Nearly half of Dutch students report high academic pressure; Highest in Amsterdam
The pressure on Dutch youth to perform academically has nearly tripled in the past two decades, according to a new nationwide report. In 2001, just 16 percent of students said they felt significant stress from schoolwork; by 2025, that figure had jumped to 47 percent. Overall, 61 percent of all young people now report experiencing academic pressure regularly or frequently.
Regional differences are significant. The prevalence of high pressure among youths varies from 50 to over 61 percent depending on GGD region. Amsterdam reported the highest rate at 61.3 percent, followed by Groningen at 60.6 percent and Haaglanden at 59.6 percent. The lowest rates were observed in Zeeland (50.0 percent), IJsselland (50.7 percent), and Twente (51.3 percent).
Particularly affected are girls and older students. About 52.2 percent of girls report regular academic pressure, compared with 37.4 percent of boys. The stress peaks among 15- to 17-year-olds, coinciding with exam periods, profile choices, and transitional school years.
The findings are detailed in the Prestatiedrukmonitor Nederland 2026, compiled by Toets-Mij.nl, which combines data from multiple sources, including the State of Youth NL—Prestatiedrukrapport 2025, the Dutch Youth Institute (NJi), CBS, RIVM, and regional health services (GGD).
Toets-Mij.nl stated, "This is not a temporary spike, but a trend that has been rising for twenty years." “Academic pressure has become a permanent part of growing up. It requires structural attention, not incident-based measures.”
The monitor shows a steady increase over the last two decades: 16 percent of students reported high pressure in 2001, 28 percent in 2013, 35 percent in 2017, 45 percent in 2021, and 47 percent in 2025.
Post-pandemic data indicate no relief. The 2024 Youth Monitor shows that young adults still report around 55 percent academic pressure, and the 2023 Youth Health Monitor from RIVM and GGD indicates high stress levels across all regions with no signs of improvement.
Although school remains the main external source of stress, the majority of students attribute much of the pressure to themselves. Three-quarters of young people say they impose the pressure themselves, while 40 percent cite school expectations and 32 percent cite parental expectations. A combination of frequent testing, future-oriented decisions, social comparison, and a culture of extra tutoring contributes to a persistent feeling of falling short.
The research also highlights what students need to reduce stress: opportunities to practice without grades, fewer unpredictable tests, clear expectations, room for mistakes, more balance and rest, and judgment-free conversations.
“Young people are not asking for lower standards but for a safer way of learning,” Toets-Mij.nl said. “They want to know where they stand without every moment feeling like an exam.”
The Prestatiedrukmonitor Nederland 2026 concludes that academic pressure is not a phase to endure but a structural societal issue. “If nothing changes, this will become the norm for an entire generation,” Toets-Mij.nl warned. “These figures show it is time to organize learning differently: more predictable, safer, and more human.”
