ann Shaw at the opening of the new Junior School at Vlaskamp on 27 October 1997.

1997

In 1997 there was a major development when the old Junior School on the Tapijtweg (the first premises the school had purchased back in 1959) was sold and the Junior and Infant Divisions moved into the new, prize-winning building at Vlaskamp. The Vlaskamp building was officially opened on 27 November 1997 by Prins Willem Alexander.

The new Junior School at Vlaskamp in 1997.

Berlin trip in 1999.

2000s: A THRIVING COMMUNITY 1,600 - 2,000 students

2000

The first decade of the new millennium saw continued expansion of BSN premises on an unprecedented scale.

BSN First XV rugby team competing in the ISST (International Schools Sports Tournament) in Geneva in March 2001.

BSN delegation at THIMUN (The Hague International Model United Nations) in January 2002.

Junior School Diamanthorst in 2003.

Queen Beatrix visiting the Food Technology Department during the official opening of the new Senior School, 1 October 2003.

2006

Day Care and After School Care facilities were also expanded and with eco-gardens now at both Vlaskamp and Voorschoten, the school was awarded the International Eco-Schools Green Flag.

Family Association Summer Fair in 2006.

The audience at an annual Care2Rock concert at SSV in June 2006.

Senior School Students’ visit to USA in 2009.

2010

Princess Máxima on the inauguration of Junior School Leidschenveen, 2010.

The SSV Drama production Grease, 2012.

Victorian Day at JSD, 2014.

2015

This decade saw the BSN rapidly expand its digital footprint, with Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as a dedicated YouTube channel.

2016

Beyond the classroom the BSN continued to thrive, hosting its very own whole school TEDxYouth@BSN in 2017 and 2019.

TEDxYouth@BSN, 2017 and 2019.

2017

Launched in 2017, the objective of the newly founded International Leadership Academy (ILA) was to recruit, maintain, develop and retain a world-class workforce that would in turn deliver the very best outcomes for our students.

SSL building in construction, June 2020.

Offering top-class education and activities, the BSN was now spread across five campuses, three Junior Schools (Junior School Diamanthorst, Leidschenveen and Vlaskamp) and two Senior Schools (Senior School Leidschenveen and Voorschoten).

The end of the decade heralded the launch of a brand-new external website, as well as an internal staff and parent intranet, Compass. Due to the pandemic, it was also the period that saw the BSN move to remote and hybrid learning for the first time in its history.

2021

The BSN celebrates its 90 year anniversary!