A statutory tuition fee raise for so-called ‘long-term students’ (langstudeerders) has been introduced by the Dutch government. A long-term student is a student who has been enrolled with a university for a period longer than the nominal study duration plus one additional year. The nominal study duration for a 180-credit programme is three years.
From academic year 2012-2013, long-term students who are paying the statutory tuition fee will pay an additional surcharge. Students can apply for a tuition fee loan (collegegeldkrediet) for the total amount of this higher statutory tuition fee.
The surcharge only applies to long-term students paying the statutory tuition fee.
For more details (in Dutch), including exceptions, please see link below.