The rector of Delft University of Technology has told the Financieele Dagblad that the government’s education spending cuts are already affecting the image of the Netherlands at educational institutes abroad.

The senate is due to debate the plans, involving cuts of €1.2 billion, on Tuesday, and if they go ahead, it will mean “painful choices”, Tim van der Hagen told the paper.

Some of the spending cuts will be generated through the right-wing government’s wish to reduce the “internationalisation” of Dutch universities and reduce the use of English. The number of foreign students applying to come to the Netherlands has already shrunk.

“The Netherlands is a country that relies heavily on international collaboration,” he said. “That loss of reputation may be even more damaging than the budget cuts.”

Top foreign colleagues are already hesitant about coming to the Netherlands, he said, and this is making it very difficult to attract the best talent.

“Colleagues who have been working here for years are starting to feel unwelcome. As a result, they are exploring opportunities elsewhere. The reputational damage we have already suffered will affect science in the Netherlands for years to come.”

Last week, the government said it was launching a special fund to try to attract “several dozen” top scientists to the Netherlands.

The minister has asked the Dutch organisation for scientific research NWO to set up the fund focusing on attracting “excellent researchers”. This should ensure they have the money to live in the Netherlands and continue their research at Dutch universities and institutes, the minister said.

A spokeswoman for the minister told Dutch News that measures to combat “internationalisation” in higher education are focused on bachelor degrees, not top research.

“High-level knowledge and innovation are important both for our own economy and Europe,” she said.

Some Dutch universities have already begun sacking staff because of the cutbacks and Delft has asked all departments to cut their budgets by 10%, Van der Hagen told the FD.