Why are so many people studying in The Netherlands?

What makes Dutch universities so great? The Netherlands is one of the most popular places for internationals to study in Europe (and the world). But there are too many students-and not enough houses. So the Dutch government plans to limit the number of foreign students.
In this video, I talk about studying in the Netherlands as an international student, what the government is proposing, and next steps.
⏰ CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:18 📚 Higher education in The Netherlands
02:23 🎓 Why study in The Netherlands?
07:59 📜 Government proposal
08:31 💰 Consequences
10:33 🇩🇰 Denmark case study
11:45 ⏭ Next steps
🏠 Find student housing here: kamernet.nl/
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• Why are the Dutch so d...
• Apartment Tour: 400-ye...
• What are the biggest D...
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😁 WHO AM I?
I'm David, a Californian living in Amsterdam. I make videos about life in the Netherlands, hiking/traveling, and the Camino de Santiago.
🔸 If you live in the Netherlands, I'd love to hear your story and interview you.
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[@engelen667]

I’m Dutch and while I truly appreciate all of my international classmates in university, I do agree that the capacity of the country is full. While I don’t think this is the best solution, something needs to change. I was studying in Groningen but could barely afford rent anymore. I was doing two programs at the same time and working 16 hours next to my studies (the maximum that I could handle with my student workload). I’m from the south so travelling by train would take around 4 hours one way, so living in the city was a must. However, because of the rapidly increasing prices I asked my university for potential other opportunities. So I will be completing the second half of my masters in China going on an “extracurricular exchange” in order to still be enrolled but to live cheaper in another country. With the way that prices keep on rapidly increasing, I think I will stay abroad for a while where I have more opportunities to work and save money to eventually return and find a place to live. Sadly, a few of my friends also opted to continue their studies abroad. And not because of fun reasons, but simply due to finances. When citizens cannot afford to study in their own country anymore, something is drastically going wrong.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective. Let's hope the changes will benefit students and education in general. Until then, enjoy your time abroad-I've personally found studying abroad one of the most transformative experiences of my life!

[@justbelit]

when he said it was cheap to study there, I hoped a native dutch would chime in to give a fair perspective

[@tikket10]

like he said, housing is the biggest problem. so the first thing we must do is build more housing. and that is happening

[@Treinbouwer]

​@tikket10 At a rate lower than the population growth (due to immigrasion), while there is a shortage of hundreds of thousands of houses.🙃

[@ChrisZybeZ]

er zijn in het zuiden ook universiteiten waar je je master of w/e kan halen...

[@dutchman7623]

As you have shown the growth in international students is exponential. The education system is there to benefit the country, and tuition doesn't cover the costs, not even for outside EU students. This is what makes studying in the Netherlands very attractive, but also puts a large bill at the Dutch tax paying population. Most vacancies in the job market are not on university level but within higher and middle education. The balance has to be restored. Government plans are not to stop international university students but to reduce their numbers slightly and to stimulate international students on HBO and MBO levels. Especially in all those sectors where there is shortage. What's the use of having a thousand three star Michelin Chefs if you cant get anyone to bring the plates to the table or to do the dishes?

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Hm..now I have this visual of all these beautiful Michelin restaurants...and I just ordered a 3-course meal...but it's been an hour of waiting... But I hope whatever the plans are, they will benefit the students/educators in the long run. And that they can "course correct" and adapt if necessary

[@dutchman7623]

@@hidavidwen Of course! If you know the Netherlands any decision is a compromise and adjusted time after time, depending on how the wind blows. Harsh words at the start of any plan and by the time it passes parliament there is nothing left of them.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

@@hidavidwen You should not see that hour as "waiting". That's the trick of having a good time.

[@smorevids]

I think it isn't a bad idea to deter foreign students or at least forbid universities from having targeted ad campaigns. Not because we don't like internationals, on the contrary. It has enriched student life and our worldview. However, the housing market just cannot sustain it and universities with their lack of accommodation refuse to take any responsibility for this. In some cities students domestic and international slept in tents all throughout September because they couldn't find housing. Fix this issue first. Start building affordable dorms.

[@hidavidwen]

@@smorevids Thanks for sharing. Yeah, the housing thing...another big challenge (I know there's a lot of politics involved too)...I was lucky to find my student dorm 1 week before my flight to the Netherlands...

[@digitaldion]

Thanks for the insightful video. I completed a PhD in the Netherlands (Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen) in 2017. I am English speaking, and could write my thesis in English. I am from South Africa and can speak Afrikaans, and so could manage Dutch quite well. I have just been hired as a professor at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. I will start on 1 November 2023. I guess that part of the reason why I was hired was because I studied in the Netherlands and can speak Dutch. What you describe is a complex problem. From my limited knowledge, and your analysis, the housing crisis does seem to be one of the primary drivers of this issue. But, let’s be honest, there are amazing Universities and programs in the Netherlands, and they are competitively priced for foreign students!

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing and the kind words! There are a lot of issues to this...housing is one of them =) Housing a big one...have you already moved and found a place? And congrats on the new gig! You may notice some familiar classrooms in the video from Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam :)

[@lws7394]

​@@hidavidwen Since introduction of BaMa in 2007, in Groningen the Rijksuniversiteit (R.U.G.) grew from 20k to 36k and the Hanze Hogeschool from 19k to 29k. At the R.U.G.the number of foreign students is 'just' 25% , so they are only a part of that problem ... Some years ago there was 6000 more new ienlistments than the year before ! A city of 200k like Groningen can't adjust to that ! Fact is that the dutch housing crisis is for a deal csused by the NL government policy of Mark Rutte. In 2012 austerity cuts made the 2008 credit crisis endure longer in NL than say Belgium.. ( NL gdp decreased , compared to Belgiums and it took till 2018 , before NL level caught up again !). In all that time construction sector was almost flatlined , while the population kept growing ...

[@Haroekoe]

Good luck with your new job 👊🏽

[@digitaldion]

@@Haroekoe thank you so much! I am so grateful for the opportunity! It offers such promise for my family and I! Of course it is a big move. But, we are confident that it will be worth it!

[@Haroekoe]

You go for it! Ever since I visited SA for the first time (2011) and again in 2018, I got smitten by the country and the people. I stayed at friends in Benoni, who took me with them to their relatives in Capetown. On the other hand, I have contacts with SA through my job. We serve the African cycle team (of Douglas Ryder). Many of the people I got acquainted with, moved to the Netherlands as well. Hope you settle well. And don't hesitate to ask for help (from me, if necessary) from Dutchmen, since they will (should) assist. I myself live in Rotterdam. Since the financial crisis, many foreigners from South Europe came here (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece), since the Russian war many Eastern European people came to live in my quarter. Sometimes I come across them, seeking for advice, and then I help them in certain typical Dutch procedures . Good luck 👊🏽✌🏼

[@Han-ot2ll]

If expats and international students are planning to work and live here long term they should learn Dutch. Even if you don’t have to speak it at your job and stuff. You’re still in a foreign country and should adjust to the country you chose to go to, not the other way around

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. You have a point. Just because most Dutch speak English...it's still appreciated if people try to learn the language.

[@sharxtheguy1383]

@@hidavidwen It is very possible to live in the Netherlands if you don't speak Dutch. It is in our history and culture to adapt to other languages because of trades etc, going all the way back to colonial times. However, to truly fit into the society, you will need to speak Dutch, for a lot of the cultural context just only works in the Dutch language, and it is seen as a big sign of respect by the natives, and it shows you care about more than just what works for you.

[@dmastervideos]

Fully agreed. I know several people that studied university here and they can't speak dutch. Can you imagine being here for 5 years and being relatively young and living here, but not learning the language?

[@Blackadder75]

@@hidavidwen you also will have a hard time getting really close friends here if you don;t speak Dutch. If 10 of us speak dutch, and you are the expat that still only speaks English , we don;t want to have to adjust in every social situation with you around, because our social life is mostly in Dutch

[@maartent9697]

@@Blackadder75 Eh that's more the close minded type of Dutch people which aren't worth talking too anyways, most Dutchies just hate the way they sound when speaking English and that's why they don't want to speak it. I've noticed higher educated woman have no problem with talking English whilst the male population is always cocky and wanting people to adapt to their way. Just ask an MBO student why they don't wanna talk English it's most because they're not fluent with it, are ashamed of how they sound and it's too much of an energy investment for them to try. Any Uni/HBO student who isn't part of the wannabe sororities have no problem with speaking English and as an Dutchie speaking solely Dutch when there are internationals is just rude and be called out more. Besides most villages either have great people living in it worht visiting or it's just another racist PVV/FvD/BBB voting clownfiesta of always blaming foreigners, my source: I lived in the poorest village of the Netherlands for 15+ years where most people were casually slurring the N word or other racist remarks and the surrounding villages/cities weren't much of an improvement.

[@gstar1084]

The two main reasons why the use of English-only courses in Dutch universities should be limited (not ended) in my opinion, have little to do with the housing situation or retaining international students. One is to improve the language skills of Dutch graduates. The increasing use of English has lead to a huge decline of 'academic dutch'. That's not a big problem if you go on to work for an international company, but the vast majority of Dutch graduates, will go on to work in a Dutch speaking environment. There they have to write reports or papers in Dutch. Some really struggle to even write at highschool-level. The other has to do do with some Dutch minorities (mostly young refugees). It's a bit of a forgotten group in these discussions, but there is a group with a surprising percentage that learned enough Dutch (as a second language) for an academic course, but lacks the neccesary English skills (a third language) for university.

[@vmoses1979]

Shouldn't students learn proper academic Dutch by the end of high-school? Universities aren't there to improve a person's native language skills. One is at university to deploy them.

[@gstar1084]

@@vmoses1979 They do learn Dutch in highschool: obviously. But they stop using it in college/university. That's the problem. You do see a decline in skill.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I get it. What's interesting is...many Dutch universities are quotes is saying the academic language is "English" (just quoting them)...I don't know what is going on but I'm curious...what is the balance between providing high-quality education and preserving/maintaining the language? Another question I have is...is that the feedback that many Dutch companies have...that the younger generations' Dutch language skills are currently lacking? If yes, that should definitely be investigated! But I mean language skills and not communication skills...because communication skills are something we all need to work on as humans haha Thanks for sharing!

[@gstar1084]

@@hidavidwen You touch upon a very important part of this discussion. Dutch universities consider English the worldwide academic language (which is true). Within Dutch universities there is great support for the current system: they like it, see the preference for Dutch as backwords and not inclusive and would increase the use of English if they are allowed to. That has lead to the obvious decline of Dutch as an academic language (as in a language that is used in universities) Within society outside there are big concerns regarding this. Some practical (graduates that have to work in Dutch speaking enviroments and can't write about their subject in acceptable Dutch, access to university for minorities for whom English is a distant third language, access for Dutch students for whom English is a difficult Subject), some emotional (yhe 'why can't I order food in Dutch in a Dutch restaurant' crowd), some existential (fear for the end of Dutch in the long term. For a good example of this you might want to check an opinion piece in the NRC this week, where the use of English is compared to imperialism/colonialism. In current Dutch law universities are supposed to teach in Dutch, with some exceptions. Over the past few decades that exception became the norm. Sometimes with ridiculous effects (a student of Dutch language was not allowed to write or defend his paper in Dutch: even though there was little outside interest. ) My personal view is a bit mixed and I admit biased (I make a living by writing in Dutch). I think all students in the Netherlands should have the option to study all subjects primarely in their native language. For popular studies universities could create an English alternative, as long as the quality of the Dutch course doesn't suffer. Those that follow a full university course in English should at least learn the Dutch language. On the other hand; students that study for a master, should be able to write a paper in English. It is after all, the most important academic international language. With apologies for the long response.

[@hidavidwen]

@@gstar1084 Thanks for the long response! Appreciate your perspective given your background!

[@QueenofStarlight]

I am an International Student in the Netherlands with an english studie, but i still made the effort to learn dutch (i am now fluent) . I always felt it was disrespectful when i met people who had studied there for years and still did not know any dutch at all. I mean if you choose a country to study in you should do your best to integrate into the culture and language.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. And also great to hear. What advice and tips do you have about learning the language? Because many find it very difficult to learn (eg. due to inability to practice).

[@XKaulitza]

As a Dutchie I wanted to let you know that it is really appreciated that you took the effort to learn our language. And I can imagine it was a lot of effort since our language isn’t an easy one to learn. My respects towards you. Dutch people are really good in English in general but I think a lot of people are taking that for granted and became lazy

[@woutervanr]

Good job! At first I didn't really care, but changed my mind after a while. If you're here even for just two years, you can easily learn atleast a few words of my language.

