Nursing Schools and Programs in Netherlands

Nursing Studies in Netherlands

Nursing students learn to provide care in complex situations: observing patients, clinical reasoning, carrying out medical procedures and talking with patients and families. In the Netherlands, the bachelor's degree in nursing (known as HBO-V) is taught at universities of applied sciences (hogescholen), which focus on the practical application of knowledge and build internships into their programmes. To work as a nurse you must be registered in the national BIG register.

SpainExchange lists one school in the Netherlands for nursing: Christelijke Hogeschool Ede (CHE), a university of applied sciences in Ede, Gelderland, whose learning environment is inspired by Christian values.

How nursing degrees are organised in the Netherlands

According to Study in NL, a bachelor's degree at a university of applied sciences normally takes 4 years. At CHE, the full-time bachelor's in nursing (Verpleegkunde Voltijd) takes 4 years and starts in September. Students practise from the first year and do placements in hospitals, community care, mental health care (GGZ) and elderly care. The third year includes a minor, which students can use to deepen or broaden their studies.

CHE also offers a part-time and dual track (Verpleegkunde deeltijd/deeltijd+) that takes 2.5 to 4 years and starts in September and February. Nurses with a secondary vocational nursing diploma (mbo-v) or an in-service diploma receive 90 EC of exemptions and can graduate in 2.5 years.

Admission and language

Admission requirements are set by each institution. For nursing at CHE, applicants need a havo, vwo or mbo level 4 diploma or an equivalent qualification, and should apply before 1 May. Applicants aged 21 or over without the required diploma can take an admission test.

The degree is taught in Dutch. Applicants without a diploma from a Dutch-language school or university are only admitted with the NT2 (programme B2) or CNaVT (B2 or C1) Dutch language certificate. Several Dutch universities offer courses that prepare international students for the NT2 state exam. Places can be limited: in October 2026 CHE showed the full-time programme as full. For students who do not speak Dutch, CHE offers exchange programmes in English of 3 to 5 months.

Costs and residence permit

CHE charges the statutory tuition fee for the full-time programme, which is €2,694 for 2026-27 for students from the EEA, Switzerland and Suriname. Students of other nationalities usually pay an institutional fee; Study in NL gives an average of €9,000 to €20,000 a year for bachelor's programmes.

Students from outside the EU/EEA need a student residence permit, which only the institution can apply for. The application costs €254. Students must earn at least 50% of the credits each year, and they may work up to 16 hours a week, or full time in June, July and August, if their employer has a work permit for them.

Careers and registration

CHE lists career paths such as community nurse, hospital nurse, mental health nurse, elderly care nurse, emergency nurse and paediatric nurse. Nurses are one of the 11 professions that can register in the BIG register. Nurses trained abroad can only work in the Netherlands if their knowledge and skills are equivalent to a Dutch diploma; for diplomas from outside the EU or Switzerland this usually means a certificate of competence procedure, and Dutch language skills are required in almost all cases.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study nursing in the Netherlands in English?

The bachelor's in nursing at CHE is taught in Dutch and requires an NT2 B2 or CNaVT certificate for applicants without a Dutch-language diploma. CHE offers English-taught exchange programmes of 3 to 5 months.

How long does a nursing degree take in the Netherlands?

The full-time bachelor's at CHE takes 4 years. The part-time track takes 2.5 to 4 years, depending on prior qualifications.

Can I work as a nurse in the Netherlands with a foreign nursing degree?

Only after recognition. The BIG register checks whether your training is equivalent to the Dutch one, and you need sufficient Dutch.