THE HAGUE – October 6, 2026 | The Dutch Daily
Student debt in the Netherlands fell for the first time: at the start of 2026 the total student debt of students and former students was €28 billion, €0.8 billion less than a year earlier, reports Statistics Netherlands (CBS) in new figures published on 5 October 2026. It is the first year in which total student debt has fallen. CBS links this to the reintroduction of the basic grant (basisbeurs) in higher education in the 2023/’24 academic year: since then fewer students have applied for a loan.
Key facts (CBS, provisional figures)
- Total student debt, 1 January 2026: €28.0 billion, down €0.8 billion on a year earlier.
- People with a student debt: 1.5 million, the third year in a row that this number falls.
- Debts of €50,000 or more: 145,000 people, twice as many as six years earlier. Almost 5,000 people must repay €100,000 or more.
- Average student debt: €18.3 thousand, up since the student loan system started in 2015 by €5.9 thousand. Current students: €15.6 thousand; former students: €19.2 thousand.
- Almost half of the people with a debt owe less than €10,000.
In this report
Total student debt falls for the first time
At the start of 2026 the total debt of students and former students was €28 billion. That is €0.8 billion less than a year earlier and the first year in which the total debt falls. According to CBS, fewer students have applied for a loan since the basic grant in higher education came back in 2023/’24. All 2026 figures are provisional.
Fewer people have a student debt
At the start of 2026, 1.5 million students and former students had a debt. This is the third year in a row that the number of people with a debt falls. The pattern differs by group:
| Group | 2023 | 2025* | 2026* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students with a debt | 609,400 | 459,000 | 398,900 |
| Former students with a debt | 1,038,800 | 1,128,000 | 1,134,300 |
*provisional figures, CBS
More than 1.1 million former students have a debt, a little over 6 thousand more than in 2025. This number has kept rising in recent years, but the rise is flattening: a year earlier it grew by 28 thousand. The number of people who are still studying and have a debt has been falling for years: 400 thousand in 2026, 210 thousand fewer than in 2023, when the basic grant was reintroduced.
More high student debts
Although the number of people with a debt falls, the number with a student debt of €50,000 or more has increased. In 2026, 145 thousand people have a debt of at least €50,000, twice as many as six years earlier. Almost 5,000 people must even repay €100,000 or more. At the other end, almost half of the people with a debt owe less than €10,000, and 4% owe less than €500.
| Size of debt | People, 2026* (thousands) |
|---|---|
| Less than €10,000 | 763.5 |
| €10,000 to €30,000 | 430.4 |
| €30,000 to €50,000 | 194.8 |
| €50,000 or more | 144.5 |
The average student debt keeps rising
The average debt is also higher in 2026 than a year earlier. Since the introduction of the student loan system in 2015 the average debt rose by €5.9 thousand to €18.3 thousand in 2026. Former students have on average a higher debt than those who are still studying. For current students the average falls: €15.6 thousand, one thousand euro less than in 2025. For former students it rose to €19.2 thousand on average.
Student debt since 2011
| 1 January | Total debt (€ billion) |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 9.5 |
| 2015 | 12.7 |
| 2019 | 20.6 |
| 2023 | 28.1 |
| 2024 | 28.8 |
| 2025* | 28.8 |
| 2026* | 28.0 |
The total student debt rose in every year from 2011 to 2024; 2026 is the first year it is lower than a year before.
How student debt changed between 2020 and 2026
| 2020 | 2023 | 2026* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total student debt (€ billion) | 23.1 | 28.1 | 28.0 |
| People with a debt of €50,000 or more (thousands) | 70.2 | 123.4 | 144.5 |
| Average student debt (€ thousand) | 15.3 | 17.0 | 18.3 |
Source: CBS tables, 1 January of each year; *provisional. The pattern in the tables: the total has stayed between €28.0 and €28.8 billion since 2023, while the number of very high debts and the average debt keep rising.
What it means for you
- If you study in the Netherlands: CBS reports that fewer students have borrowed since the basic grant returned in 2023/’24; our study in the Netherlands guide covers costs and housing.
- If you have a debt: the figures are national averages and distributions; they do not describe your own debt.
- If you are an international student: the CBS announcement does not break the numbers down by nationality.
Frequently asked questions
How high is the total student debt in the Netherlands?
€28 billion at the start of 2026, €0.8 billion less than a year earlier (provisional CBS figure).
Why did student debt fall?
CBS points to the reintroduction of the basic grant in higher education in 2023/’24; since then fewer students have applied for a loan.
How many people have a student debt?
1.5 million students and former students at the start of 2026, the third year in a row that the number falls.
How many people have a very high student debt?
145 thousand have a debt of €50,000 or more, and almost 5,000 owe €100,000 or more.
What is the average student debt?
€18.3 thousand in 2026: €15.6 thousand for current students and €19.2 thousand for former students.
🇳🇱 Dutch Corner
| Dutch | Meaning |
|---|---|
| De studieschuld | Debt |
| De basisbeurs | Basic grant |
| Het leenstelsel | Student loan system |
| De oud-student | Former student |
| Het hoger onderwijs | Higher education |
| Het studiejaar | Academic year |
| Voorlopige cijfers | Provisional figures |
| Het gemiddelde | The average |
Sources
- CBS, 5 October 2026: Totale studieschuld 28 miljard, voor het eerst gedaald (all figures in this report; 2026 figures provisional)
More on The Dutch Daily: our study in the Netherlands guide
Free: Netherlands 2027 Money Checklist
Every deadline and number you need before and after 1 January 2027, on two printable pages. Confirm your email and the PDF is yours; we will also email you when the 2027 figures are confirmed.