[@xenzis2431]

@@hidavidwensay you don't speak english

[@MrC-Hacking]

The Netherlands also has exceptional city design as well, and supports public transportation and the ability to get around without a car, which can save you large amounts of money. North America is car dependent, and people who live in car-dependent cities might look to places in Europe for the public transport and easy access to everything without a car.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing, yes points you mentioned makes living in the Netherlands quite nice and easy =)

[@elriquedolf]

As a south african studying in the Netherlands, I understand the locals concerns but their economy benefits a ton from international students. A good example is my tuition fee being a international student vs the tuition fee of a dutch student. My tuition fee is €8,160 a year while a dutch student only pays €2,160 a year. I don't complain about the cost of living because I'm happy to be here. If you've lived in the south africa i've lived in for 21 years, you would feel the same way I do. I'm immensely thankful and grateful for being here. I love this country and I will do everything I can to make things easier for the locals knowing how they're struggling because of us. Edit: Being south african my home language is Afrikaans which made learning dutch a lot easier for me

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing! Especially as a student. Great mindset, keep it up and good luck in school!

[@qixxor2075]

I think it’s insane that 40% of all 1st year students are international. They flood the system, making it hard to maintain quality. It’s not the housing crisis, that just adds to it. My son was denied a place in a prestigious study because of this (unrealistic competition with people 10 years older). It’s the fact that the whole system can’t cope. I’m for openness but not at all cost. And we are all paying taxes for this.. Also, I think it’s too easy to ignore the Dutch language. It’s getting worrisome that you can’t speak dutch anymore in whole swaths of Amsterdam. Is that what I paid taxes for my whole life? To have to speak English everywhere? You may not like the language but it’s getting to a point where it’s disrespectful to the locals. I don’t believe the metric that international students add 1.5 billion to the Dutch economy. It ignores the costs of giving them education.

[@DenUitvreter]

Proficiency doesn't equal language either in an academic sense. Wrapping your head around something very complicated can be done in your own language but not in an acquired language. That's not much of a problem for the 'number' studies, but when the subject is expressed in words, it is. The level of education maxes out at the level of English of the students, and that is often lower.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Sorry to hear about your son-was this one of those "numerus fixus" programs? I think I read somewhere that the policymakers got what they wanted out of internationalization but didn't have a plan for what we are seeing today...but this seems to be a first step. Though I hope whatever happens that it is benefits students/educators in the long-run (because there seems to be a lot of disagreement between universities and the government which isn't a good thing for the sake of education) The 1.5 billion to Dutch economy, you can read the research here from Nuffic if you want = www.nuffic.nl/sites/default/files/2023-03/factsheet-international-students.pdf Thanks for sharing

[@cgpsj2194]

@@DenUitvreter100% disagree

[@MissMoontree]

No offense intended, but if he was rejected for a competitive study, could he not have tried in Flanders? I know not everyone has the funds to study in a far away city, but their fees are smaller for both housing and the study. Especially if it is medicine or dental, you can just prove your worth in a test that is the same for everyone. If he succeeds, then he might have been snubbed in the Netherlands, but he'll be able to do the study in Belgium. If he fails, perhaps he should work on himself for a while and try again later. Not sure if he can still do the second time test this year, but I would look into it if it is his dream.

[@qixxor2075]

@@hidavidwenThanks for your thoughtful reply. I appreciate the compassion. Ive always enjoyed your thoughtful videos, but had to react as I found this perspective too one sided. Anyways… read the article. And it’s annoying how it doesn’t reflect the costs at all. A very simple example: the 1,5bio “contribution” is calculated on lifetime tax revenue that the remains 24% of international students would generate. Now, they conveniently forget to offset the costs of all education for a student. On average a student costs the taxpayers between 15k and 32k per year. If they study here for three years: that’s between 45k and 96k. Compare that to the lifetime income that for the vast majority is 5k, then 16k, 64k and 96k (the minority but that has actually more years of study). Then take into account that we have additional cost per international student, that we now also pay basis beurs to international students, student loans etc. The costs of having to scale up capacity and you may realize that it’s not all good. On a side note: I don’t believe that scaling up capacity increases quality at all, certainly not with education.

[@grewdpastor]

It's actually not that terribly complicated a problem. Firstly, the housing market: the shortage of housing also has a lot to do with the requirements that the inhabitants of the Netherlands place on a home. It was once normal that in the Randstad a family of 2 parents and 4 to 6 children lived in a floor house with 4 rooms. This same house is now often occupied by 1 to 2 people. This can also be seen elsewhere in the Netherlands: much larger single-family homes with up to 6 rooms are occupied by a maximum of 2 (!) people. The result of the ageing of the population and the simultaneous closure of old people's homes. Then higher education: the universities and colleges have seriously neglected their task of further educating and educating Dutch people. Instead, they have chosen the globalization path. The result of this is clear: an unhelpful threshold for young people in the Netherlands. Even though many believe that they have a good command of a language other than their mother tongue (Dutch), in reality this is bitterly disappointing. I myself belong to the generation that had to read books in German, French, English and Dutch for various subjects such as source literature at university. Also, scientific journals in these languages were "consumed". However, the lectures were almost always given in our mother tongue (i.e. Dutch). Dissertations were also written in Dutch (with an English and/or German summary). Now we have the curious situation that one university could offer a study programme Dutch for Dutch students with lectures NOT in Dutch, but in English. I have now reached the age where I am considered to be irrelevant by the younger generations, but it seems to me that safeguarding cultural individuality and a realistic view of the "carrying capacity" of a culture and the population belonging to that culture is also a core task of a government. Guests are always welcome, but they should not crowd out the hosts.

[@hidavidwen]

Well, I hope you don't think you are not "relevant"-we all have perspectives and wisdom to share. So thanks for sharing your wisdom. Wow, I can't imagine the era in which you had to study in 4 languages. I guess that was considered the "norm" in those days? Well...change is the one constant in life and in the history of humankind. With globalization comes positives and also consequences. I think the government is now trying to take care of the "consequences," but I guess we'll have to wait and see. What I'm trying to find out and curious about...I wonder if there's a study out there...what do all the Dutch students today think? (Since they are the ones in school)

[@ewout2763]

@@hidavidwen If you do VWO for the first three years you still have to do Dutch, English, German and French (and ancient Latin and greek if you do Gymnasium. After that you have to study Dutch, English and one or more of the other languages, some schools offer Chinese and spanish as well) But about that Globalization, almost all History I learned during History lessons in high school had nothing to do with Dutch history, I had to learn that at Dutch lessons. So instead of learning more complex sayings and grammer there, I learned about the Dutch rennesaince and its impact on Dutch writing....

[@polyliker8065]

The housing is mostly an issue of lack of building and opening it up for international 'investment' though. The two people thing kinda forgets that the other four are new people (their children), not people that were also looking for a home. There just aren't enough homes to go around because we pushed for privatization of the market and pushed against construction by heavily regulated companies. This really is the fault of parties like the VVD but I don't trust they'll never take actual responsibility for their policies and reverse them. Another part is immigration. We really should close the borders for a while for any immigrants (not war refugees but people just looking for a better life). We gotta figure out how we can deal with this; take a critical look at how we make sure we have enough resources to go around and prevent segregation and promote integration.

[@perhapsyes2493]

@@hidavidwen I took English, French, Spanish and German classes during my VMBO-T (middle school, 12 to 16 y/o). Which is not exactly a high level, FYI. This was during the early 2000's, not sure how things are today. This country is small and trade oriented, so it makes sense to learn languages that are spoken in the neighboring countries. At this point one might almost say English classes are unnecessary, as exposure to the language is ubiquitous and unavoidable. You _will_ pick up the language, even if you don't try.

[@luxinchen1928]

Amazing video! Loved the case study of Denmark

[@hidavidwen]

Aw thanks! Really appreciate the kind words 🙏

[@laujulius3999]

It's not just the housing problem but also Dutch students are currently having less chance to get into Dutch Universities because of the huge influx of international students. So some of them are "forced" to study abroad. I am an international student myself but I understand the struggle Netherlands is facing. Though I think the language policy would really affect the international outlook of Dutch Universities. One of the possible solutions I can think of is implementing this policy in HBOs while leaving the WOs alone. In addition, setting quotas for non-EU students would be a good option too.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. I do understand the solution should be the best option for the students here. Let’s hope everyone works towards a solution that best fits the students and educators’ needs

[@allenk6373]

well I dont think that many going to Nederland I would love to study in Nederland but I dont have finances I would say more going to germany or Czech Republic because its free i you know the language but you got all EU to choose from

[@Cergorach]

That kind of depends on how people get into universities... If it's a first come, first enroll basis, then it has no impact on the quality of the students => future workers. If you're admitted based on a certain 'quality' score and only the best are admitted, that would improve the students => future workers. I have no experience with university admittance, but did have to test when I went to HTS/LBO 25+ years ago, the test for aerospace engineering (HTS) was pretty though and not everyone was admitted. Even for something like multimedia design (LBO) I had to show them my art portfolio, I don't remember if I had to do an admittance test for informatica (HBO). The quality of students => future workers is also a double edged sword. Having been active in the job market for 20+ years, when the economy does well and there is a high demand, supply moves around with a huge delay. Meanwhile job requirements go down drastically, hell even at the helpdesk level we've had to hire people (low quality) I wouldn't have even considered if we had any choice in the matter. But when the economy goes down (the drain), suddenly there are less jobs available, with too many people looking for a job, and job requirements go through the roof. They want a 20-year old with 10 years of IT experience (I wish I was kidding!)... The huge elephant in the room is housing, we're 10+ years behind! We're 390.000 houses short in 2023! It's going to take YEARS before we're making any significant dent in that number. 'Inviting' more foreign students into the Netherlands is a HUGE issue, especially when it more then tripled in the last 15 years. Of those 120k+ students, around 30k graduate and if they can they'll continue to live and work in the Netherlands. In 2022 we had a population growth of of 220.000 people, that was because we had a positive migration balance of 224.000. The local population is shrinking, that's great for a housing deficit! We had 179.000 emigrate (out) and 403.000 immigrate (in). I have absolutely no issues with immigrants from whatever background (I grew up with kids from all kinds of countries), but I would like to solve our housing issues before 'inviting' more people in. This housing issue shouldn't have been an issue at all, blame the rest of the Dutch that voted 10+ years ago and the politicians that thought that abolishing government housing planning and completely depending on capitalism to steer our housing market... Student housing can be a separate issue from regular housing, but at this point it is entwined. If people have extra rooms they can rent out, if they didn't have that option, chances are that they would sell that house for something smaller (or even sell their second house)... If companies don't have a huge pool of applicants they'll be forced (in most cases) to accept less qualified personnel. Sources: www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/visualisaties/dashboard-bevolking/bevolkingsgroei/immigratie www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/visualisaties/dashboard-bevolking/bevolkingsgroei/groei

[@daarom3472]

learn Dutch. If you're gettig academically educated it means you're smart enough to learn another language. If you're not then you're not fit to participate. When I went to Spain I first learnt Spanish, that's how it should be.

[@laujulius3999]

@@daarom3472 What was your level of Spanish when you went to Spain to study?

[@Qrit]

Thank you for researching the subject. I left a comment on your "Living in Amsterdam" video about the subject and this a very clear presentation of the situation.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, it was a lot of research. And yes, you did! Appreciate it 🙏

[@i86ij99]

The fact that many Dutch people can speak fluent English is also a double-edged sword. In many situations where "my English is better than your basic Dutch", natives tend to switch to English for faster communication. After all, not everyone has the patience to be a "language teacher" and would rather get things done faster. This creates a barrier for beginners to advance their proficiency. In contrast, in many places in France, Spain, or even Germany, speaking the local language, no matter how badly, is the only way to communicate.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. It is a double-edged sword indeed. Especially in Amsterdam...once people hear you don't speak fluent Dutch...they will switch to English-which is amazing but makes it difficult to practice the language.

[@Giovanna8782]

A lot of Dutch people are going abroad to study in Flanders due of cheaper study costs, also they have a bigger chance to be accepted. It’s sad that foreigners take away spots for dutch students, that’s why they go abroad. But as a Flemish person, I love my Dutchies in Flanders ❤️

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. I did not know that many Dutch students are leaving because they couldn't find a study spot in the Netherlands. Do you know if this is for certain programs that are more competitive? And how much cheaper is Belgium?

[@jeannebouwman1970]

Also if the city you study in you can live in Belgium. I study in maastricht and I live in belgium

[@hidavidwen]

@@jeannebouwman1970Thanks for the tip-I knew quite a few people in my program who did the same (lived in nearby Belgium and commuted to Maastricht-easier to find housing and cheaper)

[@margaridarodrigues3834]

Such an informative video! Thank you!

[@hidavidwen]

You’re welcome, thanks!

