The future of international education in the Netherlands is shifting. As reported in this article, Dutch universities plan to cut the number of foreign students by 2,000 annually, aiming to ease pressure on housing and protect the Dutch language in higher education.
On the surface, it sounds like a logistical move. But there’s a deeper tension here—between openness and protectionism, global ambition and national identity. When universities start limiting who gets to learn, we risk closing doors that took decades to open.
This isn’t just about the Netherlands. It’s part of a broader pattern across Europe: tightening controls on international student flows in the name of “balance”. As a private college counselor working with students around the world, I see the value of cross-border learning every day. It shapes more than careers—it shapes understanding.
Let’s not lose sight of that. Global classrooms matter. So does access.
