The number of people with student debt continues to decline, but still to a limited extent

The number of (former) students with student debt has fallen slightly for the second year in a row. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported this on Wednesday, based on new figures. At the start of this year, nearly 1.6 million Dutch people had student debt, over thirty thousand fewer than the previous year.

Following the reintroduction of the basic grant for higher education by the Rutte IV cabinet, fewer current students have applied for loans. In 2025, 460,000 students had student debt. That's 150,000 fewer than in 2023, the year the basic grant was reinstated.

On the other hand, the number of former students with student debt has actually increased: this year, there were over 1.1 million. This number has continued to grow steadily in recent years. They received only limited compensation for their inability to qualify for the basic student grant.

50,000 euro debt

Since the Rutte II cabinet introduced the student loan system in 2015, student debt has risen sharply. While the average debt at the time was €5,800, it will be €18,200 by 2025. Among former students, this amount will be slightly higher (€18,800), while among current students it will be lower (€16,700).

The number of people with high student debt has risen significantly in the past year. In 2025, 146,000 people had student debt of at least €50,000. That's almost ten thousand more than in 2024, and 113,000 more than in 2015. Nearly half of those with student debt owe less than €10,000.

Sarah Evink, chair of the Intercity Student Consultation (ISO), is cautiously optimistic about the basic grant's effect on the number of people with student debt. "It's good that the downward trend is. But if so many people still feel the need to borrow, you have to wonder if the basic grant is sufficient."

Evink points out that the basic grant was adjusted for inflation once in 2023, but that it was subsequently reduced again. "It's great that it exists and that more and more people can benefit from it, but it's not enough."

The rise in the number of people with higher debt is particularly concerning to her. "Students don't borrow money for fun. I think there's a perception that students mainly drink beer, but that's often not the case at all. There's a lot of financial stress. That's something we, as a society, have every right to be concerned about."