10 answers, 5 from the Netherlands's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
There were 773,270 students enrolled in Dutch higher education in 2025/26, according to provisional figures in the Statistics Netherlands (CBS) StatLine table on higher education enrolment. Of these, 696,440 studied full time, 61,300 part time and 15,530 on dual programmes. Some 633,570 were on bachelor's programmes.
Higher education is split into universities of applied sciences (hbo) and research universities (wo). The table covers government-funded institutions only. Students enrolled at both an hbo and a wo institution are counted once in the total but in both sector counts, so the sector figures add up to slightly more than the total.
A total of 182 thousand pupils were in their final year of secondary education in 2025/26, slightly more than the 181 thousand of 2024/25, according to provisional figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Just over 94 thousand were in the fourth year of prevocational education (VMBO), more than 51 thousand in the fifth year of senior general secondary education (HAVO) and 36 thousand in the sixth year of pre-university education (VWO).
National pass rates are published by DUO in its yearly Examenmonitor, sent to parliament each autumn. The 2025 edition reported on pass rates, retakes and average grades by school type.
In PISA 2025, 70% of 15-year-olds in the Netherlands reached at least the baseline proficiency level in mathematics (OECD average 65%), 73% in science (OECD 74%) and 61% in reading (OECD 69%), according to the OECD's PISA 2025 country note for the Netherlands. Students scored above the OECD average in mathematics, below it in reading and close to it in science. Some 13% were top performers in mathematics.
The OECD says results in all three subjects are among the lowest observed for the Netherlands and significantly lower than in 2018. It flags Dutch data for response rates: 66% of schools took part before replacement.
Some 24% of students who graduated from higher education (HBO or university) in the Netherlands in 2024/25 spent time abroad during their studies, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Most of them stayed abroad for at least three months. A further 14% gained international experience through digital collaboration or online courses.
CBS says the share has risen since the COVID-19 pandemic but has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The figures come from a survey of graduates, who also reported that their time abroad helped them expand their knowledge and skills.
The Dutch central government plans to spend €58.4 billion on education, culture and science in 2027, according to the Rijksoverheid 2027 budget overview presented on Prinsjesdag, 15 September 2026. That makes it the fourth largest spending area, after social security, health care and funding for municipalities and provinces.
The amount is the budget of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, which funds schools, universities, student finance, culture and research. Municipalities also spend on school buildings. For international comparisons of education spending as a share of GDP, the OECD's Education at a Glance is the standard source.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 98.6%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 96.4% (2015) to 99.8% (2009). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 95.7%, and the Netherlands placed 7th highest of 45. Worldwide: 16th of 134.
137.5%: that is gross secondary school enrolment in the Netherlands for 2023, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 111.4% (2012) to 138.8% (2022). Europe & Central Asia median: 102.3%; the Netherlands is 3rd highest of 48. Of 138 countries with 2023 data, 3rd highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross tertiary enrolment in the Netherlands at 86.6% in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 58.8% (2005) to 89.4% (2021). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 75.9%, and the Netherlands placed 9th highest of 49. Worldwide: 14th of 120.
In 2022, government spending on education in the Netherlands was 5.2% of GDP, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 5.5% of GDP in 2013 and the low 4.9% of GDP in 2007. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 4.5% of GDP, and the Netherlands placed 16th highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 44th of 155.
In 2017, the number of primary pupils per teacher in the Netherlands was 12, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 13, and the Netherlands placed 26th highest of 39. Of 130 countries with 2017 data, 108th highest.
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