[@Shenkie987]

Those numbers about the stay rate don't paint an accurate picture. You are referencing a study by Nuffic, which states that of all international graduates in 2015, 23.6% is still living and working in The Netherlands five years later. But graduates of 2015 started college in 2011. Back in 2011 most courses were still in Dutch, meaning more of those international students had to invest in learning the language and culture. There isn't a recent study on the current stayrate, but I can only imagine what the lack of necessity to speak the language does with the attachment to the country and, by extension, the stayrate.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. Yeah I don’t know of any other study though I did try to find. Things could change but I don’t think it’s a drastic change. What the studies do show is that internationals do add a lot to the local economy (even if only 24% stay…this number is higher for non-EU). And what Denmark learned a few years after “limiting international students” is that…a better strategy is how to better integrate and retain foreign students instead (because they also have a shortage in the labor market)

[@danc991]

Thank you for this informative video!! I learned something new and love the way you present your facts. Keep up the great work!! Can't wait to learn more from you and your experience living abroad!

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Dan!!!

[@majootjexd]

I don't think it is only the housing market, but it is true that it is part of the problem. As a Dutch citizen the problem lies as follows: 1. As mentioned the housing market. There are not enough houses for students, but also not for the working class people. And we can't just simply build more houses. This is because we are also in a nitrogencrisis which means we aren't allowed to build more houses by EU law. The shortage of housing will only go up and up. To solve the crisis for internationals a lot of universities try to secure good student homes for them beforehand. So they "reserve" them in buildings. The problem is that those buildings they reserve were originally for Dutch students. And those students were already on waiting lists for YEARS (for example: the waiting list for my studio when I was studying was 3,5 years). And an international student could just apply and take that room. 2. It is true that a lot of people stay and help benefit the economy. But they refuse to adapt to the Dutch culture and learn our language. They roll their eyes when people refuse to talk in English or if they simply can't do it. From a lot of foreigners I heard that they love to go live in the Netherland because we are such a good English speaking nation. But our language is Dutch. And I think it is not more than logical that you at least know some of the language if you are going to study there. If I want to study in Spain, I should go learn Spanish. 3. Many foreigners who are studying in the Netherlands are just disrespectful. They only come here to party, get high and drunk. They are here mostly for half a year and go away with their easy degree. When I lived in a student flat I can not count how many times we had to call the cops because they were partying on a Monday or Tuesday. I love parties, but not when I have school/work at 8 am the next day (let's be clear I was not the only person calling the cops, every Dutch student there did. You would be to if your studio was shaking at 3 AM in the night). I like it when people are studying here and have fun. But they make it less fun for our own citizens. I do get your problems, but I don't see them as a thing we won't recover from. Like I said before it does not apply to all of the students, but it does to most I met. Also I want to point this out: The Netherlands has 17,87 million people living in this tiny country. Denmark is bigger than us and has 5,91 million people. We are also just running out of space...

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your experience and story, it matters. #1 Housing...yeah that's a big problem...no one seems to have the solution... #2 Language...yeah I do think those people who "roll their eyes" if English isn't spoken are in the wrong...at least people can show respect #3 Foreign students...sorry to hear you had bad experiences, I hope you know not everyone is like that. I would also assume that some 18-19 year university students-whether they are Dutch or foreigners-with alcohol...can be like that (I know that as I was once an 18-year old too haha) Thanks for sharing

[@goddess_ofchaos]

That point about partying, I feel that one so bad. I hate how privileged & rude they are coming here and partying till 3 am during the week like please stfu if you come here to study, then study don't party

[@brianquigley1940]

It's really hard to learn Dutch in Amsterdam and major cities. Everyone automatically switches to English. That said, if you persevere, the language is relatively easy to learn. A lot more English words are used now (compared to 20 years ago).

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing! Yeah...everyone does automatically switch to English in Amsterdam, which is nice but makes it hard to learn the language. I mean...I guess...I would too...especially if it's at a restaurant or something...I wouldn't have the patience But perseverance is key to learning the language!

[@Treinbouwer]

Je kunt er als Nederlander al niet in het Nederlands bestellen...

[@brianquigley1940]

@@Treinbouwer ik vond het niet mooielijk 🙂

[@annekathleen4498]

I've lived here for over 40 years and speak Dutch but in Amsterdam I speak to them in Dutch and they answer me in English. Very annoying!

[@brianquigley1940]

@@annekathleen4498 Dat was ook mijn gootste hindernis. 😃

[@thijs5167]

I really agree with the plan that international students need to study the Dutch language. Living in a foreign country and not speaking the local language is very disrespectful. In for example Amsterdam, it is very hard to find a Dutch speaking person in things like restaurants or stores. That’s the reason why I don’t go to Amsterdam anymore.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective Thijs. Yeah, Amsterdam is definitely not representative of the Netherlands. I do try to tell people (who visit) to get outside and try to see the rest of the Netherlands

[@luzbelenlf]

Loved this video!

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks! What did you learn? Or curious about still

[@oilslicknl]

I was an introduction guide for international students for multiple years starting in 2018. Even then the uni had setup a massive tent came on the sports terain because of lack of housing. Its gotten worse every year. I met people from all over the world who im still friends with. This is why it makes me sad to admit that allowing more internationals to come is bordering on immoral at this point. Most of them have no idea how bad the housing market is. They are being dragged into an extremely stressfull situation away from friends and family. This really needs to be fixed first.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing, especially as you were an introduction guide for international students. I did my Masters in 2018 and can relate to the pain of finding student housing. I studied in Maastricht and knew several people who lived in Belgium/Germany because it was cheaper/easier to find there. At the time, they were building a bunch of student housing...but I don't know if it's enough and fast enough. I get you and THANKS for being a guide for students-I really appreciated the help I got from people like you! (It really made moving/integrating so much easier)

[@user-kp9jh8wk7b]

Thank you so much for the information

[@hidavidwen]

You’re welcome

[@yourpaljake6024]

I’m Dutch, and have already met some of this change in tone. Last year the study I have started now had only 10% local first years due to locals being outcompeted by internationals. This year(my first year) they claimed to have a “Dutch track” where you are prepared for the “Dutch market” they claimed choosing this track wouldn’t affect your chances of getting in, but it actually did. I’d probably not be studying my dream study if it weren’t for this measure which made sure that at least 50% of 1st years were Dutch. I am glad they did this. Btw it is computer science & engineering at TU Delft

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective and story

[@dominikakapla4043]

I think it was like this because CSE is one of very few English programs offered by TU Delft, so it resulted in bigger % of international students.

[@erikpl6402]

I graduated from my bachelor's course at The Hague's University of Applied Sciences in 2005 when about a fifth of all students were internationals (I'm Dutch myself). Back then, I thought it was great. Their presence brought a whole new dynamic to the place and I got a head start learning how to deal with cultural differences early in life. But now we're in a situation where Dutch students see their applications turned down in favor of international students who have completely flooded Dutch universities. This simply isn't sustainable. The EU's freedom of movement means we can't address this issue by setting quotas (which would be illegal under EU law) so policy makers have to resort to the next best tool: language. The alternative solution is raising the tuition fees, which would be a much worse solution that would end up favoring students with rich parents. Anyone can learn Dutch (it's really not that hard) but not everyone has a boatload of cash to pay exorbitant tuition fees. So yeah; it's a shitty plan. But it's the best available option to remedy a swiftly deteriorating situation. As for the housing market: that's the reason I'm planning to leave. I lived abroad for many years but came back to the Netherlands during the pandemic (a decision I now greatly regret). The housing market is a mess and it's only going to get worse. The government doesn't have a plan. Right now we don't even have a government. I'm not waiting around for this to be resolved; it's time to go.

[@KESipples]

Can I please have your house when you leave? 😀

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing Erik! I can understand your point of view. And also why the government is doing this. One thing I'd like to point out (based on Dutch Education Inspectorate's research) is that international students have "no impact on accessibility, but self-selection occurs among Dutch students" Source: www.nuffic.nl/sites/default/files/2023-03/factsheet-international-students.pdf And the housing thing...seems like this is a bigger problem that no one has a solution for =/ Where will you move to next?

[@kassistwisted]

I'm an American who is going to start a Bachelor's Program at Tilburg University in a couple of weeks. I think many of the reasons stated for changing Dutch Universities back to Dutch language only are a bit thin. First, let me say that I have lived in the Netherlands for five years, I own a business here, I have my own housing, and I pay Dutch taxes. So I'm not the usual international student who comes to the Netherlands just to study. The housing crisis is clearly a problem. When I first came here, I never saw anyone sleeping on the street. Now I see a few tents in the park in the morning. So the housing crisis is definitely an issue. But student rooms are not the same as single-family dwellings. The government could make it attractive for landlords to split single-family homes into multiple student dwellings. But they likely won't get as much rent for them. The government could solve this problem by putting pressure (or incentives) on landlords. However, the idea that foreign students are pushing out the Dutch students cannot possibly be true. My Bachelors Program and the Masters Programs I've explored have no limit on how many students will be accepted. Everyone who meets the criteria is accepted. So if Dutch nationals are sayuing that they are finding Dutch Universities have no places for them, that is simply not true. They accept everyone will the right qualifications. And furthermore, the requirements are easier to fulfill if you have a Dutch secondary school education. So I do not believe there are not enough spaces for Dutch students because foreign students have pushed them out. The argument does not stand up to the facts. I believe that, like so many things since the refugee crisis started, the Dutch want to believe that "foreigners" are invading their country and ruining it. This is a bit of rhetoric put forward by the right-wing media and far-right politicians. DO NOT BELIEVE IT! The Dutch are known as the most accepting and peaceful people in the world. Don't fall prey to the right-wingers who want to blame imagined problems on "them damn foreigners". This is what happened in my country (the USA) and a big reason why I don't live there anymore.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective and happy 5 years (me too). Studies do show that internationals generally do not take away spots from Dutch students, however some Dutch students may indirectly decide not apply to certain programs due to internationalization. But yeah, housing is a big problem and international students only make up 15% of the total student population and even smaller % if you consider the entire country.

[@jipke7430]

They literally are splitting single-family homes into student rooms by renting out a house with for example 4 bedrooms for 4 students. They rent the houses out as a whole, and not seperate rooms so that they can circumvent a rule that states that you can't ask above a certain price for a student room given the size etc. And the refugees are to blame for some of the problems the average person is facing in the Netherlands. The tax payer is paying for their food, healthcare and housing. Many refugee families get a house from the government while the working man can't even rent one because 1, there aren't any available houses, and 2 the prices are sky high for rent, gas, water, light and food.

[@denismakhortov9401]

Dude I was in that student camp in Tilburg! Had the best introduction week tho. My closest friends after 4 years here in NL, still the guys from the camp haha. Great video!

[@hidavidwen]

Hey Denis - woah thanks for sharing and commenting! Haha yeah I can imagine...I read an article that said people really had a good experience there! I mean...I'm sure looking back, they were good memories (as long as it's not forever) And people usually bond together over "hard times" But I bet it must've been a big shock and surprise at the beginning? Was it hard to find housing afterward?

[@denismakhortov9401]

@@hidavidwen Hi David, I didn’t look at the camping as a shock or a big challenge tbh. I came to Tilburg like a month before the start of the studies, to check the city out and also try to find accommodation. I was staying 2 nights in the hostel, and the girl in the hostel told me that it is extremely hard to find something. There I realised that it would be a challenge haha. And then later in one of the Facebook student groups I saw a post about student camping. I signed up as it was at least smth for a mean time, while I would figure out a proper room. For me it turned out all good, as university kind of helped out, by renovating one of the old university buildings into student accommodations. I basically lived in an old professor office haha But actually being on the news helped us a little bit. Some people would come by to camp and offer us a room, or even a shared house. I remember someone even donated some clothes to us haha So overall looking back to the camping times, I only remember good memories, but I have no idea how I survived 3 weeks in just a small single person tent

[@hidavidwen]

@@denismakhortov9401 Well glad to hear you can look back at all the good memories haha. Well, it's definitely a unique experience. But yeah, I know about the challenge...I found a student dorm 1 week before my flight to the Netherlands. It was in a building that used to be a hospital haha

[@wanrazaq]

I am about to stay in Enschede for studying in the University of Twente this month. Keep up the great work David.

[@hidavidwen]

Best of luck! I knew a few people who studied there. Enjoy and thanks for the kind words!

[@xbz24]

What you studying at ut?

[@muralim8827]

Thoughtful video and important facts are presented well 👋

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for the kind words 🙏

[@RogierYou]

Make learning Dutch mandatory to encourage future integration into our society. After all that is the main advantage of having international students to retain them for the Dutch economy. Teaching tech and science in English is logic since this is the common language in this industry. Find a solution for the housing crisis by improving infrastructure and/or relocate the universities to less populated areas.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. Great idea. It is part of the proposal I believe. Though I think it needs to be practical (meaning they support students in learning the language if it’s part of the curriculum) and I hope they have a plan for this

[@RogierYou]

@@hidavidwen Functional Dutch to participate in society, work language can be English or combination of both. People will figure it out.

