The Dutch government is planning budget cuts for education in 2025. These cuts still need final approval from the Senate, which will discuss the budget on 11 March. However, since the coalition parties made a deal with four opposition parties in December 2024, these are likely to pass. Although 748 million euros in reductions were reversed, about 90% of the proposed cuts to scientific research remain. Many universities and research institutions are increasingly worried about the consequences.
How will these cuts affect education and research?
As a result in these budget cuts, universities and research centres will struggle to continue their work with less funding. This could significantly hurt advancements in health, climate science, safety and technology. The Netherlands has long held a strong reputation as a knowledge-driven country, but these cuts put that status at a serious risk. Without adequate support, fewer students will be trained, and important research projects may be delayed or even cancelled altogether.
‘The cuts in higher education and research have major consequences for the entire sector. The universities and university medical centres in particular will be hit hard, but our position as a knowledge country in the Netherlands is also endangered by the cuts’, says Marcel Levi, chairman of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
He further warns that these cuts will lead to fewer students and researchers in the country. If universities cannot train new scientists, progress in critical fields like healthcare and agriculture will slow down. According to him, this could eventually hurt the economy and reduce opportunities for future generations.
Other financial pressures on universities
According to NOS, rising costs for heating, electricity and maintenance are also putting pressure on university budgets, adding to the strain of the budget cuts. Some institutions are already looking for ways to save money, such as reducing staff numbers and limiting research facilities.
In addition to this, the government wants to limit the number of international students. Since universities receive funding based on the number of students they enrol, having fewer international students will inevitably mean less money for education. Universities near the borders, which rely more on foreign students, will be hit especially hard. Caspar van den Berg, chairman of the umbrella organization Universities of the Netherlands, says that in these regions, young people are already moving away, and services are struggling.
Nationwide protests and university strikes
Students, teachers and researchers are fighting back against the cuts. In late 2024, about 25,000 people gathered to protest in Malieveld. ‘A political deal has been reached on the plan, whereby more than 1.1 billion euros in structural cuts to higher education will remain intact. That is unacceptable to us,’ says Thijs Roovers, chairman of the AOb teachers’ union.
Universities and colleges across the country are going on strike to protest. Several institutions have already announced closures on different days, starting with Leiden University on 10 March. Other universities will follow along, including Utrecht (11 March), Radboud University Nijmegen (13 March), University of Amsterdam (17 March), Groningen (18 March) and Twente (25 March). More institutions, such as those in Maastricht, Tilburg and Rotterdam, are expected to join.
What does this mean for the future?
If these cuts go through, many research projects will stop, jobs will be lost, and the Netherlands may lose its position as a leader in education and science. Universities and advocacy groups are still pushing for the government to reconsider. However, with Senate approval likely, the future remains uncertain for higher education and research in the Netherlands.
For now, students, educators and researchers continue to fight against the budget cuts, hoping that their voices will be heard before it is too late. Whether the government will respond to these protests remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the future of Dutch higher education hangs in the balance.
Written by Bárbara Luque Alanís