Education in the Netherlands is characterized by division: education is oriented toward the needs and background of the pupil. Education is divided over schools for different age groups, some of which are divided in streams for different educational levels. Schools are furthermore divided in public, special (religious), and general-special (neutral) schools, although there are also a few private schools. The Dutch grading scale runs from 1 to 10 (outstanding).
The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a public research university in Amsterdam, Netherlands, being founded in 1880. The VU Amsterdam is one of two large, publicly funded research universities in the city, the other being the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The literal translation of the Dutch name Vrije Universiteit is "Free University". "Free" refers to independence of the university from both the State and the Dutch Reformed Church. Both within and outside the university, the institution is commonly referred to as "the VU". Although founded as a private institution, the VU has received government funding on a parity basis with public universities since 1970. The university is located on a compact urban campus in the southern Buitenveldert neighbourhood of Amsterdam and adjacent to the modern Zuidas business district.
The University of Amsterdam is a public research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Established in 1632 by municipal authorities, it is the fourth-oldest academic institution in the Netherlands still in operation.
Avans University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch high ranked vocational university. It is located in three cities: Breda, 's-Hertogenbosch, and Tilburg. The school has over 30,000 students studying 40 courses in 18 institutes. There are 3,000 employees.
Hanze University of Applied Sciences is the largest vocational university in the northern Netherlands and located in Groningen.
Erasmus University Rotterdam is a public research university located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The university is named after Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, a 15th-century Christian humanist and theologian.
Windesheim University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch vocational university institute for higher education and research. With over 27,000 students and over 3,000 staff at sites in Zwolle and Almere, Windesheim is one of the more prominent universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. Elsevier and Keuzegids HBO have ranked Windesheim second among the universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands for several years in a row.
Education in Belgium is regulated and for the most part financed by one of the three communities: Flemish, French and German-speaking. Each community has its own school system, with small differences among them. The federal government plays a very small role: it decides directly the age for mandatory schooling and indirectly the financing of the communities.
University College Ghent, commonly known as HoGent, is the largest university college in Flanders, with three faculties, one School of Arts and over 17,000 students as of 2022. Its establishment in 1995 is the outcome of two successful mergers that involved sixteen Belgian institutions of higher education. Many had been influential leaders in higher education for several decades. The current faculties are spread over the city center of Ghent and Aalst.
Zuyd University of Applied Sciences is a University of Applied Sciences with campuses in Heerlen, Sittard and Maastricht in the southeastern Netherlands.
Fontys University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch university of applied sciences, located in the southern Netherlands. It has over 44,000 students in several campuses. The three largest Fontys campuses are located in the cities of Eindhoven, Tilburg and Venlo. The name Fontys comes from the Latin word "fons" which means "source". Fontys offers 200 bachelor's and master's study programmes in the fields of economics, technology, health care, social work, sports and teacher training. A selection of these programmes is offered in German and English. In the independent Dutch ranking known as Keuzegids, Fontys is among the top-ranked large universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. In 2014, former Fontys Chairperson Nienke Meijer was named the "Most Influential Woman in the Netherlands".
The Hague University of Applied Sciences is a university of applied sciences with its campuses located in and around The Hague in the Randstad metropolitan region in the west of the Netherlands. The city is home to the Dutch government, royal family and many major international legal, security and peace institutions. Since the university was founded in 1987 it has expanded to four campuses in the near-side cities of The Hague, Delft and Zoetermeer. The main campus in The Hague is located behind The Hague Hollands Spoor railway station by the Laakhaven Canal.
Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel was a Dutch language university founded in 2007. HUBrussel was the result of a merger between Brussels-based colleges European University College Brussels, Vlekho, HONIM and Catholic University of Brussels (KUBrussel).
Inholland University of Applied Sciences is a large university of applied sciences located in eight main cities of the Randstad, the central-western region of the Netherlands and the country's economic, political and cultural hub. With over 37,000 students from more than 100 countries, the university follows the applied sciences mode of education.
The Willem de Kooning Academy is a Dutch academy of media, art, design, leisure and education based in Rotterdam. It was named after one of its most famous alumni, Dutch fine artist Willem de Kooning.
The HAN University of Applied Sciences, mostly referred to as HAN, is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. It offers bachelor's and master's degree programs to over 36,000 students. HAN is a knowledge institute for higher education in the Dutch province of Gelderland, with campuses in Arnhem and Nijmegen and a research center in Doetinchem.
Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch government accredited Vocational University established 1987 in the centre of the Netherlands, offering bachelor's and master's degrees - vocational education - at higher level.
Breda University of Applied Sciences, is a Dutch university of applied sciences in Breda, the Netherlands. BUas caters for more than 7,000 Dutch and international students from over 80 countries. The institute offers professional and academic bachelor’s and master’s programmes in the domains of Data Science & AI, Creative Business, Games, Hotel, Facility, Logistics, Built Environment, Tourism, Leisure & Events.
Saxion University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch university of applied sciences with three campuses in the eastern Netherlands. It provides more than 100 courses in study fields as archaeology, finance, law, engineering, hospitality, business, IT, broadcasting, health and digital media. With over 27,000 students, it is one of the largest institutions of higher education in the Netherlands. Saxion offers bachelor & master education and research focused on living technology.
