DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Education
Dutch news & articles
One in five graduates default on their Dutch student loans
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

One in five graduates default on their Dutch student loans

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

International student numbers in the Netherlands balloon and many stay after their studiesInternational student numbers in the Netherlands balloon and many stay after their studies
Twente University the first in NL to make English the official working languageTwente University the first in NL to make English the official working language
7 Dutch universities in top 100 of THE World University Rankings 20207 Dutch universities in top 100 of THE World University Rankings 2020
2019 Shanghai Ranking: Utrecht University yet again the best in NL2019 Shanghai Ranking: Utrecht University yet again the best in NL
International students don’t feel at home in the NetherlandsInternational students don’t feel at home in the Netherlands
Dutch degree more popular abroad than in the Netherlands Dutch degree more popular abroad than in the Netherlands
International students victim to unsavoury landlords in the Netherlands International students victim to unsavoury landlords in the Netherlands
Three Dutch universities in the top 100 of 2019 QS ranking  Three Dutch universities in the top 100 of 2019 QS ranking
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
May 11, 2019
Mina Solanki
Completed her Master's degree at the University of Groningen and worked as a translator before joining IamExpat. She loves to read and has a particular interest in Greek mythology. In addition to this, she is an avid rower.Read more

According to figures from the Education Executive Agency (DUO) requested by NOS, many graduates struggle with paying back their loans and one in five default on them.

When is it classed as defaulting on a loan?

The number of graduates defaulting on their loans is about the same as it was in 2014/15. Back then; around 76.000 graduates received a visit from a bailiff. Another 32.000 graduates could not be found by the DUO.

The definition of defaulting on a student loan has changed in the past four years. It used to be the case that one had defaulted on a loan if they had arrears of 50 euros. Nowadays, you have defaulted on your loan if you have arrears of at least 270 euros and have missed three payments.

Huge amount owed to the DUO

Graduates are still “going missing” and, currently, DUO does not have up-to-date details for 20.000 ex-students. Because of this, the agency is unable to collect more than 76 million euros in outstanding debts. According to the DUO, these “missing” graduates have moved abroad and their addresses are unknown.

Those defaulting on their loans are either graduates who can’t pay due to financial issues, don’t want to or simply don’t know they have to, as they haven’t read the messages sent to their online account, for example.

By Mina Solanki