Concerns about international students

"We have brought international students to the Netherlands in large numbers," says Alex Tess Rutten of the National Student Union (LSVb). "Now that they're in trouble, we have to take care of them as well."

It is mentioned in a joint press release of LSVb, ISO and the Erasmus Student Network that the international students often lose their side jobs. Some cannot fall back on the support of their parents if they lose their jobs during the crisis as well. This makes it increasingly difficult for them to pay tuition fees and rent.

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The students should at least receive proper information about covid-19, according to Kees Gillesse of the Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg (ISO; Dutch National Student Association). "The government is making decisions that have an impact on international students. For information regarding those decisions, there should be one central, up-to-date, English-language website."

After graduation, internationals from outside Europe can also get into trouble, because they have to find a job within a year. There is no leniency scheme for this group yet. Last night, governing party D66 asked questions in Parliament about the position of international students and highly skilled migrants.