Dutch student loan interest 2027: DUO rates and the 2.5% cap explained

DUO has set the 2027 interest rates on Dutch student loans at 2.70% under SF35 rules and 3.28% for a smaller group. A proposed 2.5% cap on student loan interest is not in place. On 22 October 2026, the education minister said the money set aside for it is not enough. Parliament will discuss the plan on 27 and 29 October.

What are the 2027 interest rates?

On 7 October 2026, DUO announced the rates for 2027. There are two rates, and which one you get depends on your repayment rules.

The 2026 rates come from DUO’s English page on interest after student finance ends. You can check which rules apply to you in Mijn DUO. You log in to Mijn DUO with DigiD, which we explain in our DigiD guide for expats.

Does the new rate apply to me?

Not every borrower moves to the new rate. According to DUO, the 2027 rate applies to three groups:

• Students who get student finance in 2027. The new rate starts on 1 January 2027 and is fixed for one year.
• Students whose student finance ended in 2026. The new rate starts on 1 January 2027 and is fixed for five years. DUO will send you a message about this in February 2027.
• Borrowers whose five-year fixed-rate period ends on 31 December 2026. If your fixed period ends later, you keep your current rate until then.

DUO says students who get student finance in 2027 receive a message in October, students whose student finance ended in 2026 receive one in February 2027, and borrowers who are repaying receive one in November.

What is happening with the 2.5% cap?

The coalition agreement included a plan to cap student loan interest at 2.5%, with €40 million a year set aside. On 22 October, the government said the cap would now cost at least €160 million a year. That is at least €120 million more than the money reserved. It said the long-term interest rate linked to student loans rose from 2.7% to 3.3%. Education minister Rianne Letschert said she cannot introduce a 2.5% cap with the €40 million.

The ministry also looked at other options, such as a fixed discount on the rate. It said these would not make a big difference for borrowers. The minister will discuss the findings with the Dutch parliament during the education budget debate on 27 and 29 October.

This means the cap has not been introduced, and it has not been formally dropped either. Its future depends on those talks. Student unions have criticised the minister’s position, DutchNews reports.

What does this mean for international students?

The rate that applies to you depends on your repayment rules (SF35 or SF15) and on your fixed-interest period. If you already have a fixed rate, it does not change in January unless your fixed period ends on 31 December 2026. Whether you can get Dutch student finance at all is a separate question, with its own rules on nationality, residence and work. Check your own eligibility with DUO before you plan around a loan. Our guide to studying in the Netherlands covers the wider picture.

What can borrowers do now?

• Log in to Mijn DUO to see your repayment rules and when your fixed-rate period ends.
• Look out for DUO’s message: October for students who get student finance in 2027, February 2027 if your student finance ended in 2026, and November for borrowers who are repaying.
• If you can afford it, you can make extra repayments at any time through Mijn DUO, DUO says.
• Follow the parliament debate on 27 and 29 October for news on the cap.

Last verified: 23 October 2026. This article explains official information and is not financial advice.

Featured image: students studying in a university lounge, by Caleb Oquendo on Pexels, used under the Pexels licence. Illustrative image, not taken in the Netherlands.