The Netherlands has long been a magnet for international students, but new data from Nuffic shows that a 20-year growth streak has come to an end.
For the 2025–26 academic year, 129,764 students from abroad are enrolled for a full degree at a Dutch university or hogeschool (university of applied sciences).
That’s 133 fewer students than last year, and while that may sound like a small figure, it’s a historic first.
Nuffic researcher Jonatan Weenink tells NOS that the trend is unlikely to reverse soon. Bachelor intake has been declining for several years, he says.
This makes further drops in the total international student population likely, including at the MA level.
Which nationalities saw the biggest changes?
The breakdown tells a mixed story.
German enrolment fell by 1,680, a fifth consecutive annual drop since the 2021 high of 24,555.
Meanwhile, the number of students from China fell by 988, down 28%. This marks the sharpest decline since 2006. Nuffic has not identified a clear cause for either fall.
However, India and Spain moved in the opposite direction. Indian MA registrations climbed 17%, while Spanish enrolment rose by 28%.
Tech is the exception
However, the Netherlands is still apparently a good place to be if you’re into tech. International enrolment in technical programmes grew by 11%, with TU Eindhoven leading the way at 13%.
Technology has overtaken most other disciplines to become the second most popular field for international students, behind economics — both fitting degrees when you consider the current state of the world.
READ MORE | Study finds that international students offer many benefits for Dutch students (sorry, Wilders)
In total, students from 171 countries are currently enrolled across the Netherlands, with nearly three-quarters from the European Economic Area.
The decline comes against a backdrop of years of political pressure to limit enrolment and a persistent housing shortage (two factors that are unlikely to resolve quickly).
Are you an international student in the Netherlands, or thinking about studying here? Let us know what drew you, or what’s making you think twice, in the comments below.
If you are a non-EU student aiming to pursue a master’s in the Netherlands, the tuition alone is around 40,000 euros (depending on the field). I don’t think that amount is reasonable for a master’s program. Additionally, the cost of living and other expenses are significant concerns, especially considering the maximum 16-hour work permit for non-EU students, which makes it very difficult to cover all these costs.