Gov't working on more compensation for loan system students; Up to €2,000 extra
Students who fell under the loan system may receive extra compensation. According to AD, the Jetten I Cabinet is expected to approve a plan today that will give each student in the “unlucky generation” up to €2,000 extra.
The amount comes on top of the €3,740 in compensation that these students already received last year.
In 2015, the Dutch government abolished the basic study grant and introduced the student loan system, with the intention of investing the money saved into better education. In 2023, under considerable pressure from students and political parties, the government backtracked and reintroduced the basic study grant.
In the intervening years, about 760,000 students studied with no monthly contribution from the government and amassed a mountain of study debts. Last year, the government introduced an initial compensation scheme for this “unlucky generation.” But many parliamentarians thought the compensation was too low.
The Cabinet is therefore now discussing a plan for a second round of compensation. According to AD, students from the unlucky generation could get up to €2,000 extra, depending on how long they studied without a basic grant.
The Cabinet will discuss the plan in the Council of Ministers today. If it is approved, the additional compensation should be paid out starting in April next year.
