Author – Ritesh Ranjan: International student enrolment in the Netherlands has recorded a slight decline in the 2025/26 academic year, raising fresh questions about the future of internationalisation in Dutch higher education. According to new data from Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education, 129,764 international students were enrolled across universities and higher professional education institutions, also known as HBOs.
The overall decline is very small. The number of international students fell by just 133 compared with the previous academic year, representing a 0.1% drop. However, education experts believe the figures are important because they may indicate the early signs of a broader shift in student mobility patterns. After years of strong international growth, the Netherlands now appears to be entering a more cautious phase, shaped by policy changes, demographic shifts and changing student preferences across the world.
China and Germany See Major Declines
One of the most notable changes in the latest data is the sharp fall in new enrolments from China. New Chinese student enrolments dropped by 28%, pushing China out of the Netherlands’ top five source countries for the first time since 2006. This marks a significant change for Dutch higher education, as China has traditionally been one of the most important non-European student markets.
Several factors may be contributing to this decline. Chinese universities have improved their global reputation in recent years, giving students more high-quality options at home. At the same time, global study choices are changing, with students considering affordability, post-study opportunities, visa rules and geopolitical factors before deciding where to study abroad.
Germany, which remains the largest sending country for the Netherlands, also recorded a 9% fall in new student enrolments. This continues a downward trend that has been visible since 2020. The decline from Germany is especially important because German students have historically formed a large part of the international population in Dutch universities due to geographical proximity, English-taught programmes and strong academic links between the two countries.
Bachelor’s Enrolments Continue to Fall
The biggest concern for the Dutch higher education sector is the continued decline in new international bachelor’s enrolments. According to the latest data, new bachelor’s enrolments fell by 3.8%. This is the third consecutive year of decline at the undergraduate level.
This trend matters because bachelor’s students usually spend more years in the country than master’s students. A steady drop in new undergraduate enrolments can therefore affect the long-term international student population. If fewer international students begin bachelor’s programmes, the total number of international students may decline more noticeably in the coming years.
The fall in bachelor’s enrolments also reflects the impact of policy discussions in the Netherlands around internationalisation. In recent years, the Dutch government has debated ways to manage international student numbers, protect access for domestic students and increase the use of the Dutch language in higher education. These debates may be influencing both institutional recruitment strategies and student decision-making.
Master’s Programmes Remain More Resilient
While bachelor’s enrolments have declined, master’s-level enrolments showed more positive movement. New international master’s enrolments increased by 2.9% at research universities and 8.4% at HBO institutions.
This suggests that the Netherlands remains attractive for postgraduate education, especially among students seeking specialised degrees, career-focused programmes and strong links with industry. However, researchers have warned that part of this increase may come from students who are already in the Netherlands moving from undergraduate to postgraduate study.
In other words, the rise in master’s enrolments does not fully offset the long-term concern created by falling bachelor’s numbers. If the undergraduate pipeline continues to shrink, universities may find it harder to maintain stable international enrolment levels in future years.
India Shows Stronger Growth
India has emerged as one of the positive stories in the latest Nuffic data. Overall enrolment from India increased by 3.5%, showing that Indian students continue to see the Netherlands as a valuable study destination.
The growth is even stronger at the postgraduate level. New master’s students from India rose by 16.5%, reflecting strong interest in Dutch master’s programmes. This growth is likely connected to the popularity of fields such as engineering, technology, business, data science and other career-oriented disciplines.
For Indian students, the Netherlands offers several advantages. Many Dutch universities provide English-taught programmes, strong research opportunities and exposure to international industries. The country is also known for its innovation ecosystem, particularly in areas such as engineering, sustainability, logistics, agriculture technology and high-tech manufacturing.
However, India is not the only non-European market gaining importance. Türkiye has now overtaken India as the second-largest non-EEA sending country, behind China. This shows that Dutch institutions are seeing a more diverse mix of international students from outside the European Economic Area.
European Student Trends Are Mixed
After three years of decline, European enrolments showed a modest rebound. This is an important development because Europe remains the backbone of international student mobility into the Netherlands.
Germany continues to be the largest source country, despite the decline in new German enrolments. Italy, Romania, Spain and Poland now join Germany in the top five source countries. This indicates that intra-European mobility remains strong, even as patterns shift among individual countries.
