Dutch Scholarships Beyond the Holland Scholarship: Orange Tulip, University Funds and More

Why look beyond a single scholarship

The NL Scholarship — listed by the official Study in NL portal as the NL scholarship (Holland Scholarship) — is the headline national award for international students from outside the European Economic Area, but it is partly funded by participating institutions for a limited number of students. Relying on one award alone can leave other funding unexplored.

The Netherlands has a layered system: the national NL Scholarship, country-specific bundled scholarships, university-specific excellence funds, and some development-focused grants for students from designated partner countries. Many international students check several of these, confirming each on its official page.

• NL Scholarship (Holland Scholarship) — for students from outside the European Economic Area
• Orange Tulip Scheme — bundled scholarships run by Nuffic Neso offices in selected countries
• University-specific excellence and talent scholarships
• StuNed and other development-focused grants for designated partner countries

The NL Scholarship and university excellence funds

The NL Scholarship (also presented as the Holland Scholarship) is generally aimed at students from outside the European Economic Area enrolling in a bachelor's or master's at a participating Dutch research university or university of applied sciences. It is co-funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the participating institutions, with a limited number of awards each cycle.

Separately, many Dutch universities run their own excellence or talent scholarships for strong international applicants. These are institution-specific, so check the scholarships pages of each university you apply to, and note that deadlines are often earlier than the admission deadline. Amounts and conditions are set per programme — verify them on the official source.

The Orange Tulip Scheme

The Orange Tulip Scheme (OTS) is run by Nuffic Neso offices in particular countries, bundling scholarships offered by Dutch universities, companies and other bodies for students from that country. The participating institutions, eligible programmes and award types differ by country and by edition.

Because OTS is country-specific, you check the Nuffic Neso office or Study in NL pages for your own country to see which Dutch universities and programmes are included in the current round, and apply through the route they specify.

StuNed and development-focused grants

Some Dutch funding is development-oriented and targeted at students or professionals from specific partner countries rather than open to everyone. StuNed (Studeren in Nederland), for example, is tied to the Netherlands' bilateral cooperation with a designated partner country. Note that the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP), a larger development scheme, ended in 2024 and no longer runs new application rounds.

These programmes have specific country eligibility, fields and conditions that change between cycles. Confirm what is currently offered, who can apply, and which application rounds are open on the official Nuffic / Study in NL pages rather than relying on older descriptions.

How to find and apply through Study in NL

Nuffic's official Study in NL portal lists current scholarships and links to a scholarship-finder tool and country-specific information, which makes it a reliable starting point for Dutch funding. Use it to identify awards you may qualify for, then follow each programme's own application route.

Commonly requested documents include transcripts and degree certificates, proof of admission or application, a motivation letter, references, and an English-language test where required. Requirements and deadlines vary per programme — read each official page carefully and apply early.

• Start with the official Study in NL scholarships page and its scholarship finder
• Check whether your country has an Orange Tulip Scheme via the Nuffic Neso office
• Confirm NL Scholarship eligibility (typically non-EEA) and participating institutions
• Check each university's own excellence and talent scholarship pages