Statistics Netherlands (CBS) data reveal that the vast majority of Dutch students who leave their parental home to pursue higher education settle close to where they grew up. Rather than venturing across the country or abroad, most choose universities and colleges in their own region.
Regional Relocation Patterns
Among the roughly 115,000 students who moved out in the academic year 2025–26, 69% established themselves within 60 kilometres of their family home. Just over a quarter, 27%, relocated between 60 and 200 kilometres away, and only 4% crossed borders to study abroad.
- Within 20 km: 42% of student moves
- 20–60 km: 27% of student moves
- 60–200 km: 27% of student moves
- Abroad: 4% of student moves
These figures underscore a strong preference for familiar surroundings, enabling students to maintain local support networks. Commuting remains an option too: nearly one in five attendees of nearby institutions continues to live at home and travels daily.
Influence of University Cities
Major academic hubs naturally draw from their own provinces. In North-Brabant, for instance, Tilburg University attracts 82% of its new students from within the province. In Limburg, Maastricht University reports that 75% of first-year enrollees hail from Limburg or neighbouring Belgian regions. Utrecht University, centrally positioned, sees a slightly broader catchment: 68% of its incoming cohort come from Utrecht province and adjacent areas.
Smaller or more peripheral institutions show greater geographic reach. Wageningen University & Research pulls in many from Gelderland and Overijssel, while the University of Groningen welcomes high numbers from Friesland and Drenthe.
Despite growing digital connectivity, the lure of a nearby campus remains strong. Students cite lower living costs, shorter travel times and a familiar cultural environment as key reasons for staying close to home. For policymakers, these patterns highlight the importance of regional educational capacity planning and the potential to expand commuting infrastructure where full relocation is less appealing.