New Dutch government to make major cuts to education and research budget and limit foreign students

Dutch universities sent a letter to the Parliament "stating that budget cuts could cost 1,200 academic jobs. Today, we read that it could even cost us up to 5,000 jobs. In doing so, we are actually putting the Netherlands' knowledge position at a disadvantage", says the party leader of Volt (social liberal party), Laurens Dassen, to the new Dutch government on 03/07/2024, during the newly established government's debate with the Parliament.

More than seven months after the election victory of far-right leader Geert Wilders, the PVV (nationalist party) entered government for the first time on 02/07/2024. The new Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, was sworn in to head this coalition government, bringing together four right-wing and far-right parties. His government includes five ministers from the far-right party.

The NSC, a centre-right party, is responsible for foreign affairs and national education, with Eppo Bruins taking up the mantle of Minister for Education. On the agenda concerning higher education and research: fewer foreign students, budget cuts in science research and negotiating…