Maryse Knook | Director
Open School Community Bijlmer

Maryse, in her position as principal and chairperson of the board of “Open Schoolgemeenschap Bijlmer” (OSB), is responsible for governing a unique school for secondary education in The Netherlands. In the Dutch school system, most students leaving primary education and starting secondary education are put in specific school types according to a primary school end test. At OSB that selection process is delayed for two years until they start in their third year.   The essence of our school’s didactic and pedagogical policy is on personal attention and teaching students how to work together as a group and learn from each other.  Maryse has focused on the importance of pupils gaining experience in the work field. Working with companies in Amsterdam South-East where students work as interns they develop their professional, presentation, and networking skills and as a result gain confidence and strength.  The joint venture with local companies help students in making informed choices in higher education and offer perspective in their professional goal. The OSB, under Maryse’s leadership, prepares students for our future.