Dutch talent heads abroad
The majority of Dutch people who go abroad to study don’t want to come back to the Netherlands. Is the country suffering from a brain drain?
Adventure, a different culture, better job prospects or a higher quality of education. Dutch students choose to do their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree abroad for a wide range of reasons.
Furthermore, The Education Ministry makes it easy for students with international ambitions. Since 1 September 2007 it has been possible for Dutch people to take their student grants with them if they study in another country.
In the 2007-2008 academic year, around 4,400 people applied for a student grant to study abroad - an increase of about ten percent on the previous year. The aim of the scheme is to encourage students to gain international experience which they can then put to good use in the Dutch job market, thus providing a stimulus to the Dutch knowledge economy.
Read the article: Radio Netherlands, 27 June 2008
