Education minister Jet Bussemaker, universities and hbo colleges are setting up 768 scholarships for Dutch students who want to study abroad, and a further 768 scholarships for foreign students to come to the Netherlands.

Studying abroad benefits students in terms of experience of other cultures and increases opportunities for work, Bussemaker is quoted as saying by news agency ANP.

At the same time, foreign students who come to the Netherlands ‘not only enrich our society’ but benefit the Dutch economy, the minister said.

Dutch students will be eligible for scholarships of €1,250 if they go abroad. Foreign students, who will follow their entire degree in the Netherlands, are eligible for scholarships of €5,000.

Universities and hbo colleges will select which students win the scholarships, ANP says.