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Kristin Hamaker posted an update
3 months agoMore instability in the Netherlands, I’m afraid. On April 8, 2025 the Dutch Senate voted to support cutbacks to education and science by €500 million. This is just another layer of strife in this country, where education (including English-taught university programs for international students) has been navigating seismic shifts and government threats.
Here is an article link: https://www.universiteitenvannederland.nl/en/current/news/education-cuts-passed-universities-go-to-court
Dutch universities are continuing to resist, strike and protest, and now with this latest measure, universities are taking legal action.
Deep concerns over the impact on the number of international students (and talented academic staff), on global standing of these Dutch universities, and on internationalization in general are being voiced at every level of academia.
What this means for prospective students looking to attend English-taught degree programs in the Netherlands is that there is volatility within the Dutch university system, programs being dropped or limited for international students, university staff lay-offs, and with this in mind, prospective students need to take this instability and unpredictability into consideration when looking at programs here.
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Dorian Solotreplied 3 months ago
Yes — that said, this varies program by program. I’ve read about a few being ended or consolidated; other programs seem to be continuing with little impact. It’s definitely important for families to keep checking for updates on the programs they’re considering!
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Kristin Hamakerreplied 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Indeed, some areas are less affected, such as Engineering. But I think that the overall takeaway is that there is a considerable degree of instability and unpredictability in the Netherlands right now when it comes to higher education for international students. As an advisor, I certainly don’t want this to dissuade students from considering these Dutch programs, but it is part of my job to be transparent around these matters. I am still suggesting Dutch programs for students I work with if they are an ideal fit overall. It is challenging, as the Netherlands has some of Europe’s most impressive programs. A lot to weigh.
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