[@Treinbouwer]

Het is wel raar dat we van asielzoekers (volkomen terecht) eisen dat ze integreren, maar dat niet eisen van mensen die hier komen voor andere redenen zoals werk en zich in dit geval bij onze elite voegen.

[@DenUitvreter]

Dutch is already mandatory, this government simply breaks the law because internationalization is great. Don't ask how or why or to which degree, it just is.

[@panainpublic]

as a dutch person who'll almost certainly be studying in groningen next year (was supposed to be this year but, yknow, ✨life✨), i signed up for a room *last year* so i would have any chance at getting one. (im not from the north, so travelling every day is not an option.) i do have two friends who are moving out of their homes to study, but only one got a room - the other is staying with family. im actually considering applying at a more local university as a backup in case i cant get a room, even when ive been signed up for a year and a half at the time ill be looking for one. so while i love people coming here to study, and while im really looking forward to making international friends, the fact that there is a serious chance that i wont be able to study at my preferred uni _in my own country_ is so absurd that i do agree some type of action should be taken. however, i dont think limiting the amount of courses offered in english is the right choice. but i dont really know what *would* be the correct course of action, unfortunately.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective and experience. Oh yeah, I can understand the feeling (and stress) of not possibly having housing...I literally found housing 1 week before my flight to the Netherlands. But yeah, so I feel you as a fellow ex-student myself. And I hope you find a solution. I also don't know what the correct course of action should be...but I hope you do find housing. And I hope you keep trying if Groningen is where you want to study (sounds like you are excited!). I visited Groningen for the first time last month, and I think it's a beautiful place to study and be a student! Lots of cool restaurants and cafes. I hope you keep trying to find housing there, I'm sure it'll be worth it once you do!

[@JesusismyHero247]

Great video, you put so much time & info in it. I am from USA & signed lease in Netherlands with a friend I met earlier this year. Without this friend I would have paid 3 times more at airbnb. Huge housing issue here. This is interesting. You were so smart to do Masters here.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks! It was time-consuming indeed so appreciate the kind words. Yeah housing is crazy here. What brought you to the NL in the first place?

[@JesusismyHero247]

@@hidavidwenI was preaching all over the world for over 10 years as christian evangelist but always felt home in Holland. Hopefully my daft is approved and i stay awhile. Start business.

[@vladbulauchyk4287]

Very interesting video, thank you

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for watching!

[@ginnyl7208]

I'm Dutch and I finished a bachelor last year. For the 4 years I studied I had to travel 4 hours total everyday by train for school, because I could not find a place to live. Even if there was a vacancy you had to compete with 20 other students for an expensive small room. And many asked to visit physically which I just wasn't able to do because of the time and money that would take. And this wasn't even including foreign students. A small room without private bathroom can easily go for 500+ euros. A small studio that doesnt even have a proper (small) kitchen but consist of loose appliances can cost you 700+ euros. I've also experienced the rise in the use of English wherever I go. At many places I can't talk in Dutch anymore. I have no problem speaking English, but not all Dutch people can speak it well and many older people can't speak it at all. I'm currently continuing my studies at uni and now have international friends who I love. I think international students are definitely valuable, but it's very concerning that Dutch students and workers are suffering more and more because of it. Not being able to afford housing, international students being chosen over Dutch students or having more trouble finding a job for example. I still welcome international students, but there should be more requirements for them to enter university here. Like speaking a certain amount of Dutch (just like we also have to prove we can speak enough English for our masters in NL). Or having proof of the accomodation you'll be staying at and having the financial means (in savings, loans etc.)(a certain amount of time in advance). Or switching certain English masters and Bachelors back to Dutch (as we don't have enough means to offer them all in both languages). I see so many posts of international student saying they'll be coming here next month or next week and still not having a place to stay or the actual financial means to afford living here. All of these problems already existed in the past, but with the rise of international students the pressure for Dutch people has risen immensely.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Ginny for sharing your story and perspective, especially since you are a student-I think we need more voices from students/recent graduates to be honest... I can understand the housing struggle as a former student myself (who also couldn't go to viewings due to me being abroad-but somehow got lucky 1 week before my flight that a student dorm opened up). 4 hours daily during school for 4 years...that's not OK and I commend you for getting through all of that. The housing crisis is a big challenge in this country...don't know what the real solution is. Do you know if your fellow Dutch classmates also share the same/similar viewpoints as you (about international students)?

[@ginnyl7208]

I think it's almost become normal to travel that much for college or uni nowadays. One of my old classmates from HBO also lived around my area as she also used the train everyday for 4 years like me. For my 2nd bachelor at a university this year I needed a room as the transport connections weren't great and it would've taken me 6+ hours a day. I started looking in March and still struggled to find a room, but got one in a student residence. I would say at least half of the students in my building are international. I don't think we necessarily have anything against international students, but the amount has risen so drastically that existing problems have just become unbearable. Because before we were already competing with other Dutch students and now it's become even harder for us. And of course especially now things have become difficult not just because of international students, but also the economic and political strain in Europe. Many people (not just students) just can't afford the cost of living anymore. But I think the specific frustration with students (and parents) regarding international students is just building because it feels like we have to constantly adapt for the benefit of international students. Whether that's language, work or living related. I definitely think that international students should be required to give proof of accomodation and financial means (in whatever form that may be) to attend university here. Because it puts a bigger load on us, but also it's not nice for the international students to arrive without having a place to stay. But I think it would also help make international students more selective of coming here or not. Because education might be good and cheaper, but I've found that many underestimate the difficulty and the price of finding accomodation here. I also think a language test would be helpful for certain studies. I think for example, if there are English taught courses, but most attending students are Dutch, it might be beneficial to change them to Dutch courses and require a language test for international students. Especially if they're not heavily science based. I think that these requirements could also be of some benefit to international students as they'll know a little of our language and there will be less cases of "stranded" students

[@hidavidwen]

@@ginnyl7208 Thank you Ginny. Wish you well in your studies and that the situation gets better for (you) and future students. But important that you share these thoughts to spread awareness

[@aislingbooks]

You've touched on a lot of valid points, David. Very interesting research and talk. On another note, some locals I know are trying to run their businesses while being harassed by squatters who are occupying a half block of property in the centre of Amsterdam. I'm not privvy to everything going on, but I do know that these business owners have contacted the police numerous times because of the antisocial disturbances, filed complaints and even taken the particular owner of these flats to court because of inaction while the squatters are continuing to chase away clients. So, I don't understand why this owner, or any others for that matter, can't strike deals with universities like UvA because students are so desperately needing housing. Something's out of balance here.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing and for the kind words. Oh yeah...squatting is another topic...I don't know too much about but I knew of people who stayed in squat houses when I was studying here...but yeah I know it was banned in 2010 but under certain circumstances, squatting is still allowed Something is out of balance with the housing for sure

[@nathanyellll]

I was relived to see that me learning dutch now really will give me an advantage, money only gets you so far.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. Learn the language definitely helps (even in the Netherlands).

[@annekathleen4498]

The Netherlands is full and students have for years been finding it difficult to find somewhere to live. Also the locals are starting to protest about how much English is used here. In the trams the stops are spoken in Dutch and English and even that is annoying some people!

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing Anne. Are you referring to Amsterdam?

[@annekathleen4498]

@@hidavidwen Hi David nee Den Haag. Het staat in het AD.

[@martina_trees]

Randomly suggested by youtube, I loved your video. You provided very witty arguments and topics. As a prospective student in the Netherlands, the housing crisis gives me nightmares. I just need to escape since Im getting my bachelor in Italy and the exams methodologies are taking a toll on my mental health; plus my boyfriend is half Dutch and we don't want to do long distance in the future. Unfortunately this is harder to do without a family that can provide for you, so Im gonna need to work part time, very likely in English: thats why I chose the Netherlands, even though I may not be able to afford rent. Part of me is calmer because Im in STEM and these fields always have some sort of shortage or job opportunity. I just hope everything works out but this is stupid to say when so many people are in the same situation.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for the kind words Martina, I appreciate it =) Are you hoping to do a Masters in the Netherlands or try to find work? If you're in STEM...there's always a job. And you can definitely get by with English here. The housing crisis is bad-in big cities. But it depends on where you live. Outside the cities, you can definitely find more housing. And I hope you take care of your mental health. I can understand how tough it is. Everything will work out in one way or another. That's my mentality. Wishing you well and wishing you best of luck too!

[@martina_trees]

@@hidavidwen Id like to do my master's and then get into the job market. Thank you so much, however it goes I will have a story to tell. You are so kind to answer so many comments, major respect for you and your channel ❤️

[@hidavidwen]

@@martina_trees Good luck! I did a Master's here and found a job afterward. And thanks again =) It's a big reason why I continue making videos...to connect, learn from others, and hopefully help someone else out there...

[@Chichi-sl2mq]

Great video. I want to apply to a Dutch University this fall. This Video has been very helpful. I think they should not just focus on students as the problem. This is a wholesome topic in itself as its not just foreign students who caused the housing crises that should be part of the plan. Are they building more homes? or are they limiting foreigners and immigrants?

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. They are building more homes...but it's not being built fast enough. There are many reasons for that (I made a video about that too about housing in Amsterdam which talks about the housing crisis). Best of luck to you! You should definitely still apply-it is a welcoming country. But yeah, there are challenges like housing to be aware of

[@juliannevork6200]

even though its not just the students, they can't infinitely build more homes, since the country is so small. The country simply isn't big enough for all these people, any solutions will still be temporary unless they do something about how many people come to live here.. and limiting the amount of international students coming here to study and move back home after would be one of the best ways, since they're not committed to the country, culture or language anyways.

[@hidavidwen]

@@juliannevork6200 Thanks for adding. I will also add that not all international students "are not committed to the country, culture, or language." Many mentioned attracting and retaining the "right students" who do want to stay and add to the culture are key...though I am not sure what the best way of doing that is. But yes, you do have a point...the law of supply and demand...there just aren't enough places to live.

[@EricvanDorp007]

Love your painting from Herman Brood.

[@hidavidwen]

🖼️ Thanks!

[@K55365]

Maastricht is a great city. The most non Dutch feeling city of the Netherlands to be honest. It feels very foreign. Maybe an idea for a future video?

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. It is a great city! Yeah I think that’s what made it feel so unique for me…one minute I’m in the Netherlands, then in Belgium, and then Germany and then combine that with the international students/workers

[@DJ_BROBOT]

I do wanna say that one year master's are everywhere in the states, the thing is to get one you will have to do a 4+1 in the same major. If your major in grad focus is different, if even ever so slightly, than what you took in undergrad, then it more often than not will be 2 years due to pre-reqs and other core you'd have to take to make up for it.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing that. I do know of shorter Masters too but most of the ones I found were 1.5 to 2 years (most of my friends who did masters did 2-year programs too)

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I appreciate a video like this because I've met many who were students in NL and are now in the workforce locally but with international companies. I know it's much harder now-a-days due to housing which, I guess I feel like would make it so the number of internationals would automatically go down, just because theres nowhere to stay. But as someone who worked in a university admissions office in the USA, I can tell you that there's a lot at play in admissions at that level. I also appreciate diversity, especially at this level where you need to learn to work with thise with different backgrounds before going into the workforce. But all the elements you mentioned feed off of each other. If there aren't enough Dutch speakers to teach special courses, then what? And I've heard from Dutch people that they are glad they took their degrees in English because they studied science and it doesn't make sense to learn it in Dutch because the industry is so varied. I don't think there is an easy fix. But I hope something good comes out of this for Dutch students and internationals, because they all deserve a good education (and to not sleep in tents).

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing Jessica. Didn't know you worked in university admissions (I also worked part-time at my university's admissions office too!). Yeah I also talked to many of my Dutch classmates who said they chose to study in English (to practice their English at a higher level and of course, they will still use Dutch with friends outside of the classroom)

[@rose-anhpham6210]

Alright so this is my first comment here on your channel though I've been following for a while :) I've been studying and living in NL for 5 years up to this point as a non-eu, and I'm considering of switching my passport to dutch just to be able to secure my master and phd opportunity in The Netherlands (of course as well as a job beyond that, but that's too far in the future for now). My point is, it is getting ridiculous for international people coming to NL as they don't have enough housing for both students and residents. I totally agree with everything you've said in your video and I'm now curious at how exactly this housing crisis is going to be better in the coming years given we are having a new president (soon, well I hope). But yes, long story short, it's even hard to find a rental place here even if you have decent income, and it's only a dream of buying a house in a major city now, even for citizens and dutchies, not saying international students...

