List of universities in the Netherlands

See also: Dutch universities

A listing of universities in the Kingdom of the Netherlands:

Research universities

Research universities in the Netherlands are institutions of tertiary education that in Dutch are called universiteit. Their focus is towards academic education and scientific research. They are accredited to confer bachelor's, master's and (with the exception of the Netherlands Defence Academy) doctoral degrees. Prior to the Bologna Process, the universities granted drs. (doctorandus), mr. (for law studies) and ir. (for engineering studies) degrees, which are equivalent to current MA, LLM or MSc degrees. The term universiteit is reserved to doctorate granting institutes in the Dutch context, and the additional qualifier "research" is hardly ever used in practice.

There are Semi-Public Universities and Private Universities in Netherlands. The semi-public status of most Dutch universities arises from the fact that they have both public and private characteristics. In this respect, their public funding is entirely output-based, determined by the number of undergraduate and graduate degrees delivered. Except for this output-based funding, Dutch universities are largely private entities that, since 1998, own and operate their real estate at their own risk;^[1] moreover, all employees of Dutch universities have labor contracts based on private sector terms (as of 2020).^[2]

Name		Established	University status	City	Organisation	Type	Number of staff	Number of students
Members of the Universities of the Netherlands association
University of Amsterdam[3]		1632	1877[4]	Amsterdam	Semi-public	Research university	4,062	32,739
	Academic Medical Center	1983		Amsterdam
	Amsterdam University College	2008		Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam		1880	1880[4]	Amsterdam	Special: Protestant	Research university	2,200	18,000
	VU University Medical Center	1964		Amsterdam
	Amsterdam University College	2008		Amsterdam
University of Groningen		1614	1614	Groningen	Semi-public	Research university	5,000	26,500
	University Medical Center Groningen	2005		Groningen
Leiden University		1575	1575	Leiden	Semi-public	Research university	3,973	19,328
	Leiden University Medical Center	1996		Leiden
	Leiden University College The Hague	2010		The Hague
Maastricht University		1976	1975	Maastricht	Semi-public	Research university	3,000	11,463
	Academic Hospital Maastricht	1974		Maastricht
	University College Maastricht	2002		Maastricht
Radboud University Nijmegen		1923	1923[4]	Nijmegen	Special: Catholic	Research university	4,309*	17,650*
	Radboud University Medical Center	1956		Nijmegen
Erasmus University Rotterdam		1913	1937[4]	Rotterdam	Semi-public	Research university	3,700	26,212[5]
	Erasmus MC	1950		Rotterdam				3,361
	Erasmus University College	2013		Rotterdam				270
Tilburg University		1927	1939	Tilburg	Special: Catholic	Research university	1,062*	11,399*
	University College Tilburg	2008		Tilburg
	TIAS School for Business and Society	1982		Tilburg
Utrecht University		1636	1636	Utrecht	Semi-public	Research university	8,224	26,787
	University Medical Center Utrecht	1999		Utrecht
	University College Utrecht	1998		Utrecht
	University College Roosevelt	2004		Middelburg	Semi-public	University College
Delft University of Technology		1842	1905	Delft	Semi-public	Technical university	5,400	24,000
Eindhoven University of Technology		1956	1956	Eindhoven	Semi-public	Technical university	3,000	12,000
University of Twente		1961	1961	Enschede	Semi-public	Technical university	3,000	8,500
Wageningen University and Research Centre		2000	1918	Wageningen	Semi-public	Technical university	6,500##	12,847
	Wageningen University	1876		Wageningen
	Agricultural Research Institutes	1877		throughout the Netherlands	Research Institute
Open University in the Netherlands		1984	1984	Nationwide; main office in Heerlen	Semi-public	Open university	673	16,888[6]
Other universities
University of Curaçao		1979	1979	Curaçao	Public	National university
University of Humanistic Studies		1989	1989	Utrecht	Semi-public	Research university	150	550[7]
Netherlands Defence Academy [nl]		1823	2005	Breda/Den Helder	Special: National Military Academy	Military Academy, since 2005 includes Department of Military Sciences	~75	~200
Privately Funded Universities (accredited as Universiteit by Dutch law) (by type)
Nyenrode Business University		1946	1982	Breukelen	Private	Business school
Protestant Theological University		1854	1939	Kampen	Private	University for Protestant Theology
Theological University of Kampen		1854	1939	Kampen	Private	University for Protestant Theology
Theological University of Apeldoorn		1894	1962	Apeldoorn	Private	University for Protestant Theology
Universities that no longer exist
Catholic University of Utrecht		1991–2007		Utrecht	Private: merged into University of Tilburg	University for Catholic Theology
University of Harderwijk		1648–1811		Harderwijk	disbanded by Napoleon
University of Franeker		1585–1811		Franeker	disbanded by Napoleon, since 2017 the Academie van Franeker was developed to revive the academic traditions of Franeker[8], and the commercial school Euler-Franeker memorial university [9] honours it's heritage with several programmes accredited by the National Accreditation Agency of Curaçao
University of Nijmegen		1655–1680		Nijmegen	closed in the aftermath of the 1672 rampjaar
University of Theology and Pastorate		1966-1999[10]		Heerlen	Private: merged into Radboud University Nijmegen in 1993, Heerlen location closed 1999	University for Catholic Theology

