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Dutch universities have decried ¡°incomprehensible¡± additional cuts to the country¡¯s research and higher education budget, warning that they could cause ¡°irreversible damage¡± to the sector.

The Netherlands¡¯ caretaker government, which will remain in place under outgoing prime minister Dick Schoof until October¡¯s general election, announced this week that universities¡¯ 2026 compensation for inflation will be cut by up to €25 million (?21.7 million).

The exact ¡°price adjustment¡± has yet to be established and is expected to be announced in the government¡¯s 2026 spring memorandum.

Higher education and research budgets have already been cut by up to €300 million per year, with funding reduced for early career research grants and international student support, among other areas.

Several institutions have already implemented significant layoffs, while universities including Radboud and Tilburg announced plans earlier this year to pursue legal action against the cuts. In March, university cities across the country participated in a ¡°relay strike¡± to protest the budget reductions.

The umbrella body Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) , with president Caspar van den Berg commenting, ¡°It is incomprehensible that this government continues to cut back on knowledge and innovation, while these are essential for keeping our country safe, resilient, and healthy.¡±

¡°The Council of State stated today that this could have fatal consequences for our earning capacity. We must invest now, otherwise the damage to science and education will be irreversible.¡±

¡°Especially in the current geopolitical and economic climate, we must ensure we safeguard our strategic autonomy. Investments in knowledge are essential for this,¡± Van den Berg said. ¡°In crucial areas like quantum technology and semiconductor techniques, we can lead the way in the Netherlands, but that is not possible without public investment in universities and their fundamental research.¡±

UNL also highlighted the EU¡¯s research and innovation investment target of?3 per cent of each country¡¯s GDP, noting that public investment of €2.6 billion per year would be required for the Netherlands to reach this goal. In 2023, Dutch investment stood at about 2.2 per cent, with the ongoing cuts expected to push that figure closer to?2 per cent according to UNL.

Van den Berg said the cuts come as universities are given increased responsibilities, including the mandatory screening of researchers working on ¡°sensitive¡± knowledge or technology areas. ¡°It¡¯s striking that the government claims to want to reduce regulatory burden, while universities are actually being given additional rules and tasks, without funding,¡± said the UNL president.

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com