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Rose for sharing! Yeah, people don't realize how bad the housing situation is until they come (of course I "read" about it prior). How is your housing situation at the moment and how is it like studying for you here?? I hope you can hang in there and find a Masters program here And appreciate you for sharing :) This is where I (and others) actually do most of my learning...from people like you and your perspectives/stories..so really appreciate it!

[@MaPiVe59]

In the Netherlands we don't have a president. The Netherlands is a kingdom. Je zegt zelf dat je hier al 5 jaar woont, en er over denkt een NL paspoort te gaan kopen. En dan maak je zo'n domme fout? Foei.

[@ballasasex]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 01:28 🎓 The number of international students in the Netherlands has significantly increased, with 122,000 international students in 2022, making up 15% of the total student population. 02:36 🌍 The Netherlands offers a wide range of English-taught programs and has a highly international environment, making it an attractive destination for students from around the world. 04:16 💰 Tuition fees in the Netherlands are relatively low compared to countries like the US or the UK, making it an affordable option for international students. 08:06 🇪🇺 The Dutch government plans to limit the number of international students by reducing the number of English courses and potentially requiring students to learn Dutch. 11:35 🇩🇰 Denmark's experience with limiting international students resulted in a decline in applications for specific programs and a labor shortage, prompting them to reconsider their approach. Made with HARPA AI

[@ID10233]

For a dutch guy my problem is.. changing of our language. Importing un-useful English words like "meeting" "awkward" etc. Dutch people need to be more proud of our language. International people studying and working here don't really help. There are a lot of Ukrainian refugees, trying to speak Dutch and they are very welcome. Yes I speak English, but please.. try to speak a little bit Dutch.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective and suggestion!

[@dennisherzberger4813]

I get that. I'm an international student in the Netherlands and am making the effort to learn Dutch. A lot of my peers were quite dismissive of that and don't bother. I think it's both a necessary courtesy to the dutch people I live with and just really helpful for my daily life. I just wish my uni would support learning Dutch with more than a falling apart, out of date online course...

[@hidavidwen]

@@dennisherzberger4813 Yes! Nice to hear you are taking the effort to learn Dutch. But yeah...more support with Dutch learning could really help. I remember at Maastricht University, there was a 1 free in-person class for students

[@anandms973]

I studied in Germany for my masters and found that to be easily affordable as tuition fee was like 150 euros a semester.. my masters was in English but since it’s engineering I think that’s why it was offered in English

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. Yeah, I do know German tuition is even cheaper (almost free). What made you decide to choose Germany vs. other countries?

[@anandms973]

@@hidavidwen Hi David .. I live in the Netherlands now though as I got a work opportunity directly after graduation from Germany.. i came to NL thinking to stay temporarily on a 1 year job contract and stayed as I like it here and company offered permanent employment. Regarding masters education, I choose Germany mainly for 2 reasons , first was the tuition fee was very low and affordable for me and since I was in engineering domain and Germany was known worldwide for being an engineering hub with many world renowned companies..

[@doortjedartel9009]

Hi David, this country simply can' t provide everything for anyone. Space, environment and finances are running out. So we have to be more selective (in my opinion) in who we admit. You contribute to this society, feel very welcome but this doesn't apply to all. It is kind of funny that in Amsterdam you hear a lot of English. My husband, who teaches at University has to teach in English, when only one student is foreign, of which he is capable, but it sound really funny😅.sounds

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective! Yeah, I understand. I was surprised how easy it is for EU students to just be admitted anywhere (well compared to the US where it is way more selective)...but I guess that's part of being in the EU. I do think that's what people appreciate about Dutch people...how they can just adapt and switch to accommodate and include the one foreigner!

[@infj4w511]

I think you explained it quite well. In essence, international students cost the country a lot, they usually don't stay to work here, and they make it more difficult for other people here to find a home. On the other hand, especially in (specialized) STEM fields, we'd get a terrib;e shortage of teachers if they'd need fluent Dutch for it. I'd suggest increasing the amount of Dutch courses, but allowing some fields to maintain English teachers.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective and your suggestion too! And...side note...INFJ? Only a fellow INFJ would notice that =)

[@mymusicalmaven3837]

I can only speak as a Belgian studying in my country. Nevertheless, we have a lot of foreign students who are coming here nowadays for English-taught programmes. The downside is that many of these foreign students struggle to find employment or to integrate with other Belgians because of their lack of language skills, that is if they wish to remain in Belgium. Now, there are lots of other countries for students to acquire a good education instead of just in NL within the EU. However if people are going to stay in a country where English is NOT the official language (and regardless of the level of local English proficiency levels), learning the local language(s) will be a necessary tool for the future. I don’t believe that this new proposed policy is the ultimate solution to the housing crisis for my neighbours to the north, but perhaps this legislation can be a start to stabilise the lodging situation moving forward. Don’t forget that a foreign student who studies in one language can learn to transfer the acquired knowledge to another language With your example, a student who studies their coursework in Dutch can easily translate what they have learned to English or any other language. Many of us non-English speakers do that all of the time frankly. It’s always nice to see other arguments or solutions if you have any, so feel free to share what you think. :)

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective, appreciate it! Hopefully this proposal sparks constructive conversation between everyone to come to a better solution...it will probably take time and multiple changes too. Learning the language definitely helps. I do like the idea of students learning the language in university. Though "how" it is implemented...I'm curious...I think it'll definitely help students integrate into society...but I don't know how practical it will to expect people to come learn Dutch for a few years...and then find a job in the Dutch language... The housing crisis...yeah another big topic...don't think anyone has a solution to that =/ Thank you!

[@matthijstermeer611]

@@hidavidwen The housing crisis affects many more people than just (foreign) students. Apart from that: globalization has resulted in a considerable subculture/bubble of international students and expat workers, most of whom do not speak the language of the country they reside in, or barely. In the long run, they will not integrate into 'normal society', should they wish to. Fluency in any language can only be acquired by immersing yourself in a native speaking community or workplace, which appears to be rather rare. International companies don't care, why should they? Do you? So there you have it. 'Internationals' are bound to remain strangers to the country they live in, The Netherlands in this case. It doesn't matter, it is not a real concern to most. There is another minor thing: the Dutch are gradually losing their culture, too. It is well underway of being 'internationalized'. Ah, well. Most internationals wouldn't know, as they hardly ever leave their bubble. So tell me: who are the winners of said 'globalization'? Well, fuck me. I didn't address any of the problems mentioned in this video, nor did I provide solutions. Sorry about that!

[@princetawsif3492]

Thanks a lot! I am planning for studying my masters there in 2025. Hopefully things will be better.

[@hidavidwen]

Best of luck!

[@vmoses1979]

Interesting video David. It seems the government is addressing one policy problem (lack of housing in general and in particular for students) by apportioning blame to those that haven't caused the problem - rising international student numbers. If the government is saying we have a capacity problem within universities ie there is a limit to the number of students we can teach - that is fine. Any system has limits but this should have been made apparent from the outset. But it is interesting that when international student numbers started increasing a lot some 10 plus years ago - the government and the universities didn't sit down together to map out what the system would look like and what numbers were acceptable and what outcomes were desired after internationals finished their schooling. This is another policy failure. Ultimately - the Netherlands has an interest in sustaining teaching in English for a whole host of subjects most especially for STEM. They have an interest in encouraging internationals to stay to fill job vacancies. And they have an interest in fostering openness and diverse learning in order to keep the Dutch economy at the forefront. Each of these goals needs clear policy directives from the government so that a positive outcome is acheived from educating international students. This new proposed bill reminds me of Amsterdam's new policy telling visitors we don't want you here especially the rowdy ones who stay for a short time. The Dutch seem to be closing up shop.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. From researching this, I don't think there was a plan in place in regards to the consequences of internationalization. I mean...there are many factors at play...and everyone has their own opinion to the "real problem" =) I just hope everyone gets together to do what's best for Education!

[@pnachtwey]

In 2010 I helped a Romanian student that was studying in The Netherlands because it was cheap or free. The student was trying to solve a control problem. His instructor didn't know squat about the control problem the student was supposed to solve. The student got an A but I would have failed him because he couldn't write the differential equations that defined the problem. In the end the student did well and is living in Romania successfully. I still see notice from him on LinkedIn.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you helped him out

[@maggic516]

Interesting analysis. Now I got anxious about studying and - potentially - staying in the Netherlands.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks, things are changing but if you’re already a student, I hope you remain strong and don’t let that affect your decision to stay. There are many people still do welcome you. Here for you David

[@thomtheunissen5827]

I was born in Maastricht and live in the place you studied at, in the last 10 years it has almost become a city like Amsterdam where 30% of people talk English instead of dutch, i don't mind it but can also understand all these jobless (most times) students seem very invasive and I don't feel like they are contributing to the country or city almost at all. So I think making the barrier of entry higher in universities for foreign students is a good idea. Like mandating Dutch.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I can understand your concern. Also because I lived in Maastricht. Well if you put yourself in the shoes of an 18-year old who goes abroad to study (which is a nice benefit of the EU)...haha I think university is the time for many young people to "grow up" which can sometimes mean very "invasive." Of course, that is what will happen in most countries too. The language is one thing. Another one is...keeping some of those foreign students and helping them integrate into society/find jobs so they can contribute to society

[@thomtheunissen5827]

Yeah, most simple jobs require them to speak Dutch witch can make it hard to find work however these days they lack so many people for jobs they hire students in café's and restaurants anyway. I would love to see a way for medical students to help out in a hospital and get some real experience under the belt, but this is not how university works sadly. @@hidavidwen

[@brandonmunson9781]

From what I recall, obliging students to speak Dutch in order to study in the NL is against European law.

[@thomtheunissen5827]

​@@brandonmunson9781 I should have used your excuse for me having to learn French in Belgium. yes French and Dutch are mandatory classes there in any study. Why would this be illegal?

[@brandonmunson9781]

@@thomtheunissen5827 It's against the principles of EU law - freedom of movement & founding rules of the internal market. It isn't my excuse.

[@Okiejayjay]

Canada has 800,000 foreign students which is over 7 times what the Netherlands has and the total population is only double the Netherlands. It’s not the student’s causing a housing shortage it’s a distorted market that hinders construction.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing this perspective

[@rupjyotineog7973]

Hi David, thanks much for these insights. I was wondering whether Netherland is a right destination for me or not. Howver, I have France and Ireland on my list. Can you please share your thoughts in short. Thanks in advance

[@hidavidwen]

Hi - thanks for writing. Oh this depends on so many things haha-are you looking to study? Work? What's your goal? I can only share that I would generally recommend the Netherlands as a great place to study/work/live if that's your goal. Yes-there are challenges but there are many more benefits than challenges. It's a beautiful country. I cannot compare it to France or Ireland as I don't have experience in those countries

[@ingridjobst1618]

We don't need more higher educated people. We need carpenters, plumbers, people who can fix things. In these jobs you can earn more money than in the jobs for people who graduated.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. True…often many of those jobs are quite lucrative…

[@noaburgstra5926]

@@hidavidwen Well thats not really the case. It became lucrative in the netherlands because we unfortunately as a society ended up that the higher the education you do the better you are. Jobs like carpenters, plumbers etc dont need high education here which now led to shortages of people in those fields so there is a demand supply issue

[@arturobianco848]

i'm all for setting a limit on Foreign students if we don't have enough capacity. We just need to look at where and what we need. I can see some earia's actualy expanding and some making it very difficult to get into.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I do get the limit. I always know there are politics and business involved…I just hope it is best for the students and educators when it comes to something as important as education

[@arturobianco848]

@@hidavidwen Smart answer, yup there are so many variables. My basic approach foreign students are good for your country. Get as many in as you can afford. But at the risk of sounding nationalistic. In this case its your own people first (sorry but we need to educate our own first thats our primairy objective). But if you put them first you need at least some foreign students because they are good for your own people. So i fully agree with you on principle lets hope we can get that principle in reality.

[@tom.k1547]

Hi great video! Do you plan on staying in the Netherlands? Im curious about how many international students in the Netherlands eventually stay to live out their lives here.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks! Hm, I plan to be here for now and have no other plans (for now). But who knows where life will take me in 2,5,10 years.

