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The Netherlands reinforces its reputation as a knowledge-driven nation, with twelve universities ranked among the world’s top 350 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. This strong academic foundation strengthens the country’s innovation capacity and international collaborations — essential pillars for advancing smart, sustainable and connected mobility.

Geplaatst op 29 oktober 2025

 

The Netherlands maintains a strong position as a knowledge-based nation with twelve universities in the top 350 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. Eleven universities rank in the top 200, with eight in the top 110. This year, some Dutch universities show a slight decline, whilst others rise or maintain their position. 

TU Delft and University of Amsterdam lead 

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) remains the highest-ranked Dutch university at position 57, followed by the University of Amsterdam at 62. Wageningen University & Research stands at 66, Leiden University at 70, and the University of Groningen at 82. 

Erasmus University Rotterdam (107), Maastricht University (131), Radboud University Nijmegen (154), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (176), University of Twente (190), and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e, 192) also rank within the top 200. Tilburg University is positioned in the 301-350 range. Utrecht University has not participated in international rankings since 2023, as the institution prioritises collaboration and societal impact over score-based competition. 

Research impact remains solid 

According to Times Higher Education, the slight declines at several institutions are due to fewer cited publications and decreased revenue. Nevertheless, Dutch universities remain internationally visible and valued for their research quality, educational offerings, and partnerships with industry and government. 

The Netherlands in international perspective 

Whilst the top of the rankings is dominated by universities from the United Kingdom and the United States, both Europe and Asia are gaining ground. Within this context, Dutch universities maintain a stable and visible position – a notable achievement given the country’s relatively small size. 

With 18 million inhabitants and a surface area of just 34,000 km², the Netherlands has proportionally as many leading universities as much larger countries. This underscores the strength of the Dutch knowledge ecosystem, in which education, research, and innovation are closely interconnected. 

Innovation capacity strengthens international position 

The academic performance of Dutch universities contributes to the broader international reputation of the Netherlands as an innovative nation. The country ranks third in the EU Innovation Scoreboard (2025) and eighth on the Global Innovation Index (2025). These rankings reinforce one another: scientific excellence translates into practical innovations and international collaborations. 

Moreover, 90% of Dutch people speak English (the highest score worldwide according to EF EPI 2024), which facilitates international cooperation and makes the country attractive to foreign students, researchers, and knowledge workers. 

Knowledge nation with global reach 

The strong position of Dutch universities is not coincidental but results from structural investments in education and research, and a culture of collaboration between public and private sectors. This approach – pragmatic, innovative, and focused on knowledge sharing – is rooted in centuries of cooperation on collective challenges such as water management and delta governance. 

The Netherlands now applies this same mentality to contemporary issues: from climate and sustainability to digitalisation and healthcare. By connecting academic knowledge with practical applications, the Netherlands remains internationally relevant as a knowledge partner. 

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