The Netherlands has been reshaping its approach to international education through the “Internationalisation in Balance” bill, driven partly by housing pressure and a push to strengthen Dutch-language provision.
What the bill aims to do
- Reduce the overall number of incoming international students and related spending.
- Cut the number of English-taught bachelor’s courses; a course is treated as “foreign-language” if more than a third of its credits are taught in a language other than Dutch.
- Improve Dutch-language proficiency while retaining international talent for the labour market.
A notable softening
More recent 2026 reporting indicates the government intends to remove the mandatory language-assessment element for non-Dutch-taught programmes, letting institutions decide the language of instruction for new programmes. Existing English-taught degrees are not expected to be forcibly converted.
What it means for you
If you are considering the Netherlands, confirm directly with the university that your chosen English-taught programme will still run for your intake, and watch for admissions or capacity changes. Policy here is still evolving — rely on the institution’s official admissions information.