[@dutchTea]

1. Most Dutchies speak English VERY well 2. If you put in the effort and are a gifted learner (those top tier employees...), you will be able to succeed in Dutch 3. If everybody came to study in the Netherlands because it was inexpensive, it would be too full 4. The Netherlands is awesome. Dutch is also awesome. Be grateful that Dutchies are so openminded that there are even English classes... because really if you have such a nice society and geweldige taal you do really not really need to open up to other languages and cultures! Yet... being so awesome, kind, wholesome and everything that is good there are so much opportunities that are extended to people who are not Dutch!!! I mean. We are renting right now and the moment we buy a house, I plan to make a room available at an affordable price... not to make my mortage lower, but to give back. I have been so extremely fortunate for all the opportunities given to me and everything this country is making possible for me that I want to give back. I truly think we should be grateful. I am from South Africa, a Dutch/Javanese/German/Afrikaans boer mixture... so I am not even a Dutchie, still I can see and appreciate the tremendous generousity they have. I do not know if I would have such open arms if my country was as highly populated and just getting fuller. If you want to complain or do not want to learn Dutch, fit in, make a difference in society or you think it should be cheap and/or free then..??? Not really appreciating the opportunity that is made possible to you.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your views!

[@neredan1182]

1year master seems nice but especially in restricted professions theyre not recognized in another/other country/ies where they require 2year masters (for example psychology in germany). i was a german student in the netherlands 2013-2017 in a dutch program. netherlands are actually expensive for germans because for EU-people its like 2000€/year, when in germany i would have payed less than half of it (and free public transport included). but i went to art school and the netherlands are just better in art than germans haha. i came back to germany to complete a masters in a slightly different field (art history), because its not so specific than art itself, wouldnt pay that much for that degree lol. if the dutch need more teachers, i can come over, i even speak dutch.. 😂 still im a part of the statistics, i find it weird that nearly half of the students are international, didnt know that, maybe because i was in a dutch program and academy only offering dutch programs. but im also an advocat of not accepting borders as gatekeepers for diversity, so please international people, keep coming and preferably stay. and yes, in germany you have to speak german to get by and be actually employable...

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing! Especially since you were an international student (from Germany). Curious...did you learn Dutch before starting your studies? How was it integrating with the Dutch students/society? I think that's a big point of discussion (the Dutch language requirement)... Also...did you think about staying in the Netherlands to work? It'd be very valuable to get your input!

[@neredan1182]

@@hidavidwen i took a 4week course before starting and got A2, which was the requirement at that time. dutch is incredibly similar to german so rather easy. now with the finished bachelor i can also apply to other dutch speaking countries and courses (eg belgium) because its now considered B2. the school was great, i was in a very privileged situation because its a small school, small groups, very artsy people, so it was nice. by speaking dutch even better. theres very good teacher student relationship, so you have to talk a lot in the arts, not only writing and listening. there were no multiple choice or written tests, just art stuff with vocal presentation and essays. since i decided to do a masters before applying to any jobs, i dont know about the job market. i just know that art and art history are not very good for finding a well paying career haha. some of the other students, mostly the dutch, went on to do an additional teaching course/study. two germans stayed permanently in the netherlands as fulltime visual artists, so i guess its possible~ im actually considering going back there since i finished my masters last year. i will have a look at the job market 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@hidavidwen]

@@neredan1182 Thanks for sharing. What I've learned so far in my career is...unless you want to be a doctor or something very specialized, it doesn't really matter what you study. I know "art" majors who are working in tech now. Most people I know are working in a profession that is different from what they studied (after 10 years). =)

[@jeningles]

Could you do a video specificially about maastricht university?

[@hidavidwen]

Hi - thanks for the idea. Focusing on only one university may be too specific for me at the moment (especially not living in Maastricht anymore) but appreciate the idea. What would you like to know about UM?

[@jeningles]

@@hidavidwen no problem! Ive heard that while its easy to get in to dutch universities, its very difficult to actually stay there, could you expand on that? The only reason i wanted to know about maastricht is because i’m interested in the Public Health BSc course they offer there. :)

[@tahirrizwan6759]

Even though I don’t live in The Netherlands anymore, I have to say it was incredibly frustrating not to be able to speak your own language in the city you were born in. (Amsterdam) I really think the government should prioritize Dutch citizens over Int’l students when securing spots and should make Dutch mandatory to at least a conversational level for expats after a certain amount of time there. Dutch after all will and stay our primary language. I think it’d be beneficial to limit the number of int’l students in certain programs to make room for our own citizens as well. We have this disease in our culture called 6jes-cultuur. Where we just do the bare minimum to complete course work. It was really great in hs, but looking back on it, it’s so much lost potential. I was horrified when I read that there was a housing shortage for int’l students. It shouldn’t be happening in a country like The Netherlands. I think it’d also be benificial to have a trans-Dutch educational agreement between Dutch speaking (🇧🇪🇸🇷🇨🇼🇦🇼🇧🇶) regions to promote bilateral ties and strenghten other economies at the same time.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Tahir for sharing. I can understand that frustration in Amsterdam (especially there) given how international the city has become given it's the go-to place for tourists who come to the Netherlands and also many international workers/students. Has "Amsterdam" changed a lot since you grew up here? I imagine it's always been "international" but has definitely changed too 6jes-cultuur is something that really fascinates me (coming from the US)...it's something I plan to explore more of...now looking back, what are your thoughts on it??? Lots of questions haha but thanks for sharing and take care

[@tahirrizwan6759]

@@hidavidwen Hi :)) Yes, Amsterdam has always been an Int’l city and has always been the exception when it comes to Int’l traffic in The Netherlands. I moved to North America around 2010 when I was 18 and came back for a year in 2018-2019. During that time, I could visibly see the change. I’ve heard of Amsterdam’s overtourism issue, but didn’t think much of it since there’s always been tourists as long as I can remember (I was born in the early 90’s for reference) So when I came back, downtown (Centrum) became unbearable. I know that downtown gets the most foot traffic so it was expected, but experiencing that many people where sidewalks get clogged up was really something else. Because of this, Amsterdammers dislike coming to the downtown core. With regards to English, it always has been the language of communication of course and because of this, our English level, especially in Amsterdam, is higher than average. I don’t mind speaking English, but coming back from the US, and forced to speak English again was something I didn’t like because of shopkeepers’ inability to communicate. This happened multiple times. 6jes-cultuur is really the opposite of what the US education system promotes. Which one was hand has its own pros and cons. I was amused when I found out that my 5 yo nieces and nephews were given hw. I wasn’t given hw until I got to hs. Through my Dutch eyes, Americans are excessively obsessed with academics. You guys have summer school, AP classes, ec activities, Kumon, etc etc. Dutch kids do the bare minimum and hope they pass. We don’t even talk school outside of school. Which now, I realize, Americans do so right! 6jes-cultuur in my personal experience really demotivated me because even teachers have certain stereotypes depending what level of hs you do. The Dutch hs system is divided in different tiers. Depending what tier you fall in, also determines the typs of jobs and salary you can expect. We take the CITO test at 12 yo and moving up levels can take very long (I had VMBO-B). Had we not gone to the US, I would’ve never gotten my BA because moving up also has its own set of challenges. Teachers also have a hand in determining the level you go to. My sister had a high CITO score (HAVO-VWO level) , but according to her teacher needed to go lower (VMBO-k). My dad had to jump through a bunch of academic hoops to prove she was capable which luckily in the end she did. It’s really fascinating how it all works :) Lmk if you have more questions!

[@brandonmunson9781]

I am fairly sure that the government cannot directly make laws relating or stating that Dutch is a requirement if you wish to study in NL, since that would be against EU law. But in my opinion, they could restrict the flow of international students by denying applications (or making tuition more expensive, but it's quite controversial). Also some universities are private and you cannot necessarily impose such regulation upon them. Even so, the Netherlands would get a lot of backlash if they were to integrate some kind of law with the aforementioned prerequisites. I wouldn't be surprised if they would get sued over infringing EU law or Human Rights. After all, I'm not sure that any State has done anything remotely similar to this. But I do agree that countries should prioritise their citizens over internationals. But again, there can be a lot of debate over this, since it would also discriminate. I'm not sure they can do anything about it except deny applications. The current situation favors int'l people for studying, but does not do so when these individuals search for jobs. The current NL market prioritizes Dutch-speaking people / Dutch citizens over internationals who do not have knowledge of the language. Students, like all people registered with the municipalities in the NL, also pay taxes and have the same obligations as everyone else.

[@TheSimArchitect]

I also came here because it's a friendly country to English speakers that might be unable or willing to learn the local language. Sweden was my second choice also because of that. As an EU citizen I was/am unable to move to US or Canada (otherwise I would have stayed in Vancouver instead). It's nice you can also study in English here. I didn't know it was that accessible as I didn't research it as studying wasn't my goal. Wow! I am impressed with the all information you are sharing here, thanks! I thought it would be hell to try to get another degree here.

[@hirsch4155]

Actually you could have come to Vancouver but you’d pay high tuition as a foreign student. There are thousands of (mainly Indian ) middle class students coming here every here to study it’s also a way to get eventual permanent residency. And yes the same shortage of housing is here too.

[@TheSimArchitect]

@@hirsch4155 Yes. And yes, studying there would now be a possibility if they still give you visas for "Canadian Experience" if you get a Master's even without a qualified job offer or a small fortune to invest on a new business. I remember housing being insanely expensive in Canada (Metro Van, at least). As an EU Citizen living for almost 6 years in NL it's very difficult to find a deal that makes it worth moving, even though I admit it's much more fun to live in Metro Van than here. Back then, when I really wanted to do what you say (study there) I couldn't afford it. Now that I can afford it (barely) it's not worth the risk. I currently like living here, but thankfully I don't need welfare or a job. I don't know what would happen if I needed either. But it wouldn't be better in Canada, I remember knowing people who just could not find ANY job even though they were applying to dozens a day, every day, being native, with a Canadian degree and experience on sales. I don't think it's that bad here in The Netherlands (if you speak Dutch, I hope to learn it before I really need it, if I ever need it), at least they advertise that some grocery stores will hire "anybody" for a trial and keep you if you work "well enough" (do the bare minimum etc). If a crisis comes where there's too many job applicants for each job position they'll also relax welfare requirements to match, so I don't think that would be a concern either, while in Canada I believe I'd have to fend for myself.

[@hirsch4155]

@@TheSimArchitect There are lots of jobs here unfortunately they are low level, for other positions it is really necessary to have a network and there is a lot of competition. Also the Netherlands has more positions anyway since the population is a lot bigger, even just the Holland provinces alone. Also, even in suburbs the housing is very expensive now, over 2000 CAD for a one bedroom , and then you’re looking at public transportation which isn’t as good for long distances , or long commutes by car.

[@hirsch4155]

@@TheSimArchitect Actually btw, in some ways I had a lot more fun living in the Netherlands than I did here.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing! I think that's why most come here to study (at least those I talked to)-the NL is a welcoming country to English speakers. I think the challenge is helping people better integrate into society (and also retaining foreign students too) amongst the other challenges. Yeah it was a lot of information! So thanks for the kind words, makes it worth it for me!

[@vincenttayelrand]

I am not entirely buying into the housing crisis as the main reason for stemming the flow of foreign students. The houses that foreign students (do not) occupy are just a drop in the overall housing crisis bucket. I'd like to offer a rundown of some of the bigger problems that I think are having an impact. Every foreign student is losing the Netherlands money, a cost that is not covered by the tuition fees. As a former employee of the ministry of education I ran though the numbers a few times and have found time and time again that most of those 'added value' assumptions of higher education are based om wishful thinking rather than any hard calculus [not that anyone took note of my findings back then]. The supposed cost-benefit of investing one Euro now in education and getting three Euros back in the long run simply does not make any sense. The Netherlands has the wrong mix of graduates. There may a job crisis at the white collar academic level, the job crisis at the blue collar level is significantly worse. For example - a local chip manufacturer was recently in serious danger of having to shut down production because they could not find enough blue collar employees (like welders and metal workers) for the work floor. Simply put; without the work floor producing the nuts and bolts everything comes to a dead stop. Limiting access to higher education could restore some of the required balance. This is not a new idea by any means, it is how it used to be in the West. Then there are the demographics. Falling birthrates make for falling numbers of students. Scaling down the size of higher education now is cheaper than filling the growing gaps with foreign students. Rumors are that in years to come some of the Dutch Universities will be downgraded to college status while some colleges could disappear completely. I guess some of the Dutch decision makers took note of what has happened to higher education in South Korea and Japan and were scared witless looking at the horrific cost of just keeping things going while you population (and tax base) is shrinking. Politically and socially sensitive issues. Nobody wants to admit that Dutch higher education has partly failed - it costs way too much and delivers too little. Nobody in academia wants to make sacrifices as the pool of viable students inevitably shrinks - Much easier to blame everything on student housing and force a downsizing that way. Simply put; in the end harsh economics will decide the fate of higher education - not housing.

