Netherlands Government Scholarships for International Students 2026: Orange Tulip, Holland Scholarship, and NFP Explained

The Netherlands is one of the most popular study destinations in Europe. Most Dutch universities teach in English, even at postgraduate level. Tuition fees are reasonable compared to the UK and the USA.

Several Dutch government-backed scholarship programmes exist to help international students from outside the European Economic Area study in the Netherlands. However, the landscape changed significantly in 2024 — and many resources online are still describing programmes that have already ended.

This guide gives you a completely accurate picture of the Dutch scholarship landscape in 2026. It covers the NL Scholarship (formerly called the Holland Scholarship), the Orange Tulip Scholarship, what replaced the NFP, what happened to the Orange Knowledge Programme, and where to find university-specific fully funded options.

Whether you are from Nigeria, India, Ghana, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Kenya, Colombia, Vietnam, or any other non-EEA country — this guide tells you exactly what is available, who qualifies, and how to apply.

Why the Netherlands Is Worth Targeting in 2026

Before exploring the specific scholarships, it is helpful to understand why the Netherlands attracts over 115,000 international students each year. The reasons are practical and significant.

• Over 2,100 English-taught programmes — at Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD level. The Netherlands has more English-taught programmes than any non-English-speaking country in the world.
• Strong global university rankings — including Delft University of Technology, University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, Wageningen University, Leiden University, and Erasmus University Rotterdam.
• Central location in Europe — with excellent rail and air connections to Germany, Belgium, France, and the rest of the EU.
• Post-study orientation year — the Dutch Orientation Year (Zoekjaar) allows international graduates from top universities worldwide to stay in the Netherlands for one year to find work — without a job offer in hand.
• Strong job market in tech, logistics, agriculture, and finance — Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, and Wageningen are major hubs for international professionals.

Furthermore, Dutch universities consistently rank in the top 200 globally in multiple subject areas — particularly engineering, life sciences, agriculture, and social sciences.

Netherlands Scholarship Landscape 2026: What Exists and What Has Ended

Many international students are confused about which Dutch scholarship programmes are currently active. The table below gives you a clear, accurate status of each programme as of March 2026.

Consequently, the two main government-connected Dutch scholarship programmes actively accepting applications in 2026 are the NL Scholarship and the Orange Tulip Scholarship. The NFP ended years ago, and the OKP ended at the close of 2024. Any website still advertising them as open in 2026 is outdated.

1. The NL Scholarship (Formerly the Holland Scholarship)

The NL Scholarship is the Dutch Ministry of Education’s flagship programme for international students from outside the EEA. It was previously known as the Holland Scholarship. The name change is purely administrative — the programme and its eligibility rules remain the same.

What the NL Scholarship Covers

• Amount — €5,000 as a one-time payment during your first year of study.
• Purpose — to help offset initial living and study costs in the Netherlands. It is not a tuition waiver.
• Payment schedule — varies by university. Some pay in a single instalment; others split it into two payments of €2,500 each across the academic year.
• Duration — one year only. You cannot renew or reapply for a second NL Scholarship grant.

NL Scholarship Eligibility Requirements 2026

1. You must be a citizen of a non-EEA country — citizens of EU/EEA countries, Switzerland, and Suriname are not eligible.
2. You must be applying for a full-time Bachelor’s or Master’s degree — at a participating Dutch research university or university of applied sciences.
3. You must not have previously studied at a Dutch educational institution — and must not have previously received the NL Scholarship or the former Holland Scholarship.
4. You must meet the specific academic and language requirements — of the institution you are applying to. These vary by university and by programme.

Participating Institutions for the 2026–27 Academic Year

The list of participating universities changes annually. The confirmed 2026–27 research university participants include:

• Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
• Maastricht University (UM)
• Radboud University Nijmegen
• University of Groningen (RUG)
• University of Twente (UT)
• Utrecht University (UU)
• Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)
• Wageningen University and Research (WUR)

Additionally, a wide range of universities of applied sciences (hogescholen) also participate. The full updated list is published annually at studyinnl.org/finances/nl-scholarship. Always confirm your chosen institution’s participation before applying.

How to Apply for the NL Scholarship

5. Select your Dutch university and programme first. The NL Scholarship is applied for through your chosen institution — not through a central portal.
6. Apply for admission to the degree programme. You must have applied for, or already hold, an admission offer from the university to apply for the NL Scholarship.
7. Indicate your interest in the NL Scholarship during your application. Most universities integrate the scholarship application into the degree programme application. Some require a separate short form.
8. Prepare your motivation letter and supporting documents. Requirements vary by institution but typically include: academic transcripts, CV, English test results (IELTS 6.0–6.5 minimum), and a personal statement.
9. Submit before the university’s specific deadline. The application window for the 2026–27 academic year opened 1 November 2025. Deadlines vary by institution — typically 1 February or 1 May 2026 depending on the university. Check your specific university’s deadline directly.

2. The Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS)

The Orange Tulip Scholarship is a country-specific programme run through Nuffic NESO (Netherlands Education Support Offices) in a select group of countries. It is offered by Dutch universities, multinationals, and government institutions — coordinated locally through each country’s NESO office.

Unlike the NL Scholarship, the amount, coverage, and availability of the Orange Tulip Scholarship varies significantly by country, by university, and by programme. Some tracks cover tuition only. Others include a monthly living stipend. A few offer fully funded packages.

