The Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, has voted in favor of a proposal to allow educational institutions to limit the number of international

students in English-language courses. The proposition, put forward by the VVD party, received sufficient support despite objections from D66.

Previously, institutions could only set a maximum number for both English and Dutch-language versions of a course. The new plan aims to give universities more control over the intake of international students.

Claire Martens of the VVD introduced the proposal as a minor amendment to the Ministry of Education's budget. However, Jan Paternotte of D66 criticized the move, calling it a "constitutional mess" and arguing for a proper legislative debate.

By bypassing the usual legislative process, the Tweede Kamer has raised concerns about transparency and accountability. Paternotte emphasized the importance of a thorough discussion, suggesting that the proposal undermines the democratic process.

Despite objections, the Tweede Kamer proceeded with the vote, rejecting Paternotte's proposal to reconsider. Meanwhile, outgoing Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf is working on a separate law to regulate the admission of international students. However, the VVD's amendment seeks to expedite the process by addressing the issue sooner. Photo by Husky, Wikimedia commons.