[@barbthegreat586]

The problems you mention are widespread throughout Europe. You're right, the shortage of blue collar workers is a big problem, and not only in the Netherlands. I read that both in the UK and the Netherlands, they can build enough because there aren't enough construction workers. This influences housing and housing crisis.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing this detailed perspective! Interested to hear a bit more about your analysis in regards to the foreign students (I guess this is also broken down into EU vs. Non-EU foreign students too) being more costly. What would happen if the retention rate jumped from 24% to say 27%? 30%? Would that be a better strategy to aim for since foreign students do add to the economy if they stay. There are also other factors that you can't put a number on too (eg. diversity of thought, politics, etc) So many factors! I'm glad I don't have that job =) As someone who worked for the Ministry of Education, what do you think is the right solution(s)? (I know that's a big question....)

[@-_YouMayFind_-]

​@@barbthegreat586yes but thats also because of the society we live in. People that get a practical education are often put down and are seen as less then those that have higher education. This is why many of the VMBO kids decide to go further to HBO. But then you have a lot of higher education but lack of practical people that built houses, built the streets, paint the homes etc.

[@wilsistermans1118]

Interesting analysis, but you conclusions and some of the numbers are wrong. I think you missed a lot of the news of the last three years. Housing is a big problem, especially for students and young people who want to buy (or rent)) their first home. People and Dutch students are not buying the fact that the ever growing amount of foreign students compete on the small market for housing, leaving lots of Dutch students and young people living at there parents and having to travel longer distances to university. At some universities there are even places reserved for foreign students, while there is a shortage of places and some students can't do the study they want because of that. There is a shortage of blue collar workers, but that the foreign students coming to the Netherlands are at the academic level and eventually only a very small number will work as a blue collar worker. The Dutch population is not shrinking, but still growing. Growth is mainly because immigration and that will go on for at least seven to 10 years. Main problem on the population side is the fact that the population is rapidly becoming of age and there are not enough young people to take care of elderly people or replace them. You can't say the Dutch higher education failed. Education is expensive (that's just a fact), but it does deliver a whole lot of good educated people who are beneficial to the country. The education is only failing in the sense that it does not always deliver the people educated for the jobs we need the most. Foreign students do not pay their whole cost of education and are costing the Dutch society money. The foreign students profit more from their Dutch education as the Netherlands from them. At the moment the number of foreign students (over 95% academic) is to big. This is making the housing problem very big and the Dutch students suffer from that. Decreasing the number of foreign students will be a good solution for the short time. Setting a maximum will be a better solution for the long time.

[@Thomas-xd4cx]

@@barbthegreat586 That's simply not true. It's those white collar retards making up all kinds of weird rules that makes it practically impossible for construction companies to build - like the whole "stikstof"-crisis nonsense that forces companies to spend insane amounts of money just to be able to get certificates. All of this is due to horrible mismanagement by the government who seem more preoccupied with far-fetched theories about the world ending due to climate change and forcing LGBTQ nonsense down everyone's throats than actually worrying about our failing economy, the increasing polarization and other REAL issues. If anything, the entire problem has been created out of thin air by white collar types who live in ivory towers and refuse to see life from the perspective of the ordinary citizen. I've been in both hard physical labor as well as university and it's not the working boys who are the problem. Is everyone really so blind to not see all those big corporate building being built everywhere? Is everyone so blind as to not see large empty spaces in cities where housing for tens of thousands could be built? It's ridiculous and it hurts to see that the entire academic circus cannot make their collective 2 braincells collide for long enough to see the thick layer if bullshit that the entire subject is drenched in.

[@lottedejong5162]

I do think the housing crisis is the biggest problem for students right now. I heard on the news a few weeks ago that more than half of students still live with their parents. Also, I don't think having your study in Dutch will put you behind on the international market. As you said, the language of science is English, so nearly all literature we read is still in English. That way, we still learn all the terminology in English

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective! Yeah...I've read comments of students who travel a few hours each day from home just to go to school...and that there are delays (again) with the construction of housing =/

[@Ankonain]

Can you talk about where you worked and how you accommodated work with studies?

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks, I worked part time via a job I found within the school (around 20 hours while I studied)

[@DenUitvreter]

Where it comes down is that the Dutch government needs a plan how to serve the Dutch people with it's higher education and science. Besides the lack of any plan, it should stop serving international shareholders, real estate speculators and everyone who would like to live here, which are millions and millions. If you claim an open economy and education system is serving the Dutch people, fine, make that case, why, how, and to which degree. But the holy GDP is not serving the Dutch, even GDP per capita is questionable.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Let's hope for the best for both students and the educators

[@Gimmy27]

When I started my bachelor I was surprised that my study was in english. I really had to get used to it at first, but later on it became manageable. Only downside was communicating and giving presentations etc, as it would’ve been much easier in dutch But when everyone in a class is dutch, often times we would do everything in dutch. Sometimes there was only 1 international student and we had to switch to english because of him😂😂

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing! Looking back…would you have preferred to do your Bachelors in Dutch or English? I guess this also depends on what you do for your career…but I’m curious!

[@hsheuw]

I just know now that you graduate from UCLA. My next door neighbour also did her study there :) before returning home to Jakarta 😊.

[@hidavidwen]

Yes, I did =) I had a great time, I hope your neighbor did too. Now you got me thinking...the education experience in the US is quite different...I think that may be a nice video idea :)

[@yunleung2631]

Thansk for making this video David. Currently deciding between DK, NL, and DE and if a Masters even makes sense or not. Germany is definitely the cheapest, but it seems like the hardest place to live in if you don't already speak DE... IDK, disappointing to see NL limiting international students instead of building more housing, but I guess it's one solution.

[@rutherfordbhaze7354]

I'm an international student in Germany who just finished my masters. I couldn't speak any German before moving here. It is possible to get around without German espeacially in big cities but yes compared to DK and NL there is definitely more of a need to learn to language. That being said many unis offer free German language courses, my uni did and well now I am gunna start a job in German. There's definitely a good number English language jobs in big cities but they tend to be way more competive than German language ones. Germany has the largest number of international students of any non-English speaking country and the 4th most in the world behind the USA, UK and Australia. I would definitely recommend looking into studying here since you will save the most money.

[@Treinbouwer]

If you want something from someone, it is polite to learn their language. It is unfair and rude not to learn the language of the country you are living in. An besides, is studying abroad not meant for learning a different culture?

[@yunleung2631]

@@rutherfordbhaze7354I have to evaluate it. I’m very concerned with how walkable the place I live in will be so Berlin is at the top of my list. If I can relocate to Berlin directly then I’ll move there now. I work for a Danish company. So if I can relocate there internally then I’ll go with that option. I’ll definitely consider Germany.

[@yunleung2631]

@@TreinbouwerI’m gonna do it, but the problem is there’s going to be a period where I am not a fully capable adult unless I know the language. For that period, I will lose out on an existing friendship network, knowledge of how society works, and everything else. If that’s gonna be a trade off, I rather for it to a place where I have a back up option of English if I HAVE to deal with all of those problems already. If I move to the NL, I’ll learn Dutch. It’s my most preferred country, but when it’s not even guaranteed that I’ll get any kind of an offer let alone one that makes economic sense, nor even housing even if I get one, I’ll need to weight all of my options. It won’t make sense for me to learn Dutch now. Or I’ll just develop my career in the US.

[@majootjexd]

Heyy, Just want to clarify something about the housing crisis. We want to build more houses. You don't know how desperate we are for more houses... but we are not allowed by EU law. We are in a nitrogen crisis. It means that we are producing too much nitrogen which are affecting the climate in protected nature areas. Nitrogen is mostly produced by farming animals, flying and building houses. We stopped our airport from growing and trying to make it shrink (which has a big impact on the economy). We also tried to buy out our farmers. As a result they made their own party and took over the 1st chamber with the elections😅 Now we cant approve more building plans and since the international students are growing, the refugees are growing and the amount of people in the country are growing we are only able to watch and cry while it happens....

[@randomguy4989]

I used to be one of these international students in Groningen, I graduated and am now back to my home country where I have been working for the past few years. From my experience, I actually fully agree with the need to limit international students at universities. The universities attract (also proactively) more students than the carrying capacities of the cities. The student housing crisis has already been an issue when I started studying and I see it continues to be one years after I have finished. This not only creates an issue for locals as renting prices and cost of living go up beyond reasonable margins, but it is also bad for international students in particular, as they are usually some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups (not speaking the language, not being allowed in certain rental options, not having money, and also not having local family & friends network). This translates into the quality of education itself worsening for these students as well, as you cannot achieve best results with improper conditions when you are still homeless, overstressed, spending half of your time and energy trying to look for a rental (or trying to accomodate for options as a workaround). Nobody wins in such a situation.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective as a former international student!

[@synchronicity9389]

From some comments I gather an impression that many Dutch people have a negative impression of foreign students who come here to party and get drunk. The reality is that it's not only international students who do this. Plenty of Dutch students are a nuisance as well. Look at fraternities such as Vindicat, Minerva, Utrecht Student Corps etc. These are purely Dutch-centric and exclusive groups. Moreover, as a general trend young Dutch students like to party and be loud as much as the international students. I think that a major part of the problem is a shortage of housing, rather than foreign students specifically. As for comments which complain about foreign students 'refusing' to learn Dutch, this is not usually the case I have to say. Dutch students make it very hard for non-Dutch people to have an opportunity to speak Dutch as they will automatically switch to English or not speak to them at all. What's ironic is that many Dutch people don't speak English as well as they think they do...

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. The whole drunk thing is just a general stereotype of the young, university student-it's not just one group. And of course that's also a stereotype too (many students never party in university). It's very easy for people to be influenced by emotions-both sides-and we should use objective and constructive debate to figure out what's best

[@amsterdam_uva]

I am also planning to do a Master's degree in NL. This video scared me a little.

[@hidavidwen]

You should be fine because the proposed law is primarily for Bachelor's (most Master's will stay in English). Enjoy!

[@josippusic5610]

The bigger issue at hand is the privatization of housing. As something absolutely necessary for survival, it is disgusting that it is then used to generate profit (and subsequently controlling who lives where). This is something that affects all those who must rent. Decommodification is the first step to this issue being solved. That as well as the halting of evictions in general and of squats, especially because many students rely on them for mere survival in the present conditions.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective 🙏

[@finnober130]

The real problem we shoudl adress is the housing en education budget. We should focus on those and that should matter!

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing!

[@user-lp3uu7st6x]

How to find job with relocation package for IT?)

[@hidavidwen]

Try LinkedIn

[@parmentier7457]

Not every university agrees with this government measure. The housing shortage affects the whole of the Netherlands, but the University of Twente says that things are not too bad in the Twente region. The University of Twente would like an exception to the new measures, because it says it is very dependent on international students. Twente has sufficient housing for students. Unlike Twente, this region is less densely populated than the Randstad.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing that. I hope they can come to an agreement (between universities and the government) that helps the students

[@jeffafa3096]

I always loved the diversity I experienced during my student years in Leiden. I met wonderful people from across the world, and I learned so much from every one of them. And I am thankful to all of them for sharing their stories and their experiences with me. I would have missed out on so many wonderful stories, situations and events that I would have never known about otherwise...

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I also really enjoyed my program at Maastricht University largely due to the international group discussions and environment (probably the thing I liked the most besides being in a new country at the time!)

[@yunleung2631]

What did you end up doing with your degree?

[@dieksscholten4658]

I find not being able to find Dutch speaking teachers not a big problem at all really. I follow a Dutch mathematics bachelor and a number of courses are taught in English because we have an English professor exams are still in Dutch but the rest is in English for that subject. This is not a problem as you already need to be able to understand English as all books are in English. So as long as most subjects are in Dutch I think there is no problem. Nice vid btw

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective....anddd for the kind words :) School is back, yeah? Success to you and enjoy! I'm no longer in school, but I'm always excited when the school year is back, and I see students roaming the streets. Maybe that's where I belong one day again...in the classroom 🤔

[@-_YouMayFind_-]

Every issue can be solved 😁👍 but indeed the housing problem is an annoying thing. But in my area they are creating new student places. Housing problem has been a problem years before after WW2 Denmark is a bigger country so I am not sure how big the problem they have. I think we all have labor shortage. I do think its problematic for the Dutch language xD so yes maybe also have dutch lessons in it.

[@hidavidwen]

I like the positive attitude that every issue can be solved :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Let's hope everyone can come together to solve these "issues" then!

[@gointomars]

A lot of Masters in Europe free? Would you be able to do a video about this in the future please?

[@hidavidwen]

In the Netherlands, they are not free. But it is cheaper than other English speaking countries like US or UK. The quality is also really high

[@singingLeaf123]

Hey david i am considering doing maters in netherlands and am from usa. Do universities offer dorm or studnent housing for students like in usa or is it hard to find? Thanks

[@majootjexd]

Heyy, I would e-mail your university. It depends on your university and which course you will be doing.

