In the Netherlands, politicians have called for an international students stop. “They take our education and then leave”, is one of the arguments heard in the debates. With Dutch elections coming up soon, what to do with international students is often a discourse. Vitalii, currently studying and working in the lowlands, challenges this stereotype. He tells his story and shows the indispensable role and cultural richness that international students bring to Dutch society and its economy.
“My Rotterdam”, sighs Vitalii Zharinov (21) quietly as he takes in the skyline of the bustling city. Moving through Rotterdam, a city in the Netherlands often referred to as the ‘Gateway to Europe’, feels like a journey through a meticulously curated gallery of urban art. A place that Vitalii, who grew up in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, has started to call home. Just out of high school, the then seventeen-year-old Vitalii embarked on an adventure abroad, leaving behind the familiar scenery of Kyiv for the canals and tulip fields of the Dutch lowlands.
Although navigating the country with its harsh language, direct people and rainy weather was often challenging, the lifelong friendships and opportunities provided made it all worth it. But while the love of Vitalii for the Netherlands grew, the tolerance of politicians for international students shrank. “The Dutch educational system exists to educate our own people”, said politician Pieter Omtzigt during a debate about international students in The Netherlands. The leader of one of the biggest political parties in the country calls for a stop to the rising stream of international students. “They [international students] come to the Netherlands, take our great education and then leave again”, according to Omtzigt.
“I did not know much about the Netherlands before moving here”, Vitalii explains on our video call. “What can you expect from a seventeen-year-old? I knew about the red light district and the weed.” A stereotypical image I have often heard about the country I grew up in. “On a more serious note, I also knew that moving here would be a massive upgrade for me. It is a very economically stable country, with lots of opportunities.” Vitalii is sitting at his desk in his dorm room in Rotterdam, his walls are covered with numerous posters. It is the place where he studies, works, and relaxes. The 10 square meters he can call his own.
It is clear that Vitalii has found his home away from home. Increasingly more people from outside of the Netherlands have come to study in the lowlands. Since 2005, the number of international students in the country has grown by 30 percent. A number that is too large, several politicians say. The Dutch Minister of Education, Robbert Dijkgraaf, has urged universities and higher education institutions in the Netherlands to cease proactive efforts in attracting international students.
“Even when I will have my Dutch passport, I will still be an international. I don’t think I’ll ever feel fully Dutch.”
Vitalii recently had his ceremonial cap throw, celebrating the finalizing of his Bachelor of Communication and Media at the University of Rotterdam. He is now navigating the academic field at the Rotterdam School of Management for his Master's degree. From the moment he arrived in the Netherlands, he was driven by ambition and was able to turn his passion for filmmaking into a job that offers a stable income. As a storyteller behind the lens, Vitalii has several incredible projects in his repertoire. “I have done many great jobs, but nothing is as big of a highlight as my personal projects. They are my gems, my babies”, Vitalii says proudly.
A year post-graduation, nearly half (46 percent) of international graduates are still residing in the Netherlands. After the span of five years, that rate diminishes to 24 percent, accounting for approximately 33,500 international graduates who have opted to remain in the country.
Non-European graduates have a higher stay rate than European graduates. 38 percent choose to remain in the Netherlands five years post-graduation, in contrast to 19 percent of EU graduates. Despite the lower percentage, the absolute number of European stayers is higher, totalling 18,000, compared to 15,000 non-European stayers.
‘They take the education and then leave’ is not true in the case of Vitalii and for many other internationals. Vitalii would love to stay in the Netherlands, a place of endless opportunities and possibilities. “I'd like to stay here to keep working as an independent creator. I think the Netherlands is an incredible country to have as a base.”
Statistics show that the intake of international students in the study year of 2021-2022 will ultimately contribute around 1.5 billion euros to the Dutch public finances. Frans Cörvers, professor at the School of Business and Economics at Maastricht University supports these findings. According to the professor, international students are “a cash cow” for the Netherlands. In an ageing job market with a world-class economy, the presence of international students is crucial.
Cörvers calls proposals to eliminate English-language programs blunt and potentially harmful to the Dutch economy. Such measures risk undermining a valuable source of highly skilled foreign workers. A more strategic approach would involve integrating mandatory Dutch classes into curricula or requiring a minimum proficiency level in the Dutch language and culture.
The numbers show that it is not just untrue that international students leave as soon as they have had an education, but that Dutch society needs them. The story of Vitalii resembles the vital contributions and diverse cultural fabric that international students bring to Dutch society. The Netherlands builds on people like Vitalii.
Vitalii recently released his project My Rotterdam in which he expresses his appreciation for the city he calls home. You can see his Vimeo profile at this link.
All photos courtesy Vitalii.