THE HAGUE – October 6, 2026 | The Dutch Daily
International students Netherlands: on 5 October 2026 the cabinet announced a new course on internationalisation in higher education. Universities and universities of applied sciences are to steer the intake of international students themselves, using the numerus fixus (fixed number of places) powers of the Internationalisation in Balance Act. The current “test for non-Dutch-language education” is scrapped: programmes are in principle taught in Dutch, unless another language of instruction has “societal added value”. The change is made through a nota van wijziging (amendment note) to the bill, which went into public consultation the same day.
Key facts
- Intake: institutions steer the number of international students through their own governance, with numerus fixus measures the Act makes possible.
- English-taught programmes: the test for non-Dutch-language education is dropped. Programmes are in principle in Dutch unless another language has societal added value. Institutions weigh this themselves on four criteria: labour market, regional circumstances, international orientation of the programme, or the unique international value of the field of research.
- After graduation: institutions are making an effort so that international students stay more often, including Dutch language lessons and preparation for the Dutch labour market.
- Consultation: the amendment note is open to suggestions from citizens and organisations via the internet consultation.
- Timeline: the cabinet aims to submit the Act to the Council of State before the end of 2026; parliamentary treatment follows.
- Not specified: the announcement gives no caps, fees, dates of effect or enrolment statistics.
In this report
What the cabinet decided
Education, Culture and Science Minister Rianne Letschert said internationalisation “can be of great added value, if it can be steered into the right channels”. She said the cabinet wants to be ready for the future and use the potential of international talent as well as possible, “certainly also for sectors where we badly need them”, because the Netherlands wants to stay strategically relevant, grow economically and tackle social problems. With the adjustment of the bill, universities and universities of applied sciences get the legal means to have more control over internationalisation.
Institutions steer their own intake
According to the government, universities and universities of applied sciences have already taken good steps in recent years to make the growth of international students fit better with what society needs, and the cabinet wants to keep this self-direction. Before the summer, Minister Letschert made administrative agreements on this with the umbrella organisations of the education sector. Institutions also set limits, where needed, on the number of places for programmes (or variants of programmes) taught in a language other than Dutch.
English-taught programmes
The main change to the Internationalisation in Balance Act is that the test for non-Dutch-language education is deleted. According to the government, this follows an adopted motion in the House of Representatives and agreements in the coalition agreement. The standard for the language of instruction is adjusted: programmes are in principle taught in Dutch, unless another language of instruction has societal added value.
Institutions make this assessment themselves, based on four criteria:
- the labour market;
- regional circumstances;
- the international orientation of the programme; or
- the unique international value of the field of research.
Staying after graduation
Educational institutions are working to make international students stay in the Netherlands more often after their studies, among other things through Dutch language lessons and preparation for the Dutch labour market.
The wider talent strategy
The government says the new course fits within the broader Talent Strategy, with which the cabinet wants to attract, train and retain people for the most crucial domains of the Netherlands, to preserve future prosperity. It adds that international students offer an opportunity here, because they bring valuable knowledge and expertise.
What happens next
The amendment note goes to the implementing organisations and to the Advisory Board on Regulatory Burden (ATR) for advice, and it is open for suggestions from citizens and organisations through the internet consultation. The cabinet aims to submit the Internationalisation in Balance Act to the Council of State for advice before the end of 2026, after which parliamentary treatment follows. The announcement did not say when the changes would take effect for students or what happens to the number of places per programme.
What it means for you
- If you plan to study in the Netherlands: the language of instruction and the number of places in some programmes may change once the law passes. Check each programme’s own website for its intake rules. Our study in the Netherlands guide covers current deadlines, costs and housing.
- If you want to stay and work after graduating: institutions say they are increasing Dutch language lessons and labour-market preparation. Starting early with Dutch helps: try our free Dutch lessons.
- Nothing changes overnight: this is a proposed change to a bill that still needs the Council of State’s advice and parliament’s approval.
Frequently asked questions
Are English-taught programmes being banned?
No. The announcement says programmes are in principle taught in Dutch unless another language of instruction has societal added value. Institutions decide that themselves on four criteria.
What is the “test for non-Dutch-language education”?
It is a test in the bill that the cabinet now deletes, following an adopted motion in the House of Representatives and the coalition agreement. It is replaced by the new standard for the language of instruction.
Will the number of international students be capped?
Institutions manage the intake through their own governance, using the numerus fixus measures the Internationalisation in Balance Act allows, and set limits where needed on places in non-Dutch-language programmes. The announcement gives no figures.
Who decides what has “societal added value”?
The institutions themselves, based on the four criteria: labour market, regional circumstances, international orientation and unique international value of the research field.
Can I give feedback?
Yes. The amendment note is open to suggestions from citizens and organisations through the internet consultation on the government’s consultation website.
🇳🇱 Dutch Corner
| Dutch | Meaning |
|---|---|
| De internationale student | International student |
| Het hoger onderwijs | Higher education |
| De hogeschool | University of applied sciences |
| De universiteit | University |
| De numerus fixus | Fixed number of places |
| De arbeidsmarkt | Labour market |
| De maatschappelijke meerwaarde | Societal added value |
| De opleidingstaal | Language of instruction |
| De nota van wijziging | Amendment note (change to a bill) |
| De internetconsultatie | Online public consultation |
| Het wetsvoorstel | Bill, proposed law |
Sources
- Rijksoverheid, 5 October 2026: Kabinet: weloverwogen regie op internationaal talent (intake, test deleted, four criteria, motion and coalition agreement, retention, consultation, Council of State timeline, Minister Letschert’s quotes)
More on The Dutch Daily: our study in the Netherlands guide
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