The continued presence of European students is important for Dutch universities because EU students often choose the Netherlands for its English-taught degrees, relatively accessible location and strong academic reputation. However, as more European countries expand English-taught options, the Netherlands faces stronger competition from neighbouring destinations.
Amsterdam Declines as Eindhoven Grows
The latest data also reveals changes in where international students are choosing to study within the Netherlands. Amsterdam, long considered the country’s leading international student hub, saw a 1.7% decline in international students for the first time.
This is significant because Amsterdam has traditionally attracted large numbers of international students due to its global reputation, wide range of universities, cultural appeal and strong employment opportunities. The decline may reflect housing pressures, policy changes, institutional caps or shifting preferences among students.
In contrast, Eindhoven recorded a 13.4% increase in international student numbers. Much of this growth is linked to engineering and technology-related studies. Eindhoven is strongly associated with innovation, high-tech industries and research-driven education, making it attractive for students interested in technical careers.
Engineering Becomes More Important
Engineering is now the second-largest field of study for international students in the Netherlands, behind economics. This shift reflects a broader change in how Dutch universities and policymakers are thinking about international recruitment.
Rather than focusing only on increasing international student numbers, institutions are increasingly aligning recruitment with labour market needs. The Netherlands needs highly skilled graduates in strategic sectors such as engineering, technology, energy transition, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
This approach could shape the future of international education in the country. Instead of broad-based growth across all subjects, universities may prioritise programmes that support national economic goals and address skills shortages.
Policy Changes Shape the Future
The slight decline in international enrolment comes after several years of stricter policy discussions around internationalisation. The internationalisation in balance bill aimed to reduce pressure on the Dutch higher education system, manage international student numbers and strengthen Dutch-language education.
Some of the more controversial measures have been softened, but universities have also taken their own steps to manage enrolments more sustainably. These steps include reviewing English-taught programmes, managing recruitment in high-demand areas and considering the availability of housing and student services.
The key challenge for the Netherlands is balance. On one hand, international students bring diversity, talent, research capacity and economic benefits. On the other hand, rapid growth can create pressure on housing, classrooms, public services and access for domestic students.
What This Means for International Students
For students planning to study in the Netherlands, the latest data does not mean that opportunities are disappearing. The country remains one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for international education, especially at the master’s level and in technical fields.
However, students may need to plan more carefully. Admission competition may vary by programme, and universities may adjust recruitment strategies depending on subject area, language policy and capacity. Students interested in engineering, technology and postgraduate study may continue to find strong opportunities, particularly in cities such as Eindhoven.
For Indian students, the data is encouraging. The rise in Indian enrolments, especially at the master’s level, suggests that Dutch institutions continue to value India as an important student market. Students from India who are looking for globally recognised degrees, research opportunities and career-focused programmes may find the Netherlands a strong option.
Conclusion
The 2025/26 Nuffic data shows that international student enrolment in the Netherlands is changing rather than collapsing. The overall decline is very small, but deeper trends are becoming visible. China and Germany are sending fewer new students, bachelor’s enrolments are continuing to fall and Amsterdam is seeing a decline for the first time.
At the same time, India is gaining ground, master’s enrolments remain resilient and engineering programmes are growing strongly. These shifts suggest that the Netherlands is moving toward a more selective and strategic model of internationalisation.
The future of international education in the country will depend on how well policymakers and universities manage this balance. The Netherlands must remain globally competitive while ensuring that international student growth supports the country’s academic, social and economic priorities.
FAQs
1. Has international student enrolment in the Netherlands declined in 2025/26?
Yes. According to Nuffic’s latest data, international student enrolment in the Netherlands declined slightly by 0.1% in the 2025/26 academic year, with 129,764 international students enrolled.
2. Which countries saw the biggest decline in student enrolments to the Netherlands?
China and Germany saw major declines. New enrolments from China fell by 28%, while new enrolments from Germany declined by 9%.
3. Are Indian students still choosing the Netherlands for higher education?
Yes. Indian student enrolment increased by 3.5% overall, while new Indian master’s student enrolments rose by 16.5%, showing strong interest in Dutch postgraduate education.
4. Which study fields are growing among international students in the Netherlands?
Engineering is seeing strong growth and is now the second-largest field for international students after economics. This reflects rising demand for technical and labour-market-focused education.
5. What does the decline mean for students planning to study in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands remains a strong study destination, especially for master’s programmes and technical fields. However, students should monitor policy changes, admission requirements and programme availability carefully.
