The Amsterdammer

The results of the Dutch elections in November 2023 came as a surprise for many. A right-wing party, PVV (Party for Freedom), known for its anti-immigration, anti-Islam, and anti-EU stances, won 37 seats in the Dutch Parliament. The second closest party was the left-wing GroenLinks-PvdA, which received 25 seats. Such a discrepancy can signal deepening polarization within Dutch society, reflecting divergent views on key issues such as immigration, national identity and European integration. While there were doubts about PVV’s ability to form a coalition with other parties due to its divisive policy proposals, an agreement was reached on May 15, officiating the new government. Three other parties joined PVV in the coalition: VVD (People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy ), NSC (New Social Contract) and BBB (Farmer–Citizen Movement).

Geert Wilders, the head of the winning PVV, shared a celebratory post the following day, saying: “The sun will shine again in the Netherlands,” hinting at the transformations the coalition aims to bring. Around 50% of voters are satisfied with the new coalition, according to a survey by Ipsos I&O, but there remains significant concerns amongst certain segments of the population as well as international observers. The voters of parties on the progressive end of the spectrum, such as GL-PvdA, VOLT and D66, showed very low levels of satisfaction with the new cabinet. One of the reasons for the dissatisfaction could stem from the coalition’s stance on green policies and initiatives. In the document called “Hope, Courage and Pride,” which outlined the plans of the new Cabinet, it was made clear that the Netherlands is to move away from its longstanding leadership role in European green politics. One proposed policy example includes the abolition of the daytime 100km/h speed limit on the highways, which was previously imposed to reduce nitrogen compound pollution. The new cabinet also suggested the reintroduction of a cheaper fuel alternative, “red diesel,” for agricultural purposes, and ending subsidies for electric cars. Importantly, however, the coalition chose to uphold its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and keep the multi-year fund allocated for battling climate change.

The cabinet’s new policy proposals outlined in “Hope, Courage and Pride” also sparked concern among universities across the Netherlands. That is due to the significant funding cuts suggested for the field of higher education and science. The new government’s total reductions in research and science funds, for instance, were calculated as nearly a billion euros. Universiteiten van Nederland (UNL), which is an umbrella organization consisting of 14 public Dutch universities, has expressed its disappointment with the outlined agreement. In a press release on May 16, Jouke de Vries, the interim chairman of UNL, stated: “The cuts in education and science are a blow to our students and employees who are already under enormous pressure… This does not fit with the ambition of the forming parties to strengthen the knowledge economy and the earning capacity of the Netherlands. With this, we are putting the future of the young people in our country at risk.”

In addition to the cuts in funding, a “fine” of 3,000 euros was suggested for students who are delayed with their bachelor’s or master’s degree for a year. This idea was met with criticism from various Dutch student unions, such as LSVb (Landelijke Studentenvakbond) and ISO (Het Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg). The chairman of LSVb, Elisa Weehuizen, shared that “The fine is a stunning measure that makes it impossible to make mistakes. This creates enormous pressure.” On behalf of LSVb, she expressed concerns regarding the impact of such a decision on the students’ mental well-being and noted that the organization is “preparing for action” to express their dissatisfaction.

Lastly, the new coalition outlined its plans for decreasing the number of international students. The cabinet intends to achieve this through the introduction of more courses in Dutch, the implementation of a numerus fixus for foreign students, and increased tuition fees for non-EU students. Such plans are related to the new government’s aims to decrease pressure on housing and healthcare, as well as to promote the Dutch language and culture. The number of international students in the country has long been debated by Dutch citizens and politicians. To provide context, data from CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek), reveals that approximately 123,000 international students were enrolled in Dutch universities in the 2022/2023 academic year. Over 75% of them were students from Europe, while the remaining portion represented other continents. It is important to note that attempts to decrease the number of foreigners in higher education had started before the formation of the new coalition. A stop was put to the development of new English programs as well as the organization of international fairs for active student recruitment. Now it appears that these endeavors are being further solidified and enhanced by the new government. Such tendencies seem to result in a growing worry amongst foreign students. In a survey carried out by Volkskrant, for example, international students increasingly outlined their concerns about their negative portrayal in the political discourse and the general perception within Dutch society.

Generally, the recent Dutch elections and the subsequent formation of a new coalition have brought about significant shifts in policy and public sentiment. It represents an important moment for Dutch politics signaling the adoption of a relatively new political direction. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the agreement “Hope, Courage and Pride” is only a suggestive outline, meaning that the future trajectory of Dutch governance will be further shaped by extensive parliamentary processes.