Study in the Netherlands: Tuition fees, government support and living costs
For European Union citizens, studies in the Netherlands are partially funded by the government, and working students can receive generous financial support.
The Netherlands is one of the most popular study destinations among international students. Although studies here are not completely free, the state offers one of the best student financing systems in Europe (DUO). If you decide to work at least a few hours a week, you will be able to take advantage of grants, low-interest loans, and free public transport.
Tuition fees in the Netherlands
All EU citizens studying at Dutch public universities are subject to a uniform statutory tuition fee:
- For bachelor's and master's studies in the 2026–2027 academic year, the fee is 2,694 EUR per year. More information can be found on the official Dutch government website.
- The fee can be paid at once for the whole year or divided into 9 or 10 monthly installments.
- Important: This amount does not include study materials (books, licenses, materials). You should allocate an additional 300–800 EUR per year for them.
Tuition fee loan for all EU students
If you cannot afford to pay the tuition fee right away, the Dutch government offers a Tuition fee loan, which covers the full cost of your studies. It is important to know that this loan is available to all EU citizens (under 30 years old), regardless of whether they work or not.
- Loan amount: 224.50 EUR/month (covers the full 2,694 EUR annual fee).
- You will only need to start repaying the loan 2 years after graduation, and the repayment period is a full 35 years.
- More information can be found on the official DUO website.
Government financial support for working students (DUO)
The Dutch government agency DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs) provides financial support to students. EU citizens can receive this support if they meet one of the main conditions – becoming a worker under EU law. This means you must officially work in the Netherlands for at least 32 hours per month (about 8 hours per week).
DUO financial support for working students consists of 4 parts (maximum amounts in 2026):
- Basic grant: Awarded to all students living independently at 324.52 EUR/month.
- Supplementary grant: Depends on parents' income. The maximum amount is up to 491.08 EUR/month if the combined income of both parents is up to 41,500 EUR per year. If parents earn more, you can still receive support, but a correspondingly smaller portion.
- Regular loan for living costs: You can borrow up to 315.17 EUR/month.
- Free public transport (Student travel product): Provides the opportunity to use public transport for free throughout the Netherlands (you can choose a weekend or weekday subscription). The value of this product is about 111 EUR/month.
The maximum total monetary amount you can receive per month (grants + loan) is 1,130.77 EUR, and when adding the value of free transport, the total value of the support reaches about 1,242 EUR/month.
IMPORTANT (The gift rule): The basic and supplementary grants, as well as the transport card, are initially provided as a loan. However, if you graduate and obtain your diploma within 10 years, these grants and transport costs will turn into a GIFT and you will not have to repay them! You will only need to repay the amounts you specifically borrowed as a loan for living costs or tuition fees.
Loan repayment: You will only need to start repaying the loan 2 years after graduation. The repayment period is a full 35 years (under the SF35 rule), and the monthly installment will depend on your income – if you earn minimum wage, you will not have to pay installments.
Housing and health insurance allowances
The Dutch government also helps students cover rent and insurance costs through the tax authorities (Belastingdienst):
- Housing allowance (Huurtoeslag): From 2026, the rules are highly favorable. If you are 21 years old or older, there is no longer a maximum rent price limit. If you are 18–20 years old, the basic rent must not exceed 498.20 EUR/month. A necessary condition is that you must live in a self-contained apartment or studio with your own kitchen, toilet, and bathroom. Your savings cannot exceed 38,479 EUR.
- Health insurance allowance (Zorgtoeslag): All working students must have basic Dutch health insurance (costs about 145–160 EUR/month). However, the government pays a compensation, which in 2026 is up to 129 EUR/month, making the real insurance costs minimal.
First steps upon arrival: How to sort everything out?
Upon arriving in the Netherlands, there are several important bureaucratic steps you need to complete in order:
- BSN (Burgerservicenummer) registration: This is the most important step! Within 5 days of arrival, you must register at the local municipality (Gemeente). Without a BSN code, you will not be able to open a bank account, get a job, or receive DUO support.
- Open a bank account: In the Netherlands, payments are usually made with local cards (Maestro/V Pay) or via the iDEAL system. Popular banks for students: ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank, Bunq.
- Get DigiD: This is your electronic identification system. It is necessary to log in to the DUO system, the tax authorities, and other government portals. More information: DigiD website.
- Order a personal OV-chipkaart: This is a transport card on which your free student travel product will later be loaded. You can order it on the OV-chipkaart website.
Estimated living costs in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country with a high standard of living. Although working and receiving DUO support allows you to live very comfortably, you should have savings for the first few months. The average student budget is about 900–1,400 EUR per month.
| Average monthly expenses | Amount |
|---|---|
| Housing rent (student room) | 450–800 € |
| Food (cooking at home) | ~250–350 € |
| Health insurance (after Zorgtoeslag compensation) | ~20–30 € |
| Local transport (with DUO Student travel product) | 0 € (on selected days) |
| Other expenses (leisure, clothes, phone, study materials) | ~150–250 € |
| Total per month | ~900–1,400 € |
How much does food cost in Dutch stores?
Prices in supermarkets (e.g., Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Dirk, Lidl, Aldi) depend on the store type. Here are estimated prices:
- Milk (1 l) – ~1.18 €
- Bread (800 g) – ~3.00 €
- Eggs (12 pcs) – ~3.60 €
- Rice (1 kg) – ~2.50 €
- Chicken fillet (1 kg) – ~13.00 €
- Cheese (1 kg) – ~12.00 €
Tip: Dutch universities do not have subsidized canteens. Lunch at a university cafe costs about 5–10 EUR, so most Dutch and international students cook their meals at home and bring them to the university in containers.
