List of 58 best universities in the Netherlands

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 62.3M citations received by 1.61M academic publications made by 58 universities from the Netherlands, the popularity of 3,154 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Amsterdam

#13 in Europe

#76 in the World

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

2. Utrecht University

#14 in Europe

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1636

3. University of Groningen

#30 in Europe

#118 in the World

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

4. Radboud University

#34 in Europe

#127 in the World

Founded: 1923

5. Delft University of Technology

#40 in Europe

#137 in the World

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

6. Leiden University

#51 in Europe

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 33,474
Founded: 1575

7. Free University Amsterdam

#63 in Europe

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1880

8. Wageningen University

#71 in Europe

#206 in the World

Enrollment: 12,819
Founded: 1918

9. Erasmus University Rotterdam

#87 in Europe

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1913

10. Eindhoven University of Technology

#112 in Europe

#287 in the World

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

11. University of Twente

#121 in Europe

#305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1961

12. Maastricht University

#122 in Europe

#309 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1976

13. Tilburg University

#230 in Europe

#556 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Enrollment: 19,178
Founded: 1927

14. Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Professional Education

#561 in Europe

#1490 in the World

Founded: 1619

15. Rotterdam University

#580 in Europe

#1546 in the World

Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1988

16. HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht

#650 in Europe

#1820 in the World

Founded: 1993

17. HAN University of Applied Sciences

#698 in Europe

#2002 in the World

Founded: 1996

18. Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen

#719 in Europe

#2090 in the World

Founded: 1986

19. Fontys University of Applied Sciences

#721 in Europe

#2097 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1996

20. Nyenrode Business University

#824 in Europe

#2545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1946

21. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

#859 in Europe

#2732 in the World

Founded: 1986

22. Hague University of Applied Sciences

#862 in Europe

#2740 in the World

Enrollment: 2,331
Founded: 1987

23. AVANS University of Applied Sciences

#872 in Europe

#2788 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 2004

24. Saxion University

#880 in Europe

#2808 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1989

25. Zuyd University

#896 in Europe

#2896 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2001

26. INHolland University of Applied Sciences

#904 in Europe

#2935 in the World

Founded: 2002

27. Breda University of Applied Sciences

#925 in Europe

#3043 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 1966

28. Utrecht School of the Arts

#949 in Europe

#3160 in the World

Founded: 1987

29. Hogeschool Leiden, University of Professional Education

#987 in Europe

#3358 in the World

Founded: 1984

30. Codarts University of the Arts

#996 in Europe

#3438 in the World

Founded: 1930

31. University of Humanistic Studies

#1010 in Europe

#3518 in the World

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

32. ArtEZ Institute for the Arts

#1065 in Europe

#3846 in the World

Founded: 2002

33. Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences

#1131 in Europe

#4179 in the World

Founded: 2003

34. NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences

#1159 in Europe

#4354 in the World

Founded: 2008

35. HZ University of Applied Sciences

#1186 in Europe

#4467 in the World

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

36. TIAS School for Business and Society

#1189 in Europe

#4476 in the World

Founded: 1986

37. Design Academy Eindhoven

#1197 in Europe

#4548 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1947

38. IHE Delft Institute for Water Education

#1214 in Europe

#4678 in the World

Founded: 1958

39. American University of the Caribbean - School of Medicine

#1288 in Europe

#5086 in the World

Founded: 1978

40. Ede Christian University

#1289 in Europe

#5087 in the World

Founded: 1994

41. Hotelschool The Hague

#1330 in Europe

#5379 in the World

Founded: 1929

42. Amsterdam School of the Arts

#1350 in Europe

#5503 in the World

Founded: 1987

43. Gerrit Rietveld Academy

#1361 in Europe

#5562 in the World

Founded: 1924

44. University of Aruba

#1498 in Europe

#6401 in the World

Founded: 1970

45. Royal Academy of Art The Hague

#1640 in Europe

#7254 in the World

Founded: 1682

46. Driestar Christian University

#1751 in Europe

#7679 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Founded: 1944

47. Aeres University of Applied Sciences

#1866 in Europe

#8025 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2013

48. HAS University of Applied Sciences

's-Hertogenbosch

#2043 in Europe

#8565 in the World

Founded: 1948

49. Manrix Academy

#2180 in Europe

#9111 in the World

Founded: 1974

50. Islamic University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam

#2189 in Europe

#9157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1997

51. Viaa University of Applied Sciences

#2202 in Europe

#9209 in the World

Founded: 1987

52. Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences

#2239 in Europe

#9359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1987

53. University of Professional Teacher Education PABO Zwolle

#2307 in Europe

#9636 in the World

Founded: 2011

54. Iselinge University of Professional Teacher Education

#2389 in Europe

#10076 in the World

Founded: 1984

55. IPABO Amsterdam, University of Teacher Education

#2402 in Europe

#10176 in the World

Founded: 1986

56. De Kempel University of Applied Sciences

#2416 in Europe

#10257 in the World

Founded: 1986

57. Xavier University School of Medicine

#2577 in Europe

#11591 in the World

Founded: 2004

58. Aureus University School of Medicine

#2694 in Europe

#12550 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 Nijmegen.

Average cost of living for students in the Netherlands is $941 + $207-1480 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).