List of 58 best universities in the Netherlands

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 42.4M citations received by 1.35M academic publications made by 58 universities from the Netherlands, the popularity of 2,904 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

#28 in Europe

#114 in the World

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

4. Delft University of Technology

#34 in Europe

#127 in the World

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

5. Radboud University

#44 in Europe

#147 in the World

Founded: 1923

6. Leiden University

#46 in Europe

#149 in the World

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

7. Wageningen University

#66 in Europe

#207 in the World

Enrollment: 12,819
Founded: 1918

8. Free University Amsterdam

#75 in Europe

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1880

9. Erasmus University Rotterdam

#96 in Europe

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1913

10. Eindhoven University of Technology

#114 in Europe

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1956

11. Maastricht University

#120 in Europe

#317 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1976

12. University of Twente

#129 in Europe

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1961

13. Tilburg University

#221 in Europe

#564 in the World

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

14. Rotterdam University

#531 in Europe

#1480 in the World

Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1988

15. Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Professional Education

#556 in Europe

#1576 in the World

Founded: 1619

16. HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht

#638 in Europe

#1885 in the World

Founded: 1993

17. HAN University of Applied Sciences

#689 in Europe

#2052 in the World

Founded: 1996

18. Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen

#704 in Europe

#2098 in the World

Founded: 1986

19. Fontys University of Applied Sciences

#708 in Europe

#2109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1996

20. Nyenrode Business University

#803 in Europe

#2580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1946

21. Hague University of Applied Sciences

#843 in Europe

#2784 in the World

Founded: 1987

22. Saxion University

#854 in Europe

#2831 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1989

23. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

#864 in Europe

#2869 in the World

Founded: 1986

24. AVANS University of Applied Sciences

#875 in Europe

#2917 in the World

Founded: 2004

25. Zuyd University

#887 in Europe

#2963 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2001

26. INHolland University of Applied Sciences

#920 in Europe

#3124 in the World

Founded: 2002

27. Breda University of Applied Sciences

#939 in Europe

#3189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 1966

28. Utrecht School of the Arts

#973 in Europe

#3376 in the World

Founded: 1987

29. Hogeschool Leiden, University of Professional Education

#988 in Europe

#3446 in the World

Founded: 1984

30. Codarts University of the Arts

#1026 in Europe

#3640 in the World

Founded: 1930

31. University of Humanistic Studies

#1066 in Europe

#3932 in the World

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

32. ArtEZ Institute for the Arts

#1097 in Europe

#4110 in the World

Founded: 2002

33. Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences

#1125 in Europe

#4261 in the World

Founded: 2003

34. NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences

#1149 in Europe

#4441 in the World

Founded: 2008

35. Design Academy Eindhoven

#1212 in Europe

#4796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1947

36. IHE Delft Institute for Water Education

#1272 in Europe

#5144 in the World

Founded: 1958

37. TIAS School for Business and Society

#1282 in Europe

#5222 in the World

Founded: 1986

38. Ede Christian University

#1287 in Europe

#5262 in the World

Founded: 1994

39. HZ University of Applied Sciences

#1345 in Europe

#5520 in the World

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

40. Amsterdam School of the Arts

#1353 in Europe

#5564 in the World

Founded: 1987

41. Hotelschool The Hague

#1359 in Europe

#5601 in the World

Founded: 1929

42. Gerrit Rietveld Academy

#1413 in Europe

#5878 in the World

Founded: 1924

43. American University of the Caribbean - School of Medicine

#1429 in Europe

#6003 in the World

Founded: 1978

44. University of Aruba

#1537 in Europe

#6754 in the World

Founded: 1970

45. Royal Academy of Art The Hague

#1604 in Europe

#7245 in the World

Founded: 1682

46. Driestar Christian University

#1653 in Europe

#7482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Founded: 1944

47. Aeres University of Applied Sciences

#1845 in Europe

#8103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2013

48. HAS University of Applied Sciences

's-Hertogenbosch

#2132 in Europe

#8985 in the World

Founded: 1948

49. Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences

#2166 in Europe

#9171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1987

50. Islamic University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam

#2172 in Europe

#9193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1997

51. Manrix Academy

#2203 in Europe

#9334 in the World

Founded: 1974

52. Viaa University of Applied Sciences

#2274 in Europe

#9631 in the World

Founded: 1987

53. University of Professional Teacher Education PABO Zwolle

#2313 in Europe

#9810 in the World

Founded: 2011

54. De Kempel University of Applied Sciences

#2330 in Europe

#9857 in the World

Founded: 1986

55. IPABO Amsterdam, University of Teacher Education

#2356 in Europe

#9977 in the World

Founded: 1986

56. Iselinge University of Professional Teacher Education

#2430 in Europe

#10350 in the World

Founded: 1984

57. Xavier University School of Medicine

#2677 in Europe

#12260 in the World

Founded: 2004

58. Aureus University School of Medicine

#2736 in Europe

#12956 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 $773 + $164-1172 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).