Education in Drenthe, Netherlands: official figures
The share of adults aged 25 to 64 with a degree-level (tertiary) education was 36.3% in 2025, against 46.1% for the Netherlands and 36.9% across the EU; 11th highest of 12 provinces in the Netherlands.
What percentage of people have a degree in Drenthe?
26.9% of residents aged 15 to 74 in Drenthe held a higher professional (hbo) or university degree in 2024, below the national figure of 33.3%; that is 3rd lowest among the 12 provinces, up from 24.2% in 2019.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the education level in Drenthe?
26.8% of residents aged 15 to 74 in Drenthe had no qualification above vmbo or mbo level 1 in 2024, 5th highest among the 12 provinces (above the national figure of 25.9%).
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many students live in Drenthe?
Drenthe was home to 24.3 higher-education students (hbo and university) per 1,000 residents in 2025, 2nd lowest among the 12 provinces (Netherlands: 43.0).
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many vocational students are there in Drenthe?
There were 31.4 mbo (secondary vocational) students per 1,000 residents of Drenthe in 2025, above the national figure of 25.9.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many secondary school pupils are there in Drenthe?
Secondary-school pupils living in Drenthe numbered 50.4 per 1,000 residents in 2025, against 51.0 nationally.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow far is the nearest primary school in Drenthe?
The average resident of Drenthe lived 1.0 km by road from the nearest primary school in 2025, above the national figure of 0.8 km.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow far is the nearest secondary school in Drenthe?
The nearest havo or vwo school was an average 6.3 km away for people in Drenthe in 2024, above the national figure of 3.4 km; that is the longest among the 12 provinces.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many young people in Drenthe leave school early?
The early school leaving rate was 10.0% in 2025 (18 to 24-year-olds with no upper secondary qualification who are not in education or training), compared with 7.4% nationally and 9.1% in the EU; the highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 7.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people in Drenthe are NEET?
In 2025, 6.7% of 15 to 29-year-olds were not in employment, education or training, compared with 5.3% nationally and 11.0% in the EU; 2nd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 6.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Drenthe are in education or training?
24.6% of adults aged 25 to 64 had taken part in education or training in the previous four weeks in 2025, compared with 25.9% nationally and 13.7% in the EU; 5th lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 16.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Drenthe have no qualifications?
19.4% of adults aged 25 to 64 had no qualification beyond lower secondary school in 2025, compared with 18.4% nationally and 18.8% in the EU; 5th highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 24.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat education do adults in Drenthe have?
44.3% of adults aged 25 to 64 had an upper secondary or post-secondary (non-degree) education as their highest level in 2025, compared with 35.5% nationally and 44.3% in the EU; the highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 47.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many pupils and students are there in Drenthe?
Schools in Drenthe taught 30,675 primary pupils and 48,430 secondary pupils in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Drenthe compares with other provinces
Residents aged 15 to 74 with higher education (hbo or university) (%) (2024)
Drenthe ranks 10 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Residents aged 15 to 74 with higher education (hbo or university) (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Groningen | 31.9% |
| 7 | Overijssel | 29.6% |
| 8 | Limburg (NL) | 28.5% |
| 9 | Flevoland | 27.9% |
| 10 | Drenthe | 26.9% |
| 11 | Friesland (NL) | 26.6% |
| 12 | Zeeland | 24.9% |
Residents aged 15 to 74 whose highest level is primary, vmbo or mbo-1 (%) (2024)
Drenthe ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Residents aged 15 to 74 whose highest level is primary, vmbo or mbo-1 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Limburg (NL) | 28.8% |
| 3 | Flevoland | 27.6% |
| 4 | South Holland | 27.2% |
| 5 | Drenthe | 26.8% |
| 6 | Friesland (NL) | 26.6% |
| 7 | North Brabant | 26.5% |
| 8 | Overijssel | 26.0% |
Resident hbo and university students per 1,000 residents (2025)
Drenthe ranks 11 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Resident hbo and university students per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Overijssel | 38.2 |
| 7 | North Brabant | 36.3 |
| 8 | Limburg (NL) | 35.5 |
| 9 | Friesland (NL) | 33.3 |
| 10 | Flevoland | 30.8 |
| 11 | Drenthe | 24.3 |
| 12 | Zeeland | 19.6 |
Average road distance to a havo/vwo secondary school (km) (2024)
Drenthe ranks 1 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average road distance to a havo/vwo secondary school (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drenthe | 6.3 km |
| 2 | Zeeland | 6.3 km |
| 3 | Friesland (NL) | 6.2 km |
| 4 | Groningen | 4.6 km |
| 5 | Overijssel | 4.1 km |
| 6 | Flevoland | 3.8 km |
| 7 | Gelderland | 3.7 km |
Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) (2025)
Drenthe ranks 1 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drenthe | 10.0% |
| 2 | Friesland (NL) | 9.9% |
| 3 | Limburg (NL) | 9.4% |
| 4 | Flevoland | 9.1% |
| 5 | Zeeland | 8.9% |
| 6 | Overijssel | 8.5% |
| 7 | North Brabant | 8.3% |
Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training (2025)
Drenthe ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friesland (NL) | 6.8% |
| 2 | Drenthe | 6.7% |
| 3 | Limburg (NL) | 6.3% |
| 4 | Flevoland | 5.6% |
| 5 | Overijssel | 5.5% |
| 6 | South Holland | 5.4% |
| 7 | Gelderland | 5.4% |
Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks (2025)
Drenthe ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Gelderland | 25.7% |
| 6 | Flevoland | 25.6% |
| 7 | North Brabant | 25.0% |
| 8 | Drenthe | 24.6% |
| 9 | Overijssel | 24.4% |
| 10 | Friesland (NL) | 24.1% |
| 11 | Zeeland | 23.2% |
Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education (2025)
Drenthe ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Limburg (NL) | 22.4% |
| 3 | North Brabant | 20.8% |
| 4 | Flevoland | 19.6% |
| 5 | Drenthe | 19.4% |
| 6 | South Holland | 19.0% |
| 7 | Gelderland | 18.3% |
| 8 | Overijssel | 17.9% |
Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary (2025)
Drenthe ranks 1 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drenthe | 44.3% |
| 2 | Friesland (NL) | 43.8% |
| 3 | Zeeland | 43.4% |
| 4 | Limburg (NL) | 40.3% |
| 5 | Overijssel | 40.2% |
| 6 | Groningen | 38.6% |
| 7 | Flevoland | 38.5% |
More on Drenthe: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · the Netherlands
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset edat_lfse_04: Adults (25-64) with a degree-level education, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6ff9f4bfff72…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset trng_lfse_04: Participation rate of adults in education and training (last 4 weeks) by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 42ceced85786…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset edat_lfse_04: Population aged 25-64 by educational attainment level, sex and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 63810622cd71…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset edat_lfse_22: Young people neither in employment nor in education and training (NEET) by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1467a7225373…)
- Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS): Regionale kerncijfers Nederland (table 70072ned): provinces, COROP areas and selected municipalities, 2014-2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d2b63aac3a26…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset edat_lfse_16: Early leavers from education and training by sex and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c3cc66b98a4a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset educ_uoe_enra11: Pupils and students enrolled by education level, sex and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 20b6224cca4f…)
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