The Netherlands, a country of tall people, windmills, and culturally rich infrastructure, is known for its openness and progressive outlook. By offering high-quality education and vocational opportunities, the European country stands among the top ten destinations for students in terms of higher education.
When discussing the leading names in the education industry, the education institutes of the Netherlands take little time to make their presence known. However, every growing establishment has its advantages and disadvantages that one must consider.
Acknowledging and addressing the positive and negative dynamics are essential for growth and evolution. On that note, let us shed light on the education system of the Netherlands and its pros and cons in our comprehensive article below.
Pros / Advantages of the Dutch Education System
Among the strengths of the Netherlands are its strong vocational and training systems. In addition, Dutch schools are well-financed and do their best to aid disadvantaged students. Other than this, there are a lot of key factors that students can benefit from while studying in the Netherlands. Read below to find out.
1. Innovative Teaching Techniques
The Dutch education system is known for its vocational teaching techniques and well-crafted courses that best meet students’ needs. The teaching methods focus on developing problem-solving and active learning by encouraging the students to take the lead. Students can choose between general universities or universities of applied sciences. Students who want to gain practical experience can opt for applied sciences universities that offer practical experience in collaboration with Dutch and international companies.
This approach to education differs from other countries’ belief in traditional education systems and memorization-based learning.
2. Internationally Recognized Diplomas / Degrees
Another advantage of studying in a Dutch university is that their degrees are recognized nationally and internationally. The most esteemed universities in the Netherlands offer courses in business, economics, and applied sciences that are distinguished worldwide. Courses are accredited by NVAO (Netherlands and Flemish Accreditation Organization) and RIO (in Dutch only), which evaluate and provide quality assurance. Delft University of Technology and the University of Amsterdam are some of the oldest and most renowned universities offering recognized degrees to their students.
3. A Multi-Cultural Affair
The Netherlands accommodates many students from all across the globe every year. Students from different cultures interact and collaborate on projects through their school curriculum. This practice promotes harmony and unity among the student body. Another benefit of studying in a Dutch institute is that although Dutch is the primary language, most locals can speak and interact in English. International student associations are also formed within institutes to help international students with queries.
4. Scholarship Opportunities
Another perk offered by the Netherlands is that they also offer specific scholarships to international students. The Dutch Ministry of Education provides the NL Scholarship (also known as the Holland Scholarship). It is a full tuition scholarship of € 5,000 for students outside the European Economic Area. Having the tuition covered helps international students a lot as they are already responsible for covering their housing and other living expenses.
Cons / Drawbacks of the Dutch Education System
While studying as an international student in the Netherlands, you may encounter some disadvantages. Let us shed some light on them in our article below.
1. Housing Crisis
International students constantly need help finding accommodation. Most students resort to private rental sectors to find a place to live, which can be costly. Adjusting in the private sector can be very hectic and confusing for the students as the contracts offered are mostly in Dutch and can be hard to interpret. With the language barrier between them, the landlords can exploit the students for more money.
2. Language Barrier
Despite the common usage of English, language differences can sometimes be a disadvantage. Most institutes still use Dutch as a primary language at primary and secondary school levels. Also, most paperwork and contracts (by landlords, etc) are given in the native language by the local people.
3. Faculty Shortage
Another rising crisis in the Dutch education system is the teacher shortage in institutes. The shortage of teachers puts an extra burden on the remaining teachers in school as more students need to be accommodated in their classes. This increased burden on a single class can result in inadequate performance and result. Because many teachers in the Netherlands are reaching their retirement age, more efforts should be made to attract top performers to the teaching profession.
4. Living Expenses
International students face a lot of challenges while trying to meet their daily expenses. Despite the scholarships being offered and lower living rates as compared to other countries. The average cost of living for an international student in the Netherlands varies between €800 – €1,200. Making ends meet can be a big problem for striving students who have to cover their rent which is approximately between €300 and €600, depending upon the town they reside in.
Furthermore, students can work full time for three months (June, July, August) while the rest of the months they are only allowed up to sixteen hours per week. All the living expenses can burden the students a lot while only being allowed to work part-time
Therefore, all these factors should be carefully considered while choosing a destination for higher education.
FAQs: Higher Education in the Netherlands
How Is the Education System in the Netherlands Different from Other Countries?
Getting higher education from a recognized institute is every student’s ultimate goal. Narrowing down your options when choosing from the top-rated education system can take time and effort. The Netherlands is one of the top-rated countries that emphasizes education and accommodates a respectful number of students worldwide every year. To help you get a better idea, let us compare the Dutch education system with other countries to understand its prestige better.
Firstly, the Netherlands follows a distinctive unified feature in its education system. It combines a centralized education policy with decentralized administration and management of schools. This feature differs from other countries following either a centralized or decentralized approach. The unification helps the Dutch education system practice autonomy in its educational approach while maintaining discipline.
Another feature unique to the Dutch education system is choosing an institute based on philosophy you feel best meets your beliefs. The institute follows the Dutch curriculum but adopts specific teaching and learning methods. This feature differs from other countries that follow strict curricula and teaching methods. Practicing different teaching styles allows teachers to practice strategies that best cater to a student’s needs.
Examples of schools with different philosophies include Montessori schools following the principle of “help me to do it myself,” children are taught to become independent and often work at their own pace. Another type is Jenaplan schools – The community plays a vital role in Jenaplan schools. Cooperation, independent learning, and shared responsibility are encouraged in such schools. Furthermore, activities are often divided into working/teaching, discussion, playing, and celebrating.
Do International Students Face Extreme Challenges While Studying in The Netherlands?
Like any other foreign country, international students encounter challenges while studying in the Netherlands. To no one’s surprise, the biggest challenge is the language barrier. Despite a large influx of international students, Dutch is the primary language spoken in the Netherlands. Students may need help participating actively in academics and communicating with the locals.
However, students should feel comfortable with this inconvenience. Often, universities offer language courses to help international students blend in with locals. Students can also take additional courses to help fill in the language difference gap. Differences in the education system and teaching style can also feel daunting to students initially. They can always consult with educational advisors and take extra tuition to get a better hang of their studies.
Other than that, students can only work full-time jobs in June, July, and August. Students can work up to sixteen hours per week in a part-time position for the rest of the month. Due to this limitation, some students face challenges in meeting their daily expenses on top of education fees.
Hopefully, this article on the Netherlands’ education system has provided useful insight into choosing the Netherlands as your potential choice for studying abroad. You can also check out the Study in the Netherlands and Available Programs in Europe to learn more about studying abroad.
