Following the wrong example: budget cuts threaten Dutch education
The Netherlands is cutting back on its own knowledge and is becoming a global laggard – while other countries are investing in science.
Published on March 20, 2025
Merien co-founded E52 in 2015 and envisioned AI in journalism, leading to Laio. He writes bold columns on hydrogen and mobility—often with a sharp edge.
Mauro swapped Sardinia for Eindhoven and has been an IO+ editor for 3 years. As a GREEN+ expert, he covers the energy transition with data-driven stories.
UPDATE 20 March 17:00 hrs: The Netherlands is prepared to lure top American scientists after all
Minister of Education Eppo Bruins has proposed a special fund to bring dozens of top scientists to the Netherlands. Bruins does not say it out loud, but it is mainly about scientists who work in the United States and are in danger of losing their jobs under the Trump administration. The exact amount is unknown, but it is said to be tens of millions of euros. It is a remarkable statement from a minister who is simultaneously trying to put a stop to the internationalization of Dutch education.
Bruins explains to RTL Nieuws that NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) will set up a program. “The world is changing; tensions are increasing. We see that more and more scientists are looking for a different place. This will allow us to bring excellent talent to our country. These people are worth their weight in gold for Europe and the Netherlands.”
Bruins does not explicitly mention the United States, also because the cabinet wants to maintain good relations with Washington, RTL reporter Fons Lambie says. “The cabinet had previously received fierce criticism because there are plans to limit internationalization. Cuts are being made to higher education, partly by admitting fewer international students.”
Funding for international top scientists, cutbacks for the rest
There is something fundamentally wrong between a fund for top scientists and cutbacks in higher education, says Bart Brouwers.
The original article:
The Trump administration is undermining the foundations of American higher education by cutting billions from the budget and dismantling diversity programs. Many American scientists are now considering seeking their fortunes abroad. European countries are eager to take advantage of this situation, but the Netherlands seems unable or unwilling to seize the opportunity, according to a survey by BNR. What's more, the Dutch government is following the American example in many respects. The cabinet announced that it wants to cut . While knowledge is crucial for – the word says it all – the knowledge economy on which our country runs.
Instead of protecting itself against the shifting balance of power, the Netherlands seems to be retreating. While the US is weakening, countries such as China continue to invest heavily in education and technology, and India is on its way to becoming a world power. Within Europe, there are also plenty of alternatives for talent.
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Billion dollar austerity storm hits Dutch higher education hard: 'Cabinet saws its own chair legs'
UNL warns of far-reaching consequences: “We will face even greater shortages on the labor market AND groundbreaking research will disappear from the Netherlands.”
The American education crisis
The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented attack on American higher education. Universities are facing dramatic cuts in research funding, with the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation threatened with substantial budget reductions. In 2022, $97 billion was made available to fund universities, of which $54 billion came from the federal government. Robert A. Brown, president emeritus of Boston University, warns that these “draconian cuts” could lead to a complete collapse of scientific research, with only the wealthiest universities able to continue funding research.
In addition to financial cutbacks, the Trump administration is also conducting a systematic attack on diversity programs in higher education. Universities are being forced to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (DEI). A survey by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression shows that 35% of faculty members have toned down their writing and 27% do not feel free to talk to students or administrators. At the University of Texas at Austin, more than half of the respondents indicated that they moderate their statements for fear of losing their jobs.
Missed opportunities for the Netherlands
This educational crisis in the US creates a unique opportunity for European countries to attract top scientists. Several European countries are already actively recruiting American scientists who want to leave the US due to the strict government policy and research cutbacks. Caspar van den Berg, chairman of the Dutch Universities Association (Universities of the Netherlands), in an interview with BNR radio, recognizes this opportunity but also notes that Dutch universities are hardly responding to it.
The Dutch government has announced substantial cuts to higher education and research, with a reduction of no less than €1 billion. Marcel Levi of the NWO warns that these cuts will have major consequences for the entire scientific sector. The scientific infrastructure will shrink, resulting in approximately three fewer research projects per year.
Global consequences
The global balance of power is shifting rapidly. While countries such as China and India are investing heavily in education and technology, Western countries such as the US and the Netherlands appear to be pulling out of the race by weakening their knowledge infrastructure. China now produces 27.2% of the most cited scientific articles, compared to 24.9% for the US.
The Netherlands is a small country that has participated on the world stage of science and innovation well above its weight. Now we are in danger of sinking into mediocrity. Cuts to education and research are not only reducing the Netherlands' scientific capacity but also its competitiveness in the European and world markets. If the Netherlands does not continue to cherish its traditional role as a major player and continue to invest strategically in knowledge and innovation, it runs the risk of becoming a marginal country in the world of the knowledge economy.
Fierce criticism of higher education cuts in the Netherlands echoes from Europe
The European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) has expressed concern about proposed cuts to higher education in the Netherlands.