Here’s how the Netherlands hopes to benefit from Trump’s brain drain

As of March 2025, the Netherlands has been actively trying to attract top scientists from the US, cashing in on the funding losses enacted by the Trump administration. 

A primary initiative of the current US administration has been to cut down on “woke spending” in 2026. 

What does this plan target? Well, universities and major scientific institutions such as NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are facing grant and funding cuts totalling billions. 

And so the US brain drain begins.

An opportunity for the Netherlands

Europe, however, has seen opportunity in the tragedy. Countries like the Netherlands have launched funds and initiatives to attract the brightest minds who are now leaving the US. 

The aptly named Tulip Fund is the latest Dutch attempt to siphon knowledge from the land of the “free.” 

Now, as the deadline for nominations approaches (March 2026), Dutch institutions are hoping to appeal to the top intellectuals fleeing Trump’s America. 

What is the Tulip Fund?

The Tulip Fund is a government commitment of €50 million to attract researchers and scientists from abroad.

The fund was introduced by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) (in conjunction with the Dutch government) largely in response to the Trump administration’s promises to cut scientific funding. 

As the council assumed (correctly, one might add), scientists living and working in the United States would find themselves without work, or at least uncomfortably restricted in their research. 

The goal, as stated on the Tulip Fund’s website, is to recruit top researchers “who want to continue their research in the Netherlands due to growing threats to academic freedom.” Pretty important, right?  

Of course, the fund will also “boost and reinforce the Netherlands’ position at the forefront of international scientific research.” 

After 75% of scientists responding to a 2025 Nature poll said they were considering leaving the US, many European nations adopted this strategy. 

How does it work?

Research organisations, such as public and private universities, can nominate up to two candidates for each position offered. 

As the March deadline approaches, nominations will be finalised and submitted, though the decision-making process for which researchers are accepted will likely take time. 

The assessment committee will have a lot of information to sift through, and whoever they choose must be deemed an asset to Dutch research goals. 

Eventually, though, top scientists will be accepted, and research funding will be allocated. 

These candidates can then be awarded funding from the NWO of amounts up to €1 million. And, hopefully, the Dutch will be better off for it. 

However, not everyone thinks this is the case…

Sounds good, so why is it controversial?

Well, for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, everyone, and I mean everyone, should be frustrated that US brain drain is happening at all. 

The cuts to scientific and federal funding in the US are unconscionable. They will result in economic, social, and intellectual hindrance to the country for decades to come. 

Scientific research into medical realms such as cancer, chronic illness, psychology, and more will unequivocally suffer from the decisions of this administration, says The New York Times. 

However, the Dutch scientific community could also face negative impacts. 

Some organisations, such as De Jonge Akademie, say this allocation of funding to international scientists is illogical, given the cuts to domestic research funding in the Netherlands. 

In other words, why not tend to their own rather than search for intellect elsewhere?

While some may question this move by the Dutch government, one thing is sure: the US will regret this catastrophic loss of brainpower.  

What do you think of the Tulip Fund? Let us know in the comments!