Why We Cannot Stay Silent: Dutch Education at a Crossroads

It is November 6th, 8:58AM, I just sat down at my desk at Maastricht University and Trump just won Pennsylvania, and with that very likely the election. The timing couldn not be more symbolic - as I watch one nation potentially turn inward, here in the Netherlands we face our own pivotal moment: our right-wing government's plan to slash €1 billion from higher education over the next four years.

The parallels are impossible to ignore. We have seen this story before: when nations shift to the right, education, science, and international collaboration often become the first casualties. We saw it in Trump's first term with attacks on international students and research collaboration. Now, as he appears set to return to power, we in the Netherlands seem eager to follow a similarly destructive path.

Europe's Innovation Crisis

This educational and scientific assault comes at a particularly dangerous time for European innovation. The EU agreed to the world's first AI regulation act - a move that many tech leaders warn could devastate our competitive position. As French President Macron noted,

?"We can decide to regulate much faster and much stronger than our major competitors. But we will regulate things that we will no longer produce or invent."

The numbers tell the story: while Europe struggles with stringent regulations and now educational budget cuts, we're falling further behind. France, Europe's strongest AI player, is already "neck and neck with the British" but "very far behind the Chinese and the Americans." And now, instead of investing in catching up, we're cutting the very foundation of innovation: our universities.

A Billion Euro Mistake

The mathematics are stark: €250 million in cuts by 2025. €175 million stripped from crucial start-up and incentive grants. €1 billion total reduction over four years. These are not just numbers - they represent a direct assault on the foundation of our knowledge economy, and with that the future of the Netherlands, an economy built on knowledge and innovation.

For internationally-oriented institutions like Maastricht University, where global diversity is the opposite of just a buzzword - but the very essence of our academic community, these cuts coupled with the new "Internationalisation in Balance Act" threaten to dismantle decades of carefully built excellence. In Maastricht's streets and cafes, you hear dozens of languages, representing the kind of international collaboration that has always driven the greatest scientific breakthroughs.

Warning Signs We Can Not Ignore

Mario Draghi's EU report warned that Europe's competitiveness is at risk. The solution? "Invest heavily in basic research, innovation and education." Instead, we are doing the opposite. The Central Planning Bureau, Social Cultural Planning Bureau, and Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency have all criticized these plans, warning they'll harm our future prosperity.

The Double Blow to Innovation

While the EU imposes €35 million fines or 7% of global revenue for AI companies that don't comply with new regulations, our government simultaneously strips universities of the resources needed to compete globally. This double assault - overregulation of industry and underfunding of education - creates a perfect storm that could permanently damage Dutch innovation capabilities.

As University of Twente's President Vinod Subramaniam recently stated, "Investing in education is the best investment you can make as a society." Yet here we are, watching our government dismantle this investment piece by piece, while simultaneously creating regulatory barriers that make it harder for European companies to innovate.

Why We Can't Stay Silent

The time for quiet hope has passed. We cannot simply wait this out. Twenty-four major Dutch companies and 15 national startups have already warned about the devastating impact of these cuts. Next week, Dutch parliament will debate these proposals. Changes are still possible, but only if we make our voices heard.

Speak up

The choice is clear: we either speak up now or watch as our educational institutions - from Maastricht to Groningen, from Amsterdam to Twente - are systematically undermined.

This is not just about protecting universities; it is about protecting the Netherlands' (and Euregio's) future as a knowledge economy and innovation leader.

As someone deeply committed to higher education and innovation, I urge you to:

1. Share your concerns with parliamentary representatives
2. Support upcoming protests and initiatives
3. Make your voice heard in public debates
4. Share the stories of how international collaboration has enriched your work and research
5. Join the protest in Utrecht on November 14

The Netherlands has always been a nation that understood the value of openness, innovation, and international collaboration. We cannot let short-term political decisions and overregulation destroy this legacy. The combination of educational cuts and innovation-stifling regulations threatens to create a perfect storm that could take decades to recover from.

The time to act is now. Tomorrow may be too late.

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