Public Universities in the Netherlands and Dutch Caribbean Territories (Sorted by Year Established)

Notes

• Sorting: The table is sorted by year established, from oldest to newest, with institutions in the European Netherlands listed first, followed by those in the Dutch Caribbean territories.
• Netherlands (European): The list includes the 14 government-funded research universities in the Netherlands, focusing on academic education and scientific research, conferring bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
• Curaçao: The University of Curaçao Dr. Moises da Costa Gomez (formerly University of the Netherlands Antilles) is the primary public university, established in 1979, offering bachelor’s and master’s programs accredited by the Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie (NVAO).
• Aruba: The University of Aruba, established in 1988, offers bachelor’s and master’s programs, primarily in law, business, and hospitality.
• Sint Maarten: The University of St. Martin, founded in 1989, provides associate and bachelor’s degree programs, focusing on professional education.
• Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius: No public universities were identified in these special municipalities of the Netherlands. Higher education is limited, and students often attend institutions in Curaçao, Aruba, or the European Netherlands.
• Exclusions: Universities of applied sciences (hogescholen) and private institutions are excluded, as they do not meet the criteria for public research universities.
• Year Established: Reflects the founding year of the institution or its predecessor, as reported in sources.
• URLs: Official English-language websites are provided where available.
• Dutch Caribbean Context: The Dutch Caribbean territories (Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, and the special municipalities) have a smaller higher education landscape, with institutions focusing on professional and regional education rather than research-intensive programs typical of Dutch research universities.