{"id":178202,"date":"2025-04-23T10:42:38","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T08:42:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=178202"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:47","slug":"government-puts-an-end-to-low-cost-sporting-activities-for-students-and-staff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/04\/23\/government-puts-an-end-to-low-cost-sporting-activities-for-students-and-staff\/","title":{"rendered":"Government puts an end to low-cost sporting activities for students and staff"},"content":{"rendered":"

Higher education institutions should no longer provide reduced-rate sports facilities, as the government believes this distorts the market. Cultural activities and canteen prices are also set to rise, among other things.<\/p>\n

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High-intensity training in the sports building.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAli Alshamayleh<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

According to the rules, public funds must not be used to finance private activities. Therefore, higher education institutions are prohibited from using taxpayers\u2019 money to establish commercial services, since this would constitute \u2018state aid\u2019.<\/p>\n

Yet, there are always grey areas. How strictly should this principle be applied? The Ministry of Education has altered the rules and will enforce them more rigorously starting in 2026. This promises to impose significant constraints compared to the previous situation.<\/p>\n

For many years, research universities and large universities of applied sciences have offered their own sports facilities, allowing students and staff to engage in sports inexpensively. They also frequently have their own theatres, which can be used either for free or at a minimal charge. Additionally, canteen prices are typically lower than those found in town.<\/p>\n

Higher prices<\/h2>

\u201cCatering and sports facilities, for example, are in principle private amenities\u201d, the Ministry of Education has written<\/a> to all secondary vocational, higher professional education and university governing bodies. According to the letter, facilities ranging from sports halls to canteens cannot be offered to students and staff \u201con a voluntary basis, free of charge, or at a minimal fee\u201d. Consequently, prices will soon have to increase.<\/p>\n

Students in hospitality and sports courses, who need to learn how to cook and acquire sports skills, are the only exception. These programmes can offer the facilities without charge.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education says: \u201cEducational institutions can invest in sports facilities, but must then charge students a market rate to use them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The same will apply to cultural activities, from lecture series to creative courses. \u201cThese may be offered, provided the pricing is market-based.\u201d<\/p>\n

Botanic gardens<\/h2>

The law does allow universities to take account of the \u2018personal development of students\u2019. However, the ministry spokesperson notes, the practical application of this has been increasingly clearly defined in recent years. \u201cFor instance, it has been clarified that sports facilities do not fall under this category.\u201d<\/p>\n

The realisation of what this means has set alarm bells ringing. Utrecht University, for example, is concerned about its botanic gardens and the university museum. If they continue their investments, the government may decide to claw back those funds. Board member Margot van der Starre told Utrecht University magazine DUB<\/a>: \u201cIn the worst-case scenario, the university may see its government funding for 2025 cut.\u201d<\/p>\n

Resistance<\/h2>

University association UNL, on behalf of all universities, opposes the new interpretation. \u201cWe view these activities as integral to our public mission\u201d, says spokesman Ruben Puylaert. \u201cThis new interpretation could certainly mean that these facilities will disappear.\u201d The concern goes beyond the sports facilities, he warns. It could also have implications for university museums, knowledge valorisation and continuing education as part of lifelong learning.<\/p>\n

The strict interpretation is also incorrect, UNL believes. As the then Secretary of State (and later Prime Minister) Mark Rutte (VVD) wrote in 2005: the provision of facilities for students is permissible \u201cif it serves to foster social bonding and a conducive study environment, thus positively impacting student success rates\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences agrees. \u201cThis matter also has our attention\u201d, a spokesperson says. \u201cWe are particularly concerned about lateral entrants to teacher training programmes. Their training is also considered a private activity, whereas the training of teachers is recognised as a public task.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opposition<\/h2>

Opposition parties are voicing concerns. \u201cIt\u2019s quite strange to introduce new policies without any clear reason\u201d, says Jan Paternotte (D66). \u201cYet, it aligns perfectly with Bruins\u2019 agenda of making higher education in the Netherlands as unappealing as possible.\u201d Life is expensive enough for students, he believes, \u201cand now the government wants to take away student benefits that have benefited generations\u201d.<\/p>\n

Luc Stultiens (GroenLinks-PvdA) is equally taken aback. He promptly submitted parliamentary questions regarding what he describes as market forces going haywire. He believes that Bruins is surpassing Mark Rutte in terms of right-wing policies. If the minister does not change course, Stultiens wants to know what steps he will take \u201cto avert any negative consequences of this decision, such as declining mental health, cultural alienation and reduced social cohesion\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\t

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