School works like this;
Here in The Netherlands you are obliged to go to school from your 5th birthyear, but usually kids are sent to school on their 4th. You are in primary school for 8 years, of which the first two years are basicly building social skills, learnings letters and other basic stuff. In the 3rd 4th and 5th year you'll be learning the basic grammar, basic maths, basic geography, etc. The 6th and 7th year is learning the more advanced knowledge of what you've learning in the 3rd to 5th. For example, in the 3rd to 5th you have studied the Europe countries and capitals, and in the 6th and 7th it's moving on to more advanced things such as Africa. Though this differs per school, some schools don't do geography at all, but in my opinion those schools suck.
Finally the 8th year is finishing up your primary school, basicly a preparation for highschool. Most schools also have a test somewhere halfway the 8th year, this is to estimate your level of intelligence basicly. This score is used to decide what level of highschool you will be doing, together with your teachers evaluation. Other schools use different less known tests or just the evaluation.
This is where you move on to a totally different school of your choice, in the 8th year you probably have visited information days on highschools to help you decide your future school.
In highschool there's different levels, as I've referred to before, the main levels are VWO(Gymnasium/Atheneum), HAVO and VMBO. VWO is the highest level and consists of two other levels, it's basicly both the same except for the fact that in Gymnasium you also get Latin and/or Greek. HAVO is a slight lower level, and is more focused on the practical side, VWO is more theory. Though the difference in level is very little. VMBO is the lowest level, and consists of maaaany other levels which I have no clue of (someone else might know them all). Highest of VMBO is VMBO-T/MAVO, and under there is VMBO-Kader. That's all I know.
VWO is a 6 year study, it's 4 years of general subjects, and after the 4th year you start your specialization. Which is chosing between 4 different specializations, choosing the subjects you like most and obviously for what you want to do in the future. This takes two years untill your exams.
HAVO is a 5 year study, it's 3 years of general subjects, and after the 3rd year you start your specialization. Which is chosing between 4 different specializations, choosing the subjects you like most and obviously for what you want to do in the future. This takes two years untill your exams.
VMBO is a 4 year study, it's 2 years of general subjects, and after the 2nd year you start your specialization. Which is chosing between 4 different specializations, choosing the subjects you like most and obviously for what you want to do in the future. This takes two years untill your exams.
On all three levels the specializations differ from eachother, I can tell you the HAVO one, and I can try to look up the other 2 levels. Also if you'd like I can tell a little more about how the exams work.
Once you've passed your exams, you have degree in one of the three levels. With this degree you can start a new study (not obliged but heavily recommended). For the VWO this is a WO study, for the HAVO this is an HBO study, for the VMBO this is an MBO study. This is further specialization to the job you are aiming for basicly. How long this study takes depends on the kind of study, but usually it's the same, unsure how long at the moment.
Also for the record, every student is obliged to go to school, untill they are either 18 or have their HAVO/VWO degree. With a VMBO degree you have to either go to 4th year of HAVO or do an MBO study. You can also go to the 5th year of VWO once you've finished HAVO, but not so many people do this.
Might have forgotten some stuff, but if you need more info, just say
Edit: Actually I am not sure if VWO specialization starts in 4th or 5th.
Some other information
This is a mayor holiday/tradition;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas
The rest is just the same, eastern, christmas, valentines. Some parts they also have Carnaval;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival.
And
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_...therlands) and on the day before
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_of_the_Dead
Some food 'we' love
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprinkles (Under history)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muisjes (With a newborn baby, on 'beschuit')
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beschuit (Under Netherlands)
And ofcourse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouda_cheese (Many other brands but I guess Gouda is most international)
Most popular sport is football, we are #1 y0
Other popular sports are probably volleyball, hockey, ice-skating, cycling and possibly honkball since recently, because we won honkball world cup.
)
