The Netherlands is not doing enough to attract international students. In a new report released by The Class of 2020, a higher education research foundation, Amsterdam ranks at the very bottom of a list comparing nine European student cities.

The growth rate of the international student population in the capital is lower than elsewhere in the Netherlands and Europe.

Young people visit, don’t stay

According to the report, Amsterdam is the fifth most-visited city by youth in the world, with approximately 1,2 million travellers under 30 visiting each year.

However, the vast majority of these youth are only coming as tourists. They reportedly view Amsterdam largely as a party city, rather than a place to study.

Only 6.750 Amsterdam students have international roots, a mere 6,6 per cent of the city’s student body. This rate is startling when compared to the other European capitals in the study.

London and Brussels are at the top of the list with 26 per cent of their student populations comprised of international students.

Even Madrid and Barcelona, which rank just above the Netherlands, have a ratio of international students almost double that of Amsterdam.

The Dutch capital also fares worse than other Dutch cities in this matter. Around 14 per cent of students in Delft and The Hague are foreign, while in Maastricht that number reaches 38 per cent.

International students an economic boon

Attracting more foreign students to Amsterdam and to the Netherlands as a whole, would benefit the economy.

The Class of 2020 calculates that each additional international student would translate to an economic impact of 10.370 euros per year.

A larger international population means more income for the city and the creation of countless new jobs.

However, in order to rise in the rankings, the city first needs to address some existing barriers which discourage foreign students from studying in Amsterdam.

First of all, educational institutions need to offer more bachelor programs and courses in English. City leaders should encourage more Dutch and international universities to open Amsterdam-based campuses and need to take more initiative in promoting the city as an international student destination.

Another major issue is the tight municipal control over the housing market, which has resulted in a lack of suitable rooms for students and young professionals. Deregulation of the private housing market in Amsterdam would clear the way for investors to develop appropriate and affordable student accommodation.

Can the Netherlands turn students into expats?

Not only do Dutch cities need to attract students from abroad, they need to convince these students to make long-term investments in the Netherlands. According to the Class of 2020, while 90 per cent of international students in the Netherlands consider extending their stay in the country after graduation, only 27 per cent actually do so.

A key factor in this is the number of obstacles which face international students when it comes to finding jobs. Educational institutions and companies can cooperate in addressing this matter by working to connect international students with internships, and to support start-up ventures.

Turning tourists into students and then into expats will lead to economic growth and an improved international reputation for both Amsterdam and the Netherlands as a whole.

Source: Class of 2020