Best 12 Sports & Recreation Universities in the Netherlands
There are 12 publicly funded universities in the Netherlands with sports & recreation programmes on the CROHO register — research universities (WO) and universities of applied sciences (HBO). Between them they run 27 registered programmes.
Location
Delft, Zuid-Holland
Institution type
Research University (WO)
Matching programmes
1
QS World Ranking
#47
Location
Groningen
Institution type
Research University (WO)
Matching programmes
1
QS World Ranking
#147
Location
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Institution type
Research University (WO)
Matching programmes
4
QS World Ranking
#194
Location
Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant
Institution type
University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes
3
Enrolments (2025)
38,560
Location
Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland
Institution type
University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes
2
Enrolments (2025)
37,473
Location
Arnhem, Gelderland
Institution type
University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes
3
Enrolments (2025)
33,559
Location
Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland
Institution type
University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes
1
Enrolments (2025)
23,853
Location
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Institution type
University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes
4
Enrolments (2025)
42,484
Location
Groningen
Institution type
University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes
2
Enrolments (2025)
26,951
Location
Zwolle, Overijssel
Institution type
University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes
3
Enrolments (2025)
25,743
Location
The Hague, Zuid-Holland
Institution type
University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes
1
Enrolments (2025)
23,974
Location
Vlissingen, Zeeland
Institution type
University of Applied Sciences (HBO)
Matching programmes
2
Enrolments (2025)
4,798
Frequently asked questions
How many universities in the Netherlands offer Sports & Recreation?
12 of the Netherlands' 54 publicly funded universities have sports & recreation programmes on CROHO, the Central Register of Higher Education Programmes. That count covers both research universities (WO) and universities of applied sciences (HBO).
How is this ranking put together?
Order comes from a published-figures-only composite: QS World position, breadth of recognised programmes, share of programmes taught in English and scale by DUO enrolments. No university pays for placement, and no judgement of teaching quality is invