Internationale studenten trekken zich terug uit Nederland
Den Haag, donderdag, 11 juni 2026.
Voor het eerst in twintig jaar daalt het aantal internationale studenten in Nederland. In 2025/2026 waren er 133 minder dan het jaar ervoor. De daling wordt vooral gedreven door een sterke afname van studenten uit Duitsland en China. Vanuit Duitsland kwamen 1.680 studenten minder, uit China zelfs 988. Tegelijk groeit het aantal buitenlandse studenten in technische studies met 11 procent. Eindhoven profiteert hiervan met een groei van 13 procent. Amsterdam ziet juist een daling van 1,7 procent. Experten vrezen dat de dalende inschrijvingen bij de bachelor leiden tot verdere krimp in de komende jaren.
light decline after decades of growth
The total number of international students in the Netherlands decreased slightly during the 2025/2026 academic year. There were 129,764 registered foreign students, down 133 from the previous year [1]. This marks the first annual decline in twenty years, breaking a prolonged period of steady growth in international enrollment [2]. The drop represents a minor contraction of -0.102% compared to 2024/2025 levels [1][3]. Such reversals are rare in recent higher education history [GPT].
sharp fall from key european nations
Germany remains the largest source country for international students despite a significant downturn [2]. Enrollment fell sharply by 1,680 students, amounting to -8.433% [1][3]. This continues a downward trend observed since 2021 [1]. Italian, Romanian, Spanish, and Polish enrollments also shifted, though less dramatically [2]. Experts suggest new German training requirements for psychotherapists might contribute to lower interest among German undergraduates seeking clinical paths abroad [3].
significant reduction from asian hub
Chinese student numbers dropped substantially, declining by 988 individuals [1]. This represents a -16.247% year-over-year reduction [3]. China consequently slipped from fifth to seventh place among origin countries [2]. Analysts attribute part of this shift to improving global rankings of Chinese universities, which strengthens domestic appeal [3]. The 28 percent decrease is the most severe such fall recorded since 2006 [1]. Other Asian nationalities did not show similar patterns.
growth persists in technical fields
Despite overall declines, demand for technical education rose notably [2]. International university registrations in engineering disciplines increased by 11 percent [3]. Technical programs now rank second in popularity among non-EU students, trailing only economics [1]. At the University of Technology Eindhoven, foreign enrollment surged by 13 percent to reach 1,106 students [1]. This suggests targeted recruitment efforts and strong industry ties continue attracting specialized talent [3].
mixed results across urban centers
Amsterdam experienced its first net loss of international students in two decades, falling by 1.7 percent [2]. With nearly 26,000 foreign learners, it still hosts more than any other city [3]. Conversely, Eindhoven’s influx elevated it into the top five municipalities for international students nationally [2]. Maastricht maintains around 14,235 such students, while Rotterdam and Groningen host approximately 11,581 and 11,313 respectively [2]. Regional shifts reflect institutional strengths and local housing availability [GPT].
worries about future enrollment pipelines
Researchers warn that shrinking undergraduate intake could prolong sector-wide contractions [2]. Bachelor program applications from abroad declined by 3 to 4 percent across institutions [2]. “That the inflow at the bachelor level continues to shrink makes it likely that the international student population will further decrease in the coming years, including at master’s level,” said Jonatan Weenink, researcher at Nuffic [2]. Nearly half of incoming master’s students originate domestically through advanced standing pathways [2].