Education officials in the Netherlands have expressed concern about the number of Dutch university courses taught in English. But the country's education minister has warned against becoming too inward looking.
"We must not let ourselves be scared by stories in which internationalization is something negative which is swamping us," Dutch Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven said on Monday. Her comments came amid calls from some of her colleagues to rein in the spread of courses taught in English. Many claimed that the Dutch language is under threat. "I represent an open Dutch society in which we dare to look beyond the borders," van Engelshoven said. International students are attracted to studying the Netherlands by the large number of degree courses taught in English — the largest in continental Europe — and low tuition fees for EEA nationals. While most bachelor's degrees in the Netherlands are taught in Dutch, 74 percent of master's courses are offered in English. About a quarter of students obtaining a master's are foreigners. Critics fear that they will displace Dutch students.
The Dutch language is under threat but that's not because of the large number of courses in English but rather the amount of US programmes on television. Most programmes are sub-titled, even cartoons. Then there is the increasing number of adverts in English. If a Dutch only model for courses is approved the Netherlands will become unattractive to foreign students resulting in a loss of income to the universities and the state.