Dutch student debts over €50,000 double

Nearly 150,000 current and former students in the Netherlands now carry debts of at least €50,000, according to national statistics agency CBS.

Driving the news: CBS chief economist Peter Hein van Mulligen stated that this group doubled across six years, mainly driven by people who accumulated loans under the former student loan system. Macroeconomics lecturer Ciara van Krevel from the Universiteit van Amsterdam noted that losing the basic student grant pushed many into debt following ministerial reassurances.

The context:

• Student union LSVb noted that informal care responsibilities and degree changes frequently prevent people from holding side jobs.
• Student organisation ISO explained that high debtors often lack family financial aid or lose benefits because of extended study timelines.
• The coalition agreement between political parties VVD, CDA, and D66 intends to cap student loan interest at 2.5 percent.

What is next: DUO, the Dutch education executive agency, will publish the 2027 student loan interest rate on Wednesday, currently standing at 2.33 percent.

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