The Dutch language is a favored option for study at universities in Eastern Europe
In the past decade, Dutch Studies students in the Netherlands have decreased by half, while Eastern European universities are witnessing a rising interest in the Dutch language, according to the Volkskrant. The University of Wroclaw in western Poland boasts the largest Dutch study program in Central and Eastern Europe, with an average of 170 to 200 students annually, occasionally reaching 250. In contrast, Dutch Studies in the Netherlands averages around 200 students annually. Other Polish cities like Poznan and Lublin, as well as Hungarian cities Budapest and Debrecen, Czech city Olomouc, and Romanian capital Bucharest offer Dutch language programs. High demand has led to restrictions on new student intake, with some departments having to cap it at 30 students, despite potential for 50 to 60 new students annually.
The surge in popularity can be attributed, in part, to employment prospects. Dutch multinational companies seek out language-proficient graduates, offering competitive starting salaries due to the relative scarcity of Dutch speakers compared to English or German speakers abroad. Some start with salaries as high as 5,000 zloty (1,130 euros) per month. The Dutch-Polish Chamber of Commerce facilitates job opportunities by connecting students with hiring companies through job mixers.
Orsolya Réthelyi, Head of Studies in Dutch at Budapest's Eötvös Loránd University, reported that all of their recent graduates found employment, a sentiment echoed by lecturers. Currently, the faculty has 84 active students, and some students even encounter headhunters during their second year.
However, it's not solely economic incentives that attract students to Dutch studies. Some students have prior exposure to the language or familial connections in the Netherlands, while others are drawn to it on a whim. For instance, one student's fascination with Van Gogh and another's reading of "The Sorrow of Belgium" in a Romanian translation motivated them to pursue Dutch studies. Nevertheless, a promising career path remains a significant factor, with 80 percent of students ultimately finding employment in companies, according to their research.