Countries Eligible for the Orange Tulip Scholarship 2026

The OTS is available only in countries where Nuffic maintains a NESO office. The current NESO countries are:

Therefore, if your country does not appear in the NESO list above — for example, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Pakistan, Egypt, or Bangladesh — you are not eligible for the Orange Tulip Scholarship. In those cases, the NL Scholarship and university-specific awards are your primary options.

How to Apply for the Orange Tulip Scholarship

10. Visit the official NESO website for your country. Each NESO office publishes its own list of participating Dutch universities, available programmes, and application deadlines. Start there.
11. Use the Nuffic StudyFinder tool. At studyfinder.nl, search for programmes eligible for the OTS in your country. Filter by your field of study.
12. Apply to the Dutch university programme first. As with the NL Scholarship, you must be admitted or applying for admission to qualify.
13. Submit the OTS application according to your NESO’s specific instructions. Some NESO offices use a paper form. Others use an online portal. Deadlines for most NESO countries fall between February and May 2026 for the September 2026 intake.

3. The NFP and Orange Knowledge Programme: What Happened and What Replaced Them

Many websites — including some scholarship aggregators updated as recently as 2025 — still list the NFP (Netherlands Fellowship Programme) and the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) as open for applications. This is incorrect.

Here is the accurate timeline of what happened to both programmes:

14. The NFP (Netherlands Fellowship Programme) — was a Dutch government scholarship for mid-career professionals from developing countries. It was phased out and replaced by the OKP in 2017. The NFP is no longer available in any form.
15. The Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) — replaced the NFP in 2017 and ran for seven years. It offered Master’s degree funding and short-course funding for professionals from 55 developing countries. The OKP ended on 31 December 2024. Nuffic has officially confirmed that there will be no new application rounds for the OKP.
16. What comes next — a successor programme to the OKP is under discussion by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but no new programme has been officially announced or launched as of March 2026. Professionals from OKP-eligible countries should monitor the Nuffic website (nuffic.nl) for any new programme announcements.

Additionally, mid-career professionals from developing countries who were previously eligible for the OKP should now look to university-specific funding, employer-sponsored placements, and the Erasmus Mundus programme as alternative fully funded study options in the Netherlands.

University-Specific Scholarships Worth Pursuing in 2026

Beyond the NL Scholarship and Orange Tulip Scholarship, many individual Dutch universities offer their own fully or partially funded scholarship programmes. These are often more generous than the NL Scholarship and are open to all non-EEA nationalities. Here are some of the most notable:

Consequently, for many non-EEA students, especially those from countries not covered by the Orange Tulip Scholarship, university-specific awards are the most realistic route to substantial funding in the Netherlands.

6 Strategies for Maximising Your Netherlands Scholarship Chances

The Netherlands scholarship landscape in 2026 is fragmented. Success requires a targeted, multi-track approach. Here is what consistently works for international applicants.

17. Apply to the NL Scholarship at every university you apply to. Since you must apply through each institution separately, apply at multiple universities simultaneously. A €5,000 grant from one institution is better than none.
18. Check your university’s specific NL Scholarship deadline — not just the general window. Some universities close their NL Scholarship applications as early as 1 February. Others accept until 1 May. Missing the university-specific deadline means you are assessed for the place only — not the funding.
19. Layer your applications: NL Scholarship plus a university-specific award. The NL Scholarship and most university scholarships are not mutually exclusive. Apply for both at the same institution simultaneously. Some students receive both.
20. If you are in an OTS country, research which Dutch universities offer OTS tracks for your country specifically. Not every Dutch university offers OTS for every NESO country. Use studyfinder.nl to confirm before investing time in an application.
21. Target universities with the most generous scholarship programmes first. Utrecht Excellence Scholarship, Maastricht High Potential, and TU Delft Excellence Scholarship offer full funding. These are competitive — but for strong candidates, they are more valuable than the NL Scholarship’s €5,000.
22. Do not wait for an OKP successor programme to be announced. As of March 2026, no replacement for the OKP has been confirmed. Mid-career professionals from former OKP countries should redirect their applications to Erasmus Mundus, university-specific awards, and employer-sponsored placements now.

Useful Links for Your Netherlands Scholarship Application

Copy and paste each URL into your browser. These are all official Dutch government, Nuffic, and university sources.

NL Scholarship official page (formerly Holland Scholarship): www.studyinnl.org/finances/nl-scholarship

Nuffic official scholarship overview (all programmes): www.nuffic.nl/en/international/international-programmes

StudyFinder — search eligible Dutch programmes and scholarships: www.studyfinder.nl

Orange Tulip Scholarship official portal: www.orangetulipscholarship.nl

Nuffic NESO India (OTS India applications): www.nesoindia.org

Nuffic NESO Indonesia (OTS Indonesia applications): www.nesoindonesia.or.id

Maastricht University High Potential Scholarship: www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/education/financial-support/scholarships/high-potential-scholarship

Utrecht Excellence Scholarship: www.uu.nl/en/education/programmes/scholarships/utrecht-excellence-scholarships

TU Delft Excellence Scholarship: www.tudelft.nl/onderwijs/praktische-zaken/scholarships/tu-delft-excellence-scholarships

Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS): www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/scholarships-and-grants/non-eea-students/leiden-university-excellence-scholarships

These links lead to official Nuffic and Dutch university sources only. Always verify current deadlines, programme availability, and scholarship amounts directly at each official source before applying.