Concerns grow over fewer internships under mandatory stipend plan
The Dutch Cabinet wants to make compensation mandatory for all student internships, but education groups and nonprofits warn the policy could sharply reduce the number of available placements, especially for entry-level vocational students.
Student organizations have welcomed the proposal after years of arguing that it is unfair for interns to work long hours without pay. Several sectors have already introduced minimum internship payments through collective labor agreements. Social-work interns, for example, have received at least €350 per month since the beginning of 2026.
However, the changes are already creating problems for some organizations. A neighborhood sports coach program run by Breda Actief previously offered 16 internship positions each year. Because the organization relies heavily on municipal subsidies, it now plans to offer only four positions during the coming school year.
Stichting Solidair Friesland has reported similar concerns, saying mandatory compensation would create significant additional costs. The national umbrella organization for Fixbrigades has also warned that smaller nonprofits could struggle to afford the new payments while continuing to provide training opportunities.
In Groningen, the Fixbrigade, part of the Energiebank foundation, offered 13 internships last academic year, mainly to students in entry-level vocational programs. Many of these students are recent arrivals who require intensive supervision and support, making their placements more expensive to provide.
Fixbrigade director Els Struiving said small companies generally prefer students at levels 3 and 4 because they require less supervision. Her organization provides much more guidance, with one supervisor for every two students. The Fixbrigade currently pays interns €10 per day, but a substantial increase would likely have to be covered by the municipality that funds the organization.
Struiving warned that Groningen may not have enough money to cover the additional costs. If the expenses become too high, she said, the Fixbrigade could be forced to stop accepting interns altogether. That could create a serious problem for students who need workplace experience to complete their education.
Education Minister Rianne Letschert acknowledged that setting the stipend too high could result in fewer internship positions. To reduce that risk, the government will not introduce one fixed national payment. Instead, individual sectors will determine how much mandatory compensation interns should receive.