International students generate more money for the Netherlands on average than they cost the state, according to new research by the Centraal Planbureau.
Government spending on higher education, student finance, social security, and healthcare is broadly recovered because many students remain in the country to work and pay taxes after graduating.
Education costs and residency
Around 17% of students in the Netherlands came from abroad during the past academic year, with the majority arriving from the European Economic Area.
The government covers a large portion of education costs for EEA students, while non-EEA students pay their own tuition in full and receive no Dutch student finance.
Students from within the EEA pay roughly 2,700 euros in tuition this year and can apply for student finance under specific conditions.
Longer stays and economic impact
Five years after completing higher education, roughly one in five EEA students and two in five non-EEA students still live in the Netherlands.
These retention rates are roughly a quarter higher than they were a decade ago, with graduates finding paid jobs faster amid current labor market shortages.
The findings come after government proposals in 2024 aimed to limit international student arrivals to save nearly 300 million euros and ease housing pressure.
The CPB noted that international graduates have high labor participation rates and make relatively little use of social services, while long-term housing effects remain limited as the market adjusts.
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