The Netherlands continues to face staffing pressure in healthcare, including nursing. Current labor-market reporting shows that demand for care and welfare workers is still rising faster than the supply of professionals, so nursing remains a career path with strong demand. For international students, however, the most important practical point is language: the HBO nursing routes listed below are Dutch-taught, and Dutch proficiency is essential for study, internships, and later professional registration.
Apart from career opportunities, the Netherlands is also known for its culture and everyday cycling. Exploring this side of the country can be part of your personal and professional growth. But how can you study nursing in the Netherlands? Read on to find out more.
What Degrees are there for Nursing?
The Dutch education system can be unfamiliar if you are used to a simple undergraduate/graduate structure. Nursing education is commonly discussed at MBO and HBO levels. MBO is secondary vocational education and includes several levels; MBO level 4 can lead directly to work or to HBO. HBO, or higher professional education, is offered by universities of applied sciences and leads to bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
If you are looking for a nursing degree at bachelor’s level, an HBO nursing program is usually the relevant route. For example, Hogeschool NCOI offers an HBO Bachelor Opleiding tot Verpleegkundige (HBO-V) that is 4 years and 240 EC. Hogeschool Utrecht offers a full-time bachelor’s in nursing that takes 4 years. After an HBO nursing bachelor’s degree and relevant professional experience, students may consider advanced routes such as a Master Advanced Nursing Practice; at Hogeschool Utrecht, this master’s program is a 2-year dual program.
Cost of Studying Nursing in the Netherlands
Tuition in the Netherlands depends on whether you pay the statutory tuition fee or an institutional tuition fee. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the statutory tuition fee is €2,694. This usually applies when you are enrolled in a government-funded program and meet the nationality or residence-status conditions. Students who do not meet the statutory-fee criteria, and students at some private institutions, may pay institutional tuition fees, which are set by the institution and are usually higher. Always check the official tuition-fee page or fee calculator for your chosen program before applying.
A current student budget should allow for roughly €1,150 per month before health insurance, based on average rent, groceries, study materials, transportation, and leisure costs. If you work in the Netherlands, you may also need Dutch basic health insurance, adding roughly €133 per month. Non-EU/EEA students with a residence permit for study generally need a TWV work permit from their employer and may work a maximum of 16 hours per week during the academic year or full time in June, July, and August.
Requirements to Study Nursing in the Netherlands
Admission requirements vary by institution, but for an HBO nursing bachelor’s degree the usual Dutch entry routes are a havo, vwo, or mbo-4 diploma, or an equivalent foreign diploma. Hogeschool Utrecht states that students can start its nursing program with a havo, vwo, or mbo level 4 diploma. Inholland University of Applied Sciences accepts havo, vwo, mbo-4, and equivalent diplomas, and assesses foreign diplomas after application. NCOI’s HBO-V bachelor lists havo, vwo, or mbo level 4 as direct entry routes, with a possible 21+ test for applicants without one of these diplomas.
The earlier claim that most nursing schools require applicants to be at least 21 years old has been corrected. A 21+ route is generally an alternative admission route for applicants who do not have a suitable diploma, not a standard age requirement for all nursing applicants. Dutch language ability is essential for the programs listed here. Inholland, for example, requires students with foreign prior education to show Dutch at B2 level.
In What Languages Do You Study Nursing?
The nursing programs discussed in this article are taught in Dutch. Both Hogeschool Utrecht and Inholland nursing bachelor’s programs as 100% Dutch-taught. In practice, Dutch is also crucial because nursing students complete placements with Dutch-speaking patients and care teams. For professional recognition of a foreign diploma, the BIG-register explains that healthcare providers must be able to speak, understand, write, and read Dutch; for higher professional education professions, the minimum Dutch language level is B2.
Best Nursing Schools in the Netherlands
1. NCOI University of Applied Sciences
- Nursing Program Link
- Programs mentioned: HBO Bachelor Opleiding tot Verpleegkundige (HBO-V), plus MBO and short HBO nursing-related programs through NCOI
Hogeschool NCOI is a university of applied sciences focused on working adults. NCOI describes itself as the largest provider for working professionals in the Netherlands, educating 20,000 professionals per year and offering more than 1,250 programs. Its nursing and healthcare programs are designed for people who want to combine study with work.
The HBO Bachelor Opleiding tot Verpleegkundige (HBO-V) at NCOI is an NVAO-accredited bachelor’s program for working adults. The program is offered in class or online, takes 4 years, and consists of 240 EC. It covers nursing care, anatomy, pathology, nursing diagnostics, care planning, communication, simulations, practice assignments, and internships. NCOI also notes that relevant work experience may allow some students to complete parts of the program faster through exemptions.
2. Hogeschool Utrecht
Hogeschool Utrecht offers a full-time HBO bachelor’s program in nursing. The program takes 4 years and includes practical learning from the start, with internships beginning in the first year. Students learn topics such as anatomy, psychology, communication, resuscitation, and nursing practice.
After the bachelor’s degree, graduates can enter nursing roles or continue developing through specialization or a master’s program. One relevant option at Hogeschool Utrecht is the dual Master Advanced Nursing Practice, a 2-year program that trains registered nurses to become nurse specialists.
3. Inholland University
Inholland University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch higher education institution founded in 2002. It has seven campuses in the Netherlands and offers accredited degree programs across several fields, including healthcare.
The full-time HBO nursing program at Inholland takes 4 years and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. Admission is available to students with havo, vwo, mbo-4, or an equivalent diploma; students with foreign prior education must also have sufficient Dutch, normally B2 level. The program combines theory and practice, develops nursing technical skills, and includes substantial internship experience. In the fourth year, students choose a specialization and may also have the option to complete an internship abroad.
Inholland also offers a Master of Advanced Nursing Practice for HBO-trained nurses who want to specialize as nurse specialists. This master’s program is taught in Dutch, takes 2 years, and is offered in Amsterdam as a work-and-study program.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Page and Available Courses in Europe for International Students.
