While overall international enrolment fell for the first time in 20 years, Indian student numbers grew sharply, moving India closer to becoming one of the Netherlands' top source countries
The Netherlands has recorded its first decline in international student numbers in two decades, according to new figures from Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education. But within that overall dip, Indian students stand out as a genuine growth story — with new master's enrolments from India up sharply in the same period.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Total international students, 2025/26: 129,764, down just 133 from the previous year (a 0.1% decline) — the first fall since records began 20 years ago
- What's driving the overall decline: Enrolments from Germany (down for a fifth consecutive year) and China falling; new bachelor's enrolments down 3.8% at universities
- What's growing: New master's enrolments rose 2.9% at universities and 8.4% at universities of applied sciences
- India's position: New master's enrolments from India rose 16.5% during 2025–2026, with India now closer to China in total student numbers in the Netherlands than before
- Other countries also growing their presence: Spain is the only other notable country moving in the same positive direction as India
What this means for Indian applicants
While Germany and China are sending fewer students to the Netherlands, Indian enrolment is moving firmly in the opposite direction — a sign that Dutch universities' English-taught master's programmes, strong industry links, and relatively straightforward visa process continue to appeal to Indian students even as the country's overall international numbers soften. This kind of growth, in a market that's otherwise contracting, points to real, sustained demand rather than a temporary spike.
For students weighing the Netherlands against other European destinations, this is a genuinely useful data point: it suggests Dutch universities will likely keep investing in support for Indian applicants, from admissions to campus life, as India becomes a more significant part of their international student base.
