{"id":179082,"date":"2025-05-15T11:23:22","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T09:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=179082"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:49","slug":"bruins-will-not-raise-the-cost-of-sports-after-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/05\/15\/bruins-will-not-raise-the-cost-of-sports-after-all\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruins will not raise the cost of sports after all"},"content":{"rendered":"

For now, sports will not become more expensive for students, Minister Bruins has promised a critical House of Representatives. He had not properly foreseen the consequences of his new policy.<\/p>\n

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A student is enjoying the university's gym. <\/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\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Student athletes can breathe a sigh of relief: for now, they won\u2019t have to pay two or three times as much for their sports pass, as universities and associations had feared. Minister Bruins promised the House of Representatives yesterday that he will not be enforcing his \u2018policy directive\u2019 for the time being.<\/p>\n

From 200 to 500 euros<\/h2>

The directive states that public funds must not be used for private activities. A month ago, the ministry issued a stricter interpretation of this rule to the education sector. Education funds must not distort the private market, so students would actually have to pay a \u2018market-based\u2019 price for sports facilities.<\/p>\n

As a result, a sports subscription could rise to 700 euros, according to university association UNL last week, instead of the current 200 euros. Students launched protest actions and urged politicians in a petition to \u2018keep sports affordable\u2019.<\/p>\n

Good for mental wellbeing<\/h2>

On Wednesday afternoon, the House of Representatives already debated the issue. Officially, the debate focused on the mental health of young people, but all parties agreed that sport plays an important role in this.<\/p>\n

After critical questions from MPs, including from coalition parties, Minister Bruins quickly backed down: he promised not to enforce his own policy directive for the time being. He fully agreed with parliament that sport benefits academic performance, social contacts and students\u2019 mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n

He had not anticipated that various things would become more expensive, Bruins said. His intention had only been to clarify the policy directive.<\/p>\n

And what about cultural activities?<\/h2>

Sandra Beckerman from the SP found the minister\u2019s stance rather \u2018out of touch with reality\u2019. She pushed for a quicker and permanent solution: simply make an exception for student sports. But Bruins was backed by the coalition partners in his wish to first assess the consequences for students and education.<\/p>\n

The minister suggested that he is open to making an official exception, but only if all students can benefit from a facility. \u201cCan MBO students also use it? That\u2019s part of this discussion too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Theatre, music, dance, cabaret: many other student activities are also often indirectly subsidised by educational institutions, for example by allowing them to use a hall or theatre space for free. It remained unclear on Wednesday whether Bruins\u2019 promise not to enforce the directive also applies to culture.<\/p>\n\n\t

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