Netherlands launches fund to lure top scientists, like those fleeing the U.S.

As political pressures and funding cuts drive some researchers out of the United States, the Netherlands is moving to position itself as a refuge for top scientific talent. Education Minister Eppo Bruins (NSC) announced the creation of a fund to attract leading international scientists, urging swift action to ensure the Netherlands becomes a destination of choice.

“The world is changing. Tensions are rising. We see more and more scientists looking for a new place to continue their work,” Bruins wrote in a letter to the Tweede Kamer. “I want more top international scientists to come here. After all, top scientists are gold for our country and for Europe.”

While the fund is open to researchers of all nationalities, it appears to be a direct response to growing concerns among American scientists about the tightening restrictions on academic freedom under President Donald Trump. Researchers in the U.S. have raised alarms over increasing government censorship, political interference in fields like climate science and gender studies, and tighter controls on scientific communication. France has already launched a program to lure disillusioned American scientists, and the Netherlands now aims to follow suit.

The amount of funding available has not yet been determined, as the ministry is still in discussions with the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). However, Bruins said it was crucial to announce the initiative now, “because at this moment, scientists are deciding where to continue their careers. It is important that they consider the Netherlands.”

Dutch universities have already expressed interest in recruiting American researchers. The Universities of the Netherlands (UNL), which represents the country’s 14 public universities, confirmed they are exploring ways to bring in U.S. scientists. “It seems like a good idea to us,” a UNL spokesperson said, emphasizing that strengthening Dutch innovation is a priority. The universities also see it as a way to stand in solidarity with American academics facing restrictions.

NWO, which oversees national research funding, is also assessing how it can support these efforts. “We find the signals from the U.S. rather disturbing,” a spokesperson told BNR. The organization is mapping out where the biggest risks lie and how it can help ensure that critical research isn’t lost. “Science exists by the grace of international cooperation and academic freedom,” the spokesperson said.

Dutch and American researchers have already begun informal discussions, according to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). “We will see a battle for talent, especially in areas like mathematics and technology, where there are severe labor shortages,” said KNAW president Marileen Dogterom. “But right now, our main duty is to support free science.”

Despite this push, the Netherlands’ own policies could complicate its ability to attract top foreign scientists. The Dutch government is cutting billions from higher education budgets, and NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt has been vocal about reducing immigration, including that of highly skilled expats. The NSC is again pushing to scale back tax breaks for international professionals—a move that previously triggered backlash from major employers like ASML, which threatened to shift operations abroad.