† 2003–2004; ‡ 2004–2005; # 2005–2006; * 2006–2007; ##including research staff at the associated institutes. All figures without signs are estimates or from undated sources. According to Dutch law, it is illegal to use protected titles which can only be given by universities that are accredited. Protected titles are ing. bc. mr. ir. drs. and dr.^[11] English variants (MSc BSc MA BA LLB LLM BEng PhD) are not (yet)^[12] protected by Dutch law^[13] (but using the title "dr." based on a PhD degree, without permission from DUO, is a violation of Dutch law as the title "doctor" is protected). One may bear in the Netherlands foreign titles according to the laws of the country wherein they were granted, but without translating them in Dutch.

Universities of applied sciences

Universities of applied sciences (Dutch: hogeschool) in the Netherlands are focused on professional education rather than scientific research. While the literal translation of hogeschool is "high school", these are second-tier institutes of higher education, and can be compared with colleges or polytechnics or similar in other countries. They are accredited to confer bachelor's and master's degrees. Prior to the Bologna Process, they also conferred professional engineer's (abbreviated ing.) degrees. Dutch universities of applied sciences are not accredited to confer doctoral (PhD) degrees; PhD studies can sometimes be conducted in the context of a university of applied sciences, however, the title will be granted by one of the research universities, and a full professor of that university will be appointed as principal supervisor (promotor). In international contexts, the phrase University of Applied Sciences is used for the majority of these schools, as suggested by the Dutch Minister of Education.^[14] Some specific exceptions have been made. For example, tertiary art schools and schools of education use an internationally recognisable name of choice.

The Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences funded by the governement are:

• Aeres Hogeschool, Dronten, Almere and Wageningen
• Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Hogeschool van Amsterdam), Amsterdam
• Amsterdam University of the Arts (Dutch: Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten), Amsterdam
• ArtEZ University of Arts (Dutch: ArtEZ hogeschool voor de kunsten), Arnhem, Enschede and Zwolle
• Avans University of Applied Schiences (Dutch: Avans Hogeschool), 's-Hertogenbosch, Tilburg, Breda, Etten-Leur
• Breda University of Applied Sciences, Breda
• Codarts University of the Arts (Dutch: Codarts hogeschool voor de kunsten), Rotterdam
• Design Academy Eindhoven, Eindhoven
• Driestar Christian University (Dutch: Driestar hogeschool), Gouda
• Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Christelijke Hogeschool Ede), Ede
• Fontys University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Fontys Hogeschool), Eindhoven, 's-Hertogenbosch, Sittard, Tilburg and Venlo
  • Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts (Dutch: Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten), Tilburg
• Gerrit Rietveld Academie (also known as: Rietveld School of Art & Design and Rietveld Academy), Amsterdam
• HAN University of Applied Sciences, Arnhem and Nijmegen
• Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Hanzehogeschool Groningen), Groningen
• HAS Green Academy, 's-Hertogenbosch and Venlo
• Hogeschool De Kempel, Helmond
• Hogeschool IPABO, Alkmaar and Amsterdam
• Hogeschool KPZ, Zwolle
• HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (Dutch: Hogeschool Utrecht), Utrecht
• Hotelschool The Hague, Amsterdam and The Hague
• HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen and Middelburg
• Inholland University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Hogeschool Inholland), Alkmaar, Amsterdam, Delft, Diemen, Dordrecht, Haarlem, Rotterdam and The Hague

• Iselinge Hogeschool, Doetinchem
• Marnix Academie, Utrecht
• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: NHL Stenden Hogeschool), Leeuwarden, Emmen, Meppel and Terschelling
• Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Hogeschool Rotterdam), Rotterdam
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Hogeschool Saxion), Enschede, Deventer and Apeldoorn
• The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: De Haagse Hogeschool), The Hague
• Thomas More Hogeschool, Rotterdam
• University of Applied Sciences Leiden (Dutch: Hogeschool Leiden), Leiden
• University of the Arts The Hague (Dutch: Hogeschool der Kunsten Den Haag), The Hague
  • Royal Academy of Art (Dutch: Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten), The Hague
  • Royal Conservatoire (Dutch: Koninklijk Conservatorium), The Hague
• Utrecht School of the Arts (Dutch: Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht), Utrecht
• Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein), Leeuwarden and Velp
• Viaa Christian University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Hogeschool Viaa), Zwolle
• Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle and Almere
• Zuyd University of Applied Sciences (Dutch: Zuyd Hogeschool), Heerlen, Maastricht and Sittard
  • Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts (Dutch: Toneelacademie Maastricht), Maastricht
  • Maastricht Institute of Arts, Maastricht
  • Maastricht Academy of Music (Dutch: Conservatorium Maastricht), Maastricht
  • Maastricht School of Translation and Interpreting (Dutch: Vertaalacademie Maastricht), Maastricht

