News item | 02-02-2026 | 09:00
School boards can now apply for a subsidy to teach young people how to manage money. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment is making 10 million euros available for, among other things, money lessons, financial support points for students or help with financial education.
State Secretary Jurgen Nobel: “With later payments, young people are increasingly tempted to spend money they do not have. With good financial lessons you learn to manage money more consciously and avoid debts. Children develop habits at an early age that lay the foundation for their future lives, including financially. So it really is: learned young, done old.”
Nibud figures for 2024 show that 40 percent of 18 to 30-year-olds have difficulty making ends meet. Three percent of young people between the ages of 16 and 25 have problematic debts, figures from Statistics Netherlands show. This even applies to more than 20 percent of young adults.
With the rise of digital developments, such as post-payment, the risk of payment arrears is increasing. In 2023, minors made 600,000 ‘Buy now, Pay later’ transactions. Some of these had to do with reminder costs or a collection agency.
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With the subsidy, schools can prepare their pupils and students to use money wisely. This is the fourth time that schools can apply for the subsidy. In the past three years, more than 200 school boards have been awarded an amount.
Schools use the money to integrate financial education within existing subjects, such as arithmetic or economics. In secondary education and MBO there is help for pupils and students, for example with applying for allowances when they turn 18. And at other schools, students can receive financial advice during special consultation hours. Various primary schools support parents in the financial education of their children, for example with workshops.
School boards can submit an application for the subsidy from February 2, 9 a.m. to March 16, 5 p.m. They can spend the money spread over three school years. Only school boards that have not previously applied are eligible.
Look for information geldlessen.nl/subsidie or do it directly grant application.
