# Baarn primary schools now draw lots when oversubscribed

> Primary schools in Baarn now draw lots for places when a school has more applications than places, with priority rules for siblings still in force.

Society · published 2026-10-21 21:40 · https://nlnow.nl/a/baarn-primary-schools-draw-lots-when-places-run-short/

Primary schools in Baarn now draw lots for places, but only when a school has more applications than places. The first lottery for the next school year was held on 5 October at three schools, the municipality said.

**Why it matters**

- Children with a (step)brother or sister already at the school get priority. If there is no place in that application period, they get priority in the next one.
- At some schools, children of staff also go first.
- Children who live in Baarn do not usually have to take part, nor do children who attended the playgroup in the same school building.
- The time of year at which parents register a child has no influence on placement, the municipality says.

The Nieuwe Baarnsche School had ten more applications than places. St. Aloysius had eight places and 23 applications. The Amalia Astroschool also had more applications than places.

The primary schools developed the system over the past two years with the school boards and the municipality. The municipality says it should give all children a fair chance of admission to a school with more applications than places.

Alderman (wethouder) Hugo Prakke welcomed the approach. "I am glad the schools took this on together. Parents now know better where they stand, and every child has the same chance of a place," he said.

## Background

- **wethouder**: An alderman is a member of the municipal executive, the college van burgemeester en wethouders (B&W), alongside the mayor. The gemeenteraad (municipal council) appoints wethouders, who may be council members or come from outside the council, and each one usually takes charge of a portfolio such as education, housing or finance. Together they run the day-to-day administration of the municipality and carry out the policy the council has approved.

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