Atheneum, named after the ancient school founded by Roman Emperor Hadrian, is the name used for one of the Dutch educational courses aimed at preparation for scientific education at university with a strong emphasis on academic learning.
The Voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs (VWO) which translates to 'preparatory scientific education', consists of two substreams, the gymnasium and atheneum.
The latter does not require finals in Greek or Latin language and culture, unlike the former.
Successful completion allows the candidate to enroll in a bachelor program at a Dutch university.
There are four profiles a student can choose: Nature and Technology (NT), Nature and Health (NG), Economy and Society (EM), Culture and Society (CM).