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.
The Trump administration is undermining the foundations of American higher education by cutting billions and scrapping diversity programs. Many American scholars are now considering seeking their fortune abroad. European countries are eager to take advantage of this situation. Minister Eppo Bruins (Education) promised to develop a special fund to bring dozens of top scientists to the Netherlands quickly. But, the same cabinet announced last year its intention to cut half a billion euros. While knowledge is crucial for - the word says it all - the knowledge economy our country runs on.
Instead of hedging against the shifting balance of power, the Netherlands seems to be retreating. While the U.S. is increasingly weakening, countries like China continue to invest rapidly in education and technology, and India is on its way to becoming a world power. Within Europe, moreover, there are 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.”
America's education crisis
The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented attac on American higher education. Universities face dramatic cuts in research funding, with the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation threatened with substantial budget reductions. By 2022, $97 billion was slated to fund universities, $54 billion of which 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 forced to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (DEI). A Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression survey 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 U.S. 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 U.S. because of strict government policies and research cuts. The Dutch government announced substantial cuts to higher education and research, reducing as much as €1 billion. Marcel Levi of NWO warns that these cuts will majorly impact the entire scientific sector.
So Minister of Education Eppo Bruins announced last week that he would develop a special fund to quickly bring dozens of top scientists to the Netherlands. Bruins is not saying it out loud, but it is mainly about scientists working in the United States who are in danger of losing their jobs under the Trump administration. The exact amount is unknown, but it would involve tens of millions of euros. It is a striking signal from a minister who is simultaneously trying to halt the internationalization of Dutch education.
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 like 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 reducing the Netherlands' scientific capacity and competitiveness in the European and world markets. Suppose the Netherlands does not continue to cherish its traditional role as a major player and continue to invest strategically in knowledge and innovation. In that case, 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.