[@singingLeaf123]

@@majootjexd ok thanks I was thinking about that because housing sometimes is more important than admission that's how difficult it is to get

[@hidavidwen]

Hey there! Universities do have student housing/dorms...I stayed in a dorm myself with 10 other students. I found it through the university's housing website (every university should have one). Unfortunately, there usually aren't many spaces-I found one because of a last-minute cancellation So start early!

[@singingLeaf123]

@hidavidwen ok thanks.

[@j.vanderson6239]

Good lecture professor ! Well documented and complete. But what is the solution ? I love the international atmosphere in my country, but I also love my language and want to protect it. We need foreign workers and intellectuals to stay a wealthy and welcoming place. But at the same time our tiny country is getting a little bit too full, causing a huge housing and environmental problem. Can somebody raise his hand and give the solution ?

[@hidavidwen]

Haha thanks! Yeah, I agree-there needs to be a balance. I think there are also many bigger problems than international students...but let's not go there :) I don't think anyone has THE solution...but I hope we get there (eventually)

[@ds3228]

What has been reported within Dutch media is that Universities are financially incentivized to increase their number of students, as it correlates into the amount of subsidies from the central government. English courses was a great way to increase their pool of students, because of the attraction of foreign students, therefor the total amount. But one complaint from students was that the lecturers didn't have the language skills to adequately give that course. Im assuming that the overall amount of native dutch speaking teachers is significantly bigger than the amount of foreign teachers, therefore less english courses might have a net positive effect in education quality overall within the country. Another drawback reported from both students and teachers is that there were too many students for the amount of teachers and facilities. Teachers work too many hours and student dont get the amount of attention they need. Resulting in overall decrease of (perceived) education quality. I see you find educator and student needs important, so try to take this point into consideration.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your point of view. I do know Dutch universities get money from the government based on how many students they have...of course there's business involved =) As a former student...I can understand what it feels like to be in a "packed classroom." Well, it seems like we will see what happens. I'm sure-like everything-there will be continuous changes as they launch, get data/feedback, etc and hope it benefits everyone in the end

[@leonardowynnwidodo9704]

As an Indonesian, I'm quite surprised that Indonesians don't even make up the majority of non-EU international students, since Indonesia was a Dutch colony for the longest time, and that there are citizens of Indonesian descent, as well as expats living in the Netherlands. I myself am studying in the University of Groningen taking part in Biology, and besides myself I have never met another Indonesian student taking Biology in the same year as me (there was two students who took Biology, one is in her sophomore year and the other was half-Indonesian as her father is Dutch)

[@hidavidwen]

I’ve met quite a few Indonesians here…maybe schools also want to diversify their international student body? I don’t know. I also think it is still relatively (very) expensive for the average Indonesian to study here and pay international fees…but you can let me know… What about you?

[@leonardowynnwidodo9704]

@@hidavidwen IMO studying in the Netherlands is about 5x more expensive for non-EU/EEA students, including Indonesian students. That's why many students take scholarships to study here

[@andreasfreyaldenhoven5785]

Great video! Are you still in NL? I also moved to NL for my studies but I live in Rotterdam now. Let me know when you are in Rotterdam, would be cool to have a coffee some time. Would be on me of course :)

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks a lot ! I am still here in NL! What made you decide to come to NL and how was it looking for a job after graduation?

[@lilytea3]

1:19: 📚 The Netherlands is becoming a popular destination for international students, but the government is now proposing to limit their numbers and require them to learn Dutch. 3:20: 🎓 Studying in the Netherlands offers a wide variety of English programs, a diverse learning experience, and a strong job market for internationals. 5:58: 🏢 The Netherlands offers easy admission to international students, but there is a housing crisis and a decline in the quality of education. 8:51: 💼 International students benefit the economy by filling gaps in the labor market, but there are concerns about teacher shortages and the potential impact on education quality. 12:11: 🎓 The openness of the country may lead to a drop in foreign students studying in the Netherlands, impacting housing and the job market. Recap by Tammy AI

[@susannekalejaiye4351]

Finland is facing similar "thoughts" and cuts

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. Oh really, what is happening in Finland??

[@susannekalejaiye4351]

@@hidavidwen from news I've seen, the universities are concerned about the number of programmes offered in English and how that is impacting the Finnish language, so they want to curtail the number and extent of the programmes in English or install a Finnish language requirement. At a different level, I know that immigrants/refugees struggle to get the Finnish language requirement (must be done within three years) and also to access educational programmes - especially higher education - which interest them because many of the basic educational programmes and planning is geared to "we need bus drivers and nursing staff" or trades such as caterers, travel guides, carpenters, plumbers and electricians - which from my perspective as a grandmother of four, the latter trades seem to be for young "Finnish" people who didn't do quite so well in middle school.

[@hidavidwen]

@@susannekalejaiye4351 Thanks for sharing! Are you from Finland (living there) and what are your thoughts?

[@susannekalejaiye4351]

@@hidavidwen I moved to Finland in 1981 from the US. My child grew up here and my grandkids (in tertiary education) are all here.

[@wesleydhanis3304]

While I do not want to undermine the totality of university rankings, most if not all of the 'big' rankings use media presence as one parameter to determine it's rank. And to be honest, this is if anything a very faulty parameter. So when it comes to actual quality of education I wouldn't really sell so heavy on having so many universities and colleges being in the top 100 of those lists and say that's because they're high quality. The fact that they (universities in The Netherlands) have masters in one year, while many other countries go for two years should be a red flag. And while I'm now going into personal confirmation bias, I do know a lot of Dutch students who are coming to Belgium (or go to Germany) to get their higher education over here(/there) because it is a) cheaper and b) of higher quality. Those who did study previously in The Netherlands in higher education also confirm the difficulty level is higher here than in The Netherlands. Which to me is a sign of quality. If your education is "too easy"... I think in general The Netherlands has been (too) good at marketing itself in the past and is now a victim of its own success. You can see how mass tourism is affecting Amsterdam (and the measures they now take to diminish tourism) and how international students are also putting a strain on housing as well. You could call it educational tourism in a manner of speaking.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Of course, global university rankings and media go together =) I do know a lot goes into the rankings (backend work), but it is marketing. And education is a business too. Hm, I know of Dutch students studying in Belgium...but didn't know it was that many. I haven't looked into the Belgian university numbers (maybe I will take a look). I get your point. I can only speak on behalf of my own experience, but my Masters program was high quality, and I compare it to attending a world-class university (UCLA) in the US for my Bachelors

[@tb_88]

You mentioned in the video that international students fill in gaps in the market. But nowadays those gaps are in the low/mid levels of education and healthcare, positions where its most often required to have a good understanding of the dutch language. In short, the gaps that need to be filled can’t be filled by internationals.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing. You have a point. I'm looking at the data now... - Software developers - Data specialists - Nurses - Engineers - Logistics people -Technicians - Finance/economists etc Yep many of them are only for 'locals' but I would assume quite a few of them-the IT/technical ones could be filled by anyone with that talent eures.ec.europa.eu/living-and-working/labour-market-information/labour-market-information-netherlands_en

[@per3868]

The way I understand the government's proposal, is to increase the number of international students staying in the Netherlands after completing their studies. 20 years ago, the goal of attracting more students in the universities was to increase the number of university educated people in the Netherlands, but in reality most international students return to their country of origin after their study. By requiring students to learn dutch the government intends to increase the number of students that stay in the Netherlands.

[@hidavidwen]

I think that is a goal of the government...how to better integrate/retain foreign students. Idea has good intentions...but the implementation won't come without costs (which universities have voiced)... I just hope whatever happens it will be the best for students/educators

[@vmoses1979]

Internationals stay if they find a job. If not - they go home. And you have to remember quality of life too. If Dutch people are leaving the country because of expensive housing and high cost of living- why expect an international to stay in the country in the first place?

[@elizacitron]

@@vmoses1979 Because internationals have the 30% ruling and Dutch people do not ?

[@rogierfrederiks8420]

Unpopular opinion maybe: but as a Dutch graduate I believe we built a system that's way too attractive for expats and foreign students, because their own systems aren't to favorable and well designed. But instead of protesting and redesigning their own country's educational/social system, they benefit and profit from our system. Inevitably this brings more competition on the housing and labor market. I have difficulty finding affordable housing while portugese, spanish or italian expats get 30% tax discount for 5 years, which gives them a financial advantage over me in the housing market. I think it's good to attract outsiders, but where does this 1,5 bn in revenue go? To me it feels like basic trickle down economics. Nice concept in theory but in reality not the whole country is benefiting, but mostly big corporate. To me it feels like the Netherlands is run like a big company only thinking about profit for the elite margins of society. It seems to be well designed, but it's done this way to accomodate capital accumulation. Build an attractive educational system to attract cheapish labor in a country that is a de facto tax paradise for big companies. I hope international students and expats remain, but in much lower quantities than before.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I can understand your thinking. And how countries are run like businesses. And well, when I think about businesses...there are a lot of "politics" involved. So I think they are both very much connected-politics (countries) and business. Which is the case when you have people with different views and power dynamics. As for the 30% tax discount and the 1.5 billion € from international students...yeah, I trust a lot of work has been put into that analysis from the government and people way smarter than me. How it works in practice...well, I don't know (maybe a government official can let us know haha). A question I'm wondering right now...on the opposite extreme is, what if there were 0 highly skilled internationals in this country? But I agree, there needs to be a balance

[@b00_2]

You never said that about illegal muslim migrants. Those are welcome endlessly.

[@herospeedy3174]

9:11 de hoeveelheid internationale studenten is in de afgelopen 20 jaar gestegen en het personeel tekort ook. Ik denk niet dat internationale studenten het probleem helpen oplossen, in het begin misschien wel. ik denk dat het grootste gedeelte van het personeel tekort nu in de lager opgeleide banen zit. meestal heb je hier geen Engelse opleiding voor omdat je Nederlands moet spreken om het werk uit te kunnen voeren.

[@hidavidwen]

Bedankt voor sharing. Wat zou volgens jou de oplossing kunnen zijn?

[@PGRTVOfficialTM]

Totally worth it…

[@hidavidwen]

🙌🙌

[@s1351-null]

Another important cause of the labor shortage is the "subsidy trap" between around 22-43k income. The government is aware of this issue, although there is no simple solution. It promotes part-time working as working more hours means less subsidy, in the worst cases you are looking at only a 15ct increase in net income per 1 euro gross extra earned. This has led to the Netherlands having one of the lowest hours worked per capita in the OECD countries, 48% of workers work part-time (35h or less per week). Research from the Dutch central bank has shown that the primary motivator for working part-time is lack of increased income for working more. Making full-time work much more financially attractive can potentially add several 100k fte for the economy

[@hidavidwen]

Ah thanks for sharing this, I am currently working on a video exploring part-time work. Would be curious to hear your thoughts soon! And this makes sense

[@hidavidwen]

Do you have that research/link from the Dutch central bank by the way??

[@franciscoorozco9695]

do you do 1 on 1 phone calls? i am an american(from SF,California) trying to get residency permit through my dutch partner. also, can you do a video on rotterdam please! i would love to hear your perspectives! your videos are amazing, i relate to most of the stuff

[@hidavidwen]

Hi Francisco - thanks for the comment and nice to hear from someone from the Bay. I don't do phone calls. I think it should be quite easy for you since you have a Dutch partner! Otherwise, DAFT (Dutch American Friendship Treaty) is another common way for Americans to come to the Netherlands-you shouldn't need this though as you have a Dutch partner. Rotterdam is cool! I was there the other week. Cool architecture. Definitely the one city that looks "different" vs. the other ones. Cheaper than Amsterdam (only 40min away by train-it's not far). Join the "American in the Netherlands" Facebook group-you'll find almost everything you'll need in terms of your Q&As if you do a "search"-lots of information from Americans living there or planning to move. Best of luck! When do you hope to move?

[@Maura237]

I definitely see some risks to this plan, but if you think about it, it is also ridiculous how sometimes Dutch students can't study what they want to study (where they want to study) in Dutch. I'm not sure this is this is a good plan and I think this is not the side of the problem that needs the most attention, but at some point we are out of options. I also wanted to mention that I study Mathamatica in Leiden and there are multiple teachers that are not originally from The Netherlands that do teach in Dutch and are perfectly fine to follow. Even when I go to their office outside class and ask them questions in Dutch. So it is possible to convince teachers to learn Dutch. Although they might be specifically people who plan on permanently staying in The Netherlands

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks for sharing your perspective, especially as a student! Need more students' opinions in my opinion. Yeah...I've also heard that some Dutch students feel like they cannot study where they want to-is this only for specific programs? (I think they're called numerus fixus if I am not mistaken)