Former universities of applied sciences (not exhaustive)

• Stoas Hogeschool, Dronten, 's-Hertogenbosch, Wageningen => part of: Aeres Hogeschool
• Christelijke Agrarische Hogeschool Dronten, Dronten => part of: Aeres Hogeschool
• Christelijke Hogeschool Nederland, Leeuwarden => part of: NHL Stenden Hogeschool
• Hogeschool De Horst, Driebergen => part of: Hogeschool Utrecht
• Hogeschool Helicon, Zeist => part of: Hogeschool Leiden
• Hogeschool Domstad, Utrecht => part of: Hogeschool Utrecht
• Hogeschool Edith Stein / Onderwijscentrum Twente, Hengelo => part of: Saxion Hogeschool
• Hogeschool voor Economische Studies (HES), Amsterdam => part of: Hogeschool van Amsterdam
• Hogeschool voor Economische Studies (HES), Rotterdam => part of: Hogeschool Rotterdam

Private for-profit medical schools

Although there are none of these schools in the mainland, many exist in the Dutch Caribbean either in the special municipalities of the Netherlands or constituents countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Only one (Saba University) has direct accreditation from Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders, which accredits universities in the Netherlands and Flanders.

• Aureus University School of Medicine
• Xavier University School of Medicine
• Avalon University School of Medicine
• St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine
• Saba University School of Medicine
• American University of Integrative Sciences
• American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

Private for-profit business schools and other universities of applied sciences

A number of private universities of applied sciences (hogescholen) are active in the Netherlands. Some of these are exclusively distance learning (online) medium learning providers.

• Euler-Franeker Memorial University, Willemstad (Curaçao) and Amsterdam
• EuroPort Business College (defunct)^[15]
• HBO Nederland (defunct)^[16]
• Hogeschool Tio
• Inter College Business School, Amsterdam
• Islamic University of Rotterdam, Rotterdam
• Leidse Onderwijs Instellingen (LOI)
• Markus Verbeek Praehep
• NCOI
• Nederlandse Talen Instituut (NTI)
• Schoevers
• Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences, Apeldoorn

Webster University: the American university in the Netherlands

Webster University Leiden is a university outside the Dutch system, offering Bachelor and Master programs in the Netherlands. Webster University is a private, non-profit American university, accredited in the United States by the Higher Learning Commission's North Central Association. The International Business and Management program, as well as the Applied Behavioral and Social Sciences program are accredited in the Netherlands by the NVAO at the hbo (professional master) level.

International rankings

In relation to their population size, Switzerland (first), Sweden (second) and the Netherlands (third) are the three countries with the highest number of universities among the 100 best of the Academic Ranking of World Universities (2014-2015).^[17]

Below are shown the international rankings of the government funded research universities of the Netherlands, and the number of times they rank in the top 200 of one of the six prominent global rankings:

University	QS World (2026)[18]	THE World (2025)[19]	ARWU World (2024)[20]	USNWR World (2025–26)[21]	CWTS Leiden (2024)[22]	CWUR World (2025)[23]	#a
University of Amsterdam	53	58=	101-150	33	54	83	6b
Utrecht University	103=	66 c	55	49	71	78	6b
Leiden University	119=	73=	101-150	56	72	88	6b
University of Groningen	147=	80=	69	75	97	104	6b
Erasmus University Rotterdam	140=	107=	101-150	76	104	111	6b
Wageningen University and Research	153=	67=	151-200	115=	75	193	6
VU University Amsterdam	194=	136=	151-200	79=	60	159	6
Delft University of Technology	47=	56=	151-200	191	117	269	5
Radboud University	279	143=	101-150	122	80	172	5
Maastricht University	239	132=	201-300	176=	169	264	3
Eindhoven University of Technology	140=	185=	401-500	409=	177	366	3
University of Twente	203=	180=	401-500	427=	274	463	1
Tilburg University	347=	251-300	701-800	653=	197	733	1
Open University	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	1659=	N.A.	N.A.	0
University of Curaçao	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	0
University of Humanistic Studies	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	0

Notes:
N.A.: Not Applicable
^a Number of times the university is ranked within the top 200 of one of the six global rankings.
^b The university is ranked within the top 150 of all six global rankings.
^c THE World University Rankings 2023 (rankings thereafter are not available).

See also

• List of colleges and universities by country
• List of colleges and universities
• Academic Degree