List of 58 best universities in the Netherlands

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Top 58 universities in the Netherlands ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 58.6M citations received by 1.56M academic publications made by 58 universities from the Netherlands, the popularity of 3,012 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Amsterdam

#12 in Europe

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

2. Utrecht University

#16 in Europe

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1636

3. University of Groningen

#29 in Europe

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 34,000
Founded: 1614

4. Delft University of Technology

#34 in Europe

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 24,703
Founded: 1842

5. Radboud University

#44 in Europe

#148 in the World

Founded: 1923

6. Leiden University

#48 in Europe

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 27,713
Founded: 1575

7. Wageningen University

#65 in Europe

#201 in the World

Enrollment: 12,819
Founded: 1918

8. Free University Amsterdam

#67 in Europe

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1880

9. Erasmus University Rotterdam

#93 in Europe

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1913

10. Maastricht University

#120 in Europe

#317 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1976

11. Eindhoven University of Technology

#121 in Europe

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 13,069
Founded: 1956

12. University of Twente

#130 in Europe

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1961

13. Tilburg University

#223 in Europe

#561 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Enrollment: 17,378
Founded: 1927

14. Rotterdam University

#540 in Europe

#1529 in the World

Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1988

15. Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Professional Education

#553 in Europe

#1563 in the World

Founded: 1619

16. HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht

#647 in Europe

#1911 in the World

Founded: 1993

17. HAN University of Applied Sciences

#684 in Europe

#2071 in the World

Founded: 1996

18. Fontys University of Applied Sciences

#701 in Europe

#2120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1996

19. Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen

#702 in Europe

#2129 in the World

Founded: 1986

20. Nyenrode Business University

#801 in Europe

#2586 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1946

21. Hague University of Applied Sciences

#843 in Europe

#2792 in the World

Founded: 1987

22. Saxion University

#857 in Europe

#2851 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1989

23. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

#867 in Europe

#2882 in the World

Founded: 1986

24. Zuyd University

#899 in Europe

#3015 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2001

25. AVANS University of Applied Sciences

#900 in Europe

#3016 in the World

Founded: 2004

26. Breda University of Applied Sciences

#924 in Europe

#3113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 1966

27. INHolland University of Applied Sciences

#927 in Europe

#3120 in the World

Founded: 2002

28. Utrecht School of the Arts

#971 in Europe

#3323 in the World

Founded: 1987

29. Codarts University of the Arts

#1012 in Europe

#3585 in the World

Founded: 1930

30. Hogeschool Leiden, University of Professional Education

#1014 in Europe

#3587 in the World

Founded: 1984

31. University of Humanistic Studies

#1061 in Europe

#3878 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 550
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1989

32. ArtEZ Institute for the Arts

#1084 in Europe

#4042 in the World

Founded: 2002

33. Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences

#1136 in Europe

#4305 in the World

Founded: 2003

34. NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences

#1149 in Europe

#4381 in the World

Founded: 2008

35. Design Academy Eindhoven

#1205 in Europe

#4756 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1947

36. Ede Christian University

#1306 in Europe

#5336 in the World

Founded: 1994

37. TIAS School for Business and Society

#1311 in Europe

#5348 in the World

Founded: 1986

38. IHE Delft Institute for Water Education

#1314 in Europe

#5369 in the World

Founded: 1958

39. American University of the Caribbean - School of Medicine

#1343 in Europe

#5526 in the World

Founded: 1978

40. HZ University of Applied Sciences

#1347 in Europe

#5559 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Enrollment: 1,100
Founded: 1987

41. Hotelschool The Hague

#1375 in Europe

#5658 in the World

Founded: 1929

42. Amsterdam School of the Arts

#1386 in Europe

#5735 in the World

Founded: 1987

43. Gerrit Rietveld Academy

#1406 in Europe

#5846 in the World

Founded: 1924

44. University of Aruba

#1530 in Europe

#6721 in the World

Founded: 1970

45. Royal Academy of Art The Hague

#1605 in Europe

#7299 in the World

Founded: 1682

46. Driestar Christian University

#1666 in Europe

#7547 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Founded: 1944

47. Aeres University of Applied Sciences

#1851 in Europe

#8120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2013

48. HAS University of Applied Sciences

's-Hertogenbosch

#1958 in Europe

#8417 in the World

Founded: 1948

49. Islamic University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam

#2133 in Europe

#8980 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1997

50. Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences

#2177 in Europe

#9207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1987

51. Manrix Academy

#2214 in Europe

#9372 in the World

Founded: 1974

52. Viaa University of Applied Sciences

#2282 in Europe

#9664 in the World

Founded: 1987

53. University of Professional Teacher Education PABO Zwolle

#2318 in Europe

#9834 in the World

Founded: 2011

54. De Kempel University of Applied Sciences

#2335 in Europe

#9885 in the World

Founded: 1986

55. IPABO Amsterdam, University of Teacher Education

#2362 in Europe

#10004 in the World

Founded: 1986

56. Iselinge University of Professional Teacher Education

#2430 in Europe

#10374 in the World

Founded: 1984

57. Xavier University School of Medicine

#2678 in Europe

#12267 in the World

Founded: 2004

58. Aureus University School of Medicine

#2736 in Europe

#12961 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2004

The best cities to study in the Netherlands based on the number of universities and their ranks are Amsterdam, Utrecht, Groningen, and Delft.

Average cost of living for students in the Netherlands is $822 + $177-1266 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).