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

#13 in Europe

#74 in the World

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

2. Utrecht University

#16 in Europe

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1636

3. University of Groningen

#29 in Europe

#120 in the World

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

4. Delft University of Technology

#34 in Europe

#131 in the World

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

5. Radboud University

#46 in Europe

#155 in the World

Founded: 1923

6. Leiden University

#50 in Europe

#159 in the World

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

7. Free University Amsterdam

#63 in Europe

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1880

8. Wageningen University

#68 in Europe

#206 in the World

Enrollment: 12,819
Founded: 1918

9. Erasmus University Rotterdam

#96 in Europe

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1913

10. Eindhoven University of Technology

#113 in Europe

#299 in the World

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

11. University of Twente

#120 in Europe

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1961

12. Maastricht University

#122 in Europe

#323 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1976

13. Tilburg University

#226 in Europe

#571 in the World

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

14. Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Professional Education

#538 in Europe

#1513 in the World

Founded: 1619

15. Rotterdam University

#548 in Europe

#1546 in the World

Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1988

16. HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht

#652 in Europe

#1955 in the World

Founded: 1993

17. HAN University of Applied Sciences

#701 in Europe

#2125 in the World

Founded: 1996

18. Fontys University of Applied Sciences

#714 in Europe

#2169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1996

19. Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen

#715 in Europe

#2177 in the World

Founded: 1986

20. Nyenrode Business University

#814 in Europe

#2643 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1946

21. Hague University of Applied Sciences

#852 in Europe

#2843 in the World

Founded: 1987

22. Saxion University

#866 in Europe

#2906 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1989

23. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

#876 in Europe

#2930 in the World

Founded: 1986

24. Zuyd University

#895 in Europe

#2993 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2001

25. AVANS University of Applied Sciences

#911 in Europe

#3077 in the World

Founded: 2004

26. Breda University of Applied Sciences

#912 in Europe

#3083 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 1966

27. INHolland University of Applied Sciences

#931 in Europe

#3195 in the World

Founded: 2002

28. Utrecht School of the Arts

#980 in Europe

#3408 in the World

Founded: 1987

29. Hogeschool Leiden, University of Professional Education

#1014 in Europe

#3579 in the World

Founded: 1984

30. Codarts University of the Arts

#1028 in Europe

#3668 in the World

Founded: 1930

31. University of Humanistic Studies

#1033 in Europe

#3686 in the World

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

32. ArtEZ Institute for the Arts

#1107 in Europe

#4133 in the World

Founded: 2002

33. Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences

#1146 in Europe

#4371 in the World

Founded: 2003

34. NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences

#1166 in Europe

#4467 in the World

Founded: 2008

35. Design Academy Eindhoven

#1220 in Europe

#4853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1947

36. American University of the Caribbean - School of Medicine

#1314 in Europe

#5361 in the World

Founded: 1978

37. IHE Delft Institute for Water Education

#1328 in Europe

#5400 in the World

Founded: 1958

38. Ede Christian University

#1335 in Europe

#5432 in the World

Founded: 1994

39. Hotelschool The Hague

#1350 in Europe

#5510 in the World

Founded: 1929

40. TIAS School for Business and Society

#1353 in Europe

#5516 in the World

Founded: 1986

41. HZ University of Applied Sciences

#1359 in Europe

#5565 in the World

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

42. Amsterdam School of the Arts

#1411 in Europe

#5826 in the World

Founded: 1987

43. Gerrit Rietveld Academy

#1425 in Europe

#5936 in the World

Founded: 1924

44. University of Aruba

#1530 in Europe

#6631 in the World

Founded: 1970

45. Royal Academy of Art The Hague

#1634 in Europe

#7371 in the World

Founded: 1682

46. Driestar Christian University

#1699 in Europe

#7616 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Founded: 1944

47. Aeres University of Applied Sciences

#1885 in Europe

#8200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2013

48. HAS University of Applied Sciences

's-Hertogenbosch

#2018 in Europe

#8575 in the World

Founded: 1948

49. Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences

#2220 in Europe

#9350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1987

50. Manrix Academy

#2278 in Europe

#9636 in the World

Founded: 1974

51. Viaa University of Applied Sciences

#2281 in Europe

#9654 in the World

Founded: 1987

52. Islamic University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam

#2305 in Europe

#9744 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1997

53. University of Professional Teacher Education PABO Zwolle

#2319 in Europe

#9830 in the World

Founded: 2011

54. De Kempel University of Applied Sciences

#2391 in Europe

#10154 in the World

Founded: 1986

55. IPABO Amsterdam, University of Teacher Education

#2394 in Europe

#10165 in the World

Founded: 1986

56. Iselinge University of Professional Teacher Education

#2441 in Europe

#10446 in the World

Founded: 1984

57. Xavier University School of Medicine

#2662 in Europe

#12174 in the World

Founded: 2004

58. Aureus University School of Medicine

#2735 in Europe

#13100 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 $924 + $202-1440 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).