MPs have voted in favour of a motion calling on the government to stop universities and hbo colleges from actively recruiting students abroad.

They say the surge in student numbers, fueled by a rise in international students, is increasing pressure on student housing capacity and leading to overfull lecture theatres.

MPs hope that a ban on advertising and attending recruitment fairs abroad will depress the flow. This year, some 40% of first year students – 42,000 in total – came from abroad, although most are from the EU.

Education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf has pledged to publish his plans early next year but MPs say this will be too late to stop universities attending fairs and placing adverts to attract new students in the coming academic year.

This year a number of universities called on international students not to take up their place in the Netherlands if they had not found a place to live before arriving.