The Netherlands Reinstates the Basisbeurs Grant: Rates and Eligibility for EU Students

From Loan-Only Back to a Basic Grant

The Netherlands abolished its basisbeurs (basic grant) in 2015 and replaced it with a loan-only system, known as the leenstelsel, which required students to borrow the full amount of their monthly support. After years of criticism over rising student debt, the Dutch government reinstated the basisbeurs from the 2023-2024 academic year, restoring a non-repayable grant as part of the standard student finance package.

The loan-only years drew sustained criticism from student unions and mental health researchers, who linked the system to higher stress and debt levels among Dutch students compared with the earlier grant-based model. Bringing back the basisbeurs reversed that policy direction and moved the Netherlands back toward a mixed grant-and-loan model closer to what many other EU countries use. Students who started under the loan-only system also received a one-off compensation payment (tegemoetkoming) recognizing the years they studied without access to a grant, confirmed on the Dutch government's study finance page .

How the Grant Works Now

Students who live away from their parents receive a higher basisbeurs than students who stay at home while studying, reflecting the extra cost of rent and independent living. On top of the base amount, students from lower-income families receive a supplementary grant (aanvullende beurs), calculated against parental income. Both the basisbeurs and the supplementary grant start as a loan on paper and convert into a gift once you complete your degree within the diploma term, a mechanism the Dutch system calls the prestatiebeurs (performance grant).

Students still borrow additional money on top of the grant through the regular student loan (studielening) if they need more, and that portion stays a loan regardless of how quickly they finish.

Eligibility for EU Students

EU and EEA students who move to the Netherlands only to study do not automatically qualify for Dutch student finance the way Dutch nationals do. Under EU rules on free movement, an EU student generally needs to show an existing tie to the Netherlands, commonly through part-time work alongside their studies or a set period of prior legal residence, before DUO , the Dutch student finance agency, approves an application. Students who combine study with a part-time job in the Netherlands often build this connection over time, but check individual eligibility with DUO rather than assume the grant is automatic.

Nuffic guides EU students through how these residence and work conditions apply.

What to Check Before You Apply

Basisbeurs and supplementary grant amounts adjust each academic year, so check the current figures directly on the DUO website before budgeting around a specific number. Apply through DUO's online portal (Mijn DUO) once you have confirmed enrollment at a recognized Dutch institution, and submit proof of your parents' income for the supplementary grant assessment.

• Create a DigiD or use your EU digital identity method accepted by DUO before you start the application.

• Confirm your institution reports your enrollment to DUO, since payments depend on this link being active.

• Ask DUO directly whether your specific work and residence history meets the EU eligibility test before you rely on the grant in your budget.