Studying in the Netherlands is becoming more and more popular among international students, partly because of the ample choice of world-leading Dutch universities that teach in English.
In Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2016-2017, the 13 universities in the Netherlands all appear in the top 200.
The best colleges and schools in Holland are spread over 12 different cities. Amsterdam has two top universities.
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As more and more international students choose to study at a top Dutch university, the number of degrees taught in English has increased.
All Dutch universities in the ranking teach more than 40 different undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in English and some – such as the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University – teach well over 100 degrees in English.
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Top 5 universities in the Netherlands
1. Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is the largest and oldest public technical university in the Netherlands.
It was founded as a royal academy for civilian engineers, partly to educate civil servants who would work for the Dutch East India Company.
The number of students at TU Delft increased dramatically after the Second World War, prompting the tradition, still in practice, of having a “reception week” for new students, which is similar to freshers’ weeks in the UK and the US.
Although the original university buildings were in the city centre, now they are all based in Mekelpark, the university neighbourhood designed for that purpose.
Of particular note is TU Delft Library, which has a roof covered with grass for natural insulation.
There are just under 20,000 students at the university and a quarter of them are international.
TU Delft ranks in the top 20 in the world for engineering and technology and is in the top 50 for life sciences.
2. University of Amsterdam
Established in 1632, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is the third-oldest university in the country.
It has about 30,000 students, making it the largest in the Netherlands by enrolment.
As well as falling just outside the top 50 in the World University Rankings, UvA ranks particularly highly for arts and humanities and social sciences.
The university offers about 150 degrees taught in English, attracting more than 3,000 international students from more than 100 countries.
The main campus is in central Amsterdam with university buildings scattered around the city, allowing for good integration between students and locals.
UvA is one of Europe’s largest research universities, judged by scientific publications and research funding.
The central library contains more than 4 million books and thousands of manuscripts, letters, maps and rare works. Five museums are run by the university.
3. Wageningen University and Research Center
With a specialist focus on agricultural and environmental science, Wageningen University and Research Center is one of the world’s best institutions for life sciences and social sciences.
It is one of the best 50 universities in the world and is in the top 20 for life sciences.
There are just under 10,000 students taking undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees and professional qualifications.
Most of the undergraduate BSc programmes are taught partly in Dutch and partly in English, but about 40 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are taught solely in English.
The university attracts a significant number of international students for this reason – about 20 per cent of all students are from overseas.
In total, the university offers 20 different undergraduate programmes, including courses in business, international development and health sciences. There are 29 programmes at master’s level, all of which are taught in English. All courses take two years to complete.
The town of Wageningen is in the centre of the country, but it is not too far from Amsterdam or the border with Germany.
The university’s motto, in line with its focus on social and commercial problems, is: “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”.
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4. Erasmus University Rotterdam
Teaching and research at Erasmus University Rotterdam focuses on four broad academic areas: health, wealth, governance and culture.
Students learn in international classrooms, where both lecturers and students come from a variety of different countries.
At bachelor level’s, most programmes are taught in Dutch, but there are also specialised international programmes taught in English that are designed to prepare students for international careers in business, communication and media. About 40 per cent of the students on these programmes are international.
Most postgraduate degrees – including taught master’s, research master’s and doctorate programmes – are taught in English.
First years who are high-achieving undergraduates are invited on to a special honours programme that tackles contemporary issues in society and science.
The university is spread across four campuses, with most facilities located on Campus Woudestein, often referred to as “the heart of the university”. A pavilion on campus houses a cultural centre that includes a theatre and an exhibition area.
Students are a significant minority in the city of Rotterdam, but many multinational employers based in the city look to the university to recruit talented graduates.
5. Leiden University
Founded in 1575, Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and maintains ties with members of the Dutch royal family, who often attend as students.
Many politicians and leaders were educated at the university in addition to many prominent intellectual and cultural figures.
Philosophers such as Spinoza and Descartes were at Leiden during the Dutch Golden Age. Since then, 16 recipients of a Nobel prize have been affiliated with the university, including Albert Einstein and Enrico Fermi.
More than 200 degrees are taught in English at the university, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The 20,000-strong student body includes students from 100 different countries.
Despite its roots, Leiden University is known for innovating and employs an unusual teaching style that focuses on individual learning and group work.
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Top universities in the Netherlands 2017
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2016-2017 results
| Netherlands rank 2017 | World University rank 2017 | University | City |
| 1 | 59 | Delft University of Technology | Delft |
| 2 | 63 | University of Amsterdam | Amsterdam |
| 3 | 65 | Wageningen University and Research Center | Wageningen |
| 4 | 69 | Erasmus University Rotterdam | Rotterdam |
| 5 | 77 | Leiden University | Leiden |
| 6 | =80 | University of Groningen | Groningen |
| 7 | 86 | Utrecht University | Utrecht |
| 8 | 94 | Maastricht University | Maastricht |
| 9 | =121 | Radboud University Nijmegen | Nijmegen |
| 10 | =153 | University of Twente | Enschede |
| 11 | =156 | VU University Amsterdam | Amsterdam |
| 12 | 177 | Eindhoven University of Technology | Eindhoven |
| 13 | =198 | Tilburg University | Tilburg |
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