The Netherlands has long been a popular destination for tens of thousands of international students. In recent years, this number has surged, with many students choosing to attend Dutch universities or "hogescholen" (universities of applied sciences).
However, new government policies are expected to slow down the influx of international students in the coming years. So, what’s behind these changes, and how will they affect students and universities? Here's a simplified breakdown of what’s happening and why.
What’s Causing the Drop in International Students?
It all started with the previous Dutch government, when the Minister of Education, Robbert Dijkgraaf, introduced the "Internationalisation in Balance" act to regulate the number of incoming students. The current Minister of Education, Eppo Bruins, is continuing this plan and recently announced a budget cut of €300 million by 2029. The main goal? To reduce the number of European students enrolling in Dutch universities.
European students pay the same tuition as Dutch students (around €2,500 a year), but the Dutch government subsidizes each student by about €8,700. Fewer European students means less government spending.
Non-European students won't be affected since they pay much higher tuition and aren’t subsidized by the government.
Another part of the plan is to increase the number of courses taught in Dutch rather than English. This is meant to make universities more accessible to Dutch students. There’s also talk of limiting non-European student enrollment in certain programs to ensure local students get priority access.
Why Does the Government Want to Reduce International Students?
While cutting costs is a big factor, reports from sources like NLTimes, ICEF, and The Volkskrant suggest that the government also wants to ease the pressure on university resources and the local housing market.
In April last year, Minister Dijkgraaf explained: “The Netherlands is one of the most internationally connected countries in the world. It’s great that our students can study abroad and that international students can come here... But we also need to manage the numbers. If we don’t, we’ll end up with overcrowded lecture halls, overworked teachers, and not enough student housing. We need to control the situation, not just let it happen” (ICEF).
Housing has become a major issue for international students. Many feel that they’re unfairly blamed for the housing crisis in cities with high student populations. Some Dutch students also feel that the presence of international students makes it harder to find affordable accommodation.
What Impact Will This Have on Universities and Society?
One of the most immediate effects will be the financial loss for both universities and the government. To meet the target of cutting €300 million by 2029, about 33,678 fewer European students (half of the current number) will need to enroll.
This gap won’t be easy to fill. Domestic students alone aren’t enough, and there’s fierce global competition for non-European students, especially since other countries like the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia are also limiting international student intake.
Some Dutch universities have already reported budget cuts of over €20 million for the next three years. Fewer international students also means a loss of cultural diversity on campuses and could hurt the Netherlands’ reputation in global higher education. Universities play an important role in bringing together people from different backgrounds, and a drop in international students could weaken this.
Will These Policies Work?
According to The Volkskrant, there’s some doubt about whether these policies will achieve their goals—or if they’re even legal. As a member of the EU, the Netherlands is not allowed to turn away students simply because they’re from another EU country.
Several Dutch universities have voiced concerns about the impact of reducing international students and are pushing the government to reconsider the measures.
Plus, the expected budget cuts won’t take effect until 2027, when savings of €118 million are predicted. But even this is small compared to the total 'lump sum'€11 billion that the government gives to higher education institutions every year.
In short, while the new policies may reduce some pressure on housing and resources, they come with potential downsides, especially for universities and the economy. How effective they will be remains to be seen.