Around one in five graduates with a student debt is behind with repayments, broadcaster Nos said at the weekend.

Of these, two-thirds get a visit from a bailiff, the Nos said.

The figures are based on information from the education ministry.

Some 600,000 graduates are repaying a student loan and 120,000 of them are in arrears. This is 30% more than three years ago, with the number of graduates with a student loan growing roughly as fast, the Nos said.

Basic grant

From the beginning of the new student year, the basic grant which covers living costs is also being scrapped. However, education minister Jet Bussemaker told the broadcaster in a reaction she does not expect this change to increase the number of students in arrears.

On Monday, the family spending body Nibud said the scrapping of the basic grant means parents will have to decide whether to finance their children or allow their student loans to increase.

The Nibud says that half of all students receive money towards living expenses from their parents. On average they receive €179 a month. Many parents also pay for study costs and health insurance.

Many students have already lost their basic grant and around 34% of these are choosing to live at home, the Nibud says.