The Department of Education’s Study Financing Section has announced that for the 2025 academic year, Minister of Education Gerlien Croes has approved study loans—known as Arubalening—for 184 students. These loans are for those planning to begin higher education in the Netherlands starting September 1.
Unlike in the past, these students are no longer considered scholarship recipients, or beursalen. Instead, they receive 0% interest loans that must be repaid after graduation.
After a long period of preparation, 107 of the 184 students will board KLM flight 767 on August 4 to travel to the Netherlands. The remaining 77 students have either already departed or will leave in the coming days.
The most popular city this year is The Hague, where 39 students plan to live. It’s followed by Eindhoven (23 students) and Utrecht (22 students). These three cities are the top choices among this year’s group.
Not all students will live in the city where they’ll attend school, but here’s the full breakdown of where they plan to live:
| City | Students |
|---|---|
| The Hague | 39 |
| Eindhoven | 21 |
| Amsterdam | 18 |
| Rotterdam | 15 |
| Leiden | 11 |
| Breda | 9 |
| Arnhem | 8 |
| Maastricht | 8 |
| Nijmegen | 8 |
| Delft | 6 |
| Tilburg | 5 |
| Enschede | 4 |
| MBRT (various) | 4 |
| Leeuwarden | 1 |
| Venlo | 2 |
| Groningen | 2 |
| Haarlem | 1 |
| Roosendaal | 1 |
| Vlissingen | 1 |
| Wageningen | 1 |
| Zwolle | 1 |
| Total | 184 |
Areas of study
The most popular field of study this year is International Business, chosen by 20 students. Business and economics-related programs continue to attract high interest, with 14 students opting for International Finance & Control. Studies in ICT are also among the top choices.
Of the 184 students:
- 143 will attend universities of applied sciences (hbo bachelor’s programs)
- 34 will enroll in research universities (wo bachelor’s programs)
- 7 will pursue a wo master’s degree
A wide range of programs are represented, including:
- Psychology
- Cyber Security
- Nursing
- Law
- Creative Business
- Hotel and Hospitality Management
- Mechanical Engineering
- Education (Spanish and Mathematics teaching degrees)
- Software Development
- Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy
- Fashion and Textile Technologies
- Life Sciences
- Graphic Design
- Global Law
- Public Administration
- Speech Therapy
- Social Work
- Aviation
- Tourism Management
This variety reflects students’ growing interest in technical, creative, healthcare, and business sectors.
