Ministry of Education still has 145 million euros left

On a budget of more than 60 billion euros, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) still has 145 million euros left this year. For example, it is taking longer than expected to compensate students who were discriminated against by DUO.

The cabinet’s autumn budget update for 2025 was sent to the House of Representatives on Friday afternoon. For all ministries together, the ‘underspending’ amounts to roughly 1.2 billion euros.

At OCW, this includes 54 million euros from the National Growth Fund, in other words money intended for major research projects that are supposed to strengthen the Dutch economy. The money has not yet been allocated and will be carried over to next year. Incidentally, the current cabinet is dismantling the fund.

Stufi

In addition, student finance agency DUO has spent 36 million euros less. For example, fewer ‘unlucky students’ received compensation (for missing out on the basic grant during the loan system). They first have to graduate, and they have done so less often than expected. This saves – unless they obtain a diploma in the coming years after all – fifteen million euros.

Fewer students have also used the supplementary grant than estimated (10 million euros). The supplementary grant is intended for students whose parents do not earn enough for a full parental contribution. You can always apply for the supplementary grant: DUO checks itself whether you are entitled to it.

It is also taking longer to compensate students who in the past had to pay fines and repayments in DUO’s excessive fraud hunt: the cabinet acknowledged ‘indirect’ discrimination and decided to reverse all fines and repayments. More time is needed to organise this ‘restoration operation’, the cabinet now says, and as a result 8 million euros is being carried over to 2026.

Budgets

The autumn budget update provides the latest state of affairs in this calendar year. The ministerial budgets for next year have already been submitted, including all associated cuts and expenditures.

These budgets are still from the caretaker Schoof cabinet, from which PVV and NSC have withdrawn. Only VVD and BBB remain. Meanwhile, election winners D66 and CDA are negotiating the formation of a new cabinet.