The 10 Best Scholarships in the Netherlands [2026 Update]

The Netherlands is a great country to study in because of the quality of its universities and the generous scholarships offered annually to international students.

In the best cases, these scholarships, in addition to covering the entire cost of your studies, also cover your airfare, visa, medical insurance, and even your living expenses.

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Remember that the characteristics of scholarships vary, so I recommend you read carefully to identify those that best suit your profile and interests.

Let’s begin!

Why study in the Netherlands

There are several reasons why the Netherlands is a great country to study in:

On the one hand, it is located in the heart of Europe, which makes it very easy to travel to other countries on this continent very cheaply.

Another reason is that you can study in English, which is practically their second language since it is taught in their schools from an early age and people speak it very well.

In fact, according to the EF English proficiency index, which is the largest ranking that measures English proficiency in the world, the Netherlands ranks first as the country that speaks it best.

This makes it possible for the Netherlands to have more than 2,100 academic programs taught entirely in English, and you don’t need to know Dutch to live in that country.

Furthermore, the Dutch government is interested in attracting and retaining talent, so they make it easier for international students to work while they study and, upon completion of their studies, offer them the possibility of extending their stay.

How to find programs and universities in the Netherlands?

The Study in Holland website has different filters that will show you a complete list of your best options according to your interests and profile.

Here’s how to use it:

STEP 1: Go to the Study in Holland website

This is the Study in Holland website. On the homepage, you will see four options to help you with your search. These are:

Financing your studies
Find a study program
How to apply
Coronavirus measures

STEP 2: Filter your search according to your interests

To search for undergraduate or postgraduate study programs in the Netherlands, you should go to the option: Find a study program.

You will quickly be directed to a portal with different search filters that will allow you to find the program you are interested in.

So you can search according to:

Type of study
Field of study
City
Type of institution

You can also use the search bar located at the top to enter the name of a specific academic program or a keyword of interest.

STEP 3: Learn about the program you are interested in

As an example, we will search for any program of interest using the different filters offered by the page.

For example, we will look for master’s programs in the field of Agriculture and Environment.

So we will select the Masters and Agriculture and Environment option, on the left side of the page.

In this way, a complete list of all master’s programs in this field of study and the universities that offer them will be displayed.

Now, you will only need to enter the master’s program of your interest; in this case, for example, we will select the Master’s in International Land and Water Management.

STEP 4: Apply to the program of your choice

Once you are in the program you have chosen, you will be able to find out a description of the program, number of credits, benefits, requirements, etc.

The program will have several tabs, and it will be very important for you to take them into account.

For example, on the admissions tab at the top, you’ll find information about application deadlines and tuition fees. Clicking on this tab will allow you to check the bottom of the page to see if there are scholarship opportunities for international students for the program you’re interested in.

In this case, for example, you will see that there are four types of scholarships for this program, about which you can find more information by entering any of them.

This is important because you will not only be able to find information about the program you are interested in, but also quickly find out if there are scholarship options available.

How to find scholarships in the Netherlands

You already know how to find the programs and scholarships for each one to study in the Netherlands,

Now, if you want to start the scholarship search process directly, you can click on the “Financing your studies” button.

Clicking on it will take you to the Netherlands scholarship portal. Here you can find all the specific information about the different types of scholarships and how to apply for them.

For example, here you will see that there are 10 different types of scholarships and also several financing options for your studies.

Now it’s just a matter of continuing the search for scholarships according to your profile and needs, so I recommend that you review each option carefully.

The best scholarships to study in the Netherlands

Previously you learned how to find academic programs and scholarships to study in the Netherlands, now I want to show you the 12 best scholarships for international students.

There are options for all Spanish-speaking people and nationalities, so read each of the following alternatives very carefully.

The Netherlands Scholarship (Government Scholarship)

Provider: Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, as well as several Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences.

Benefits: The scholarship amounts to €5,000 which you will receive in the first year of your studies.

You can study: Undergraduate/Bachelor’s or Master’s programs.

Eligibility: Being a national of any country outside the European Economic Area.

Application process: Online through the website of the Dutch university where you will study.

Application deadline: February or May depending on the program and university you are applying to.

Official website of the scholarship: Holland Scholarship

NOTE: The Netherlands scholarship is offered by the government but administered by each university and is NOT the same as the university’s own scholarships. Therefore, you can apply for the Netherlands scholarship and the scholarships from the universities we will mention below at the same time.

Scholarships from the University of Utrecht

Provider: University of Utrecht, a renowned European institution with an innovative approach and high quality of research.

Benefits: Full payment of the master’s degree + monthly living allowance.

You can study: Master’s degree in English from the Graduate School of Law, Economics and Governance.

Eligibility: Be a national of any country outside the European Economic Area and European Union.

Application process: Online, via the Utrecht University website.

Application deadline: January of each year

Official website of the scholarship: Utrecht University Scholarships

Merit scholarships from the University of Amsterdam

Provider: University of Amsterdam, which aims to attract the brightest international students every year.

Benefits: Depending on the area of study, it can cover all or part of the program costs.

You can study:

Bachelor’s degrees / Undergraduate degrees in:

Psychology
Economics and Business
Social Sciences

Master’s degrees in:

Child development and education
Communication
Economics and Business
Humanities
Right
Medicine
Psychology
Natural sciences
Social Sciences

Eligibility: Being a national of any country outside the European Economic Area and the European Union.

Application process: Online, through the University of Amsterdam website.

Application deadline: January of each year

Official scholarship website:

Maastricht University Scholarships

Provider: Maastricht University, a major Dutch institution with approximately 16,000 students, 44% of whom are international.

Benefits: COMPLETELY covers your studies, living expenses, medical insurance, and visa application costs.

You can study: Bachelor’s/Undergraduate and Master’s programs.

Eligibility: Being a national of any country outside the European Economic Area and the European Union.

Application process: Online, via the Maastricht University website.

Application deadline: January for undergraduate/bachelor’s degrees and February for master’s degrees.

Official scholarship website: Maastricht University Scholarships

Scholarships at Vrije University of Amsterdam

Provider: Free University of Amsterdam, founded in 1880 with more than 26,000 students focused on carrying out research of social and scientific importance.

Benefits: Full payment for your master’s degree studies.

Eligibility: Citizens of any country in the world except the Netherlands.

You can demonstrate your academic excellence with a GPA of at least 80% of the highest possible grade.
She is applying for the first year of a full-time, English-taught master’s program at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
The degree with which you are applying for admission was not obtained in the Netherlands.

Application process: Online, via the Vrije University Amsterdam website.

Application deadline: February of each year.

Official website of the scholarship: Vrije University of Amsterdam Scholarships

Excellence Scholarship – Wageningen University

Provider: Wageningen University, focused on training specialists in social and life sciences.

Benefits: Covers the total costs of the master’s degree.

Eligibility:

Citizens of countries not belonging to the European Union.
Letter of recommendation from a teacher, preferably from a top-ranked institution.
He has a GPA of at least 80% of the highest possible grade.

Application process: Online, via the Wageningen University website.

Application deadline: May of each year.

Official scholarship website: Wageningen University Scholarships

Erasmus University Rotterdam Scholarships

Provider: Erasmus University Rotterdam, a renowned public institution ranked among the top 100 universities in the world.

Benefits: Payment of up to EUR 17,500 for accommodation and living expenses.

You can study: Master’s degrees in:

Right
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Philosophy
History, Culture and Communication

Eligibility: Citizens of countries not belonging to the European Union.

Application process: Online, through the Rotterdam University website.

Application deadline: February or May depending on the faculty you are applying to.

Official website of the scholarship: Erasmus University Rotterdam Scholarships

University of Groningen

Provider: The University of Groningen, founded in 1614, is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. More than 100,000 students have graduated from it.

Benefits: Full payment of studies and living expenses.

You can study: Master’s programs

Eligibility: Citizens of countries not belonging to the European Union or the European Economic Area. Specifically for Nicaraguans, Hondurans, and Bolivians.

Application process: Online, via the University of Groningen website.

Application deadline: February of each year.

Official website of the scholarship: University of Groningen Scholarships

Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships

Provider: Delft University and the legacy of Justus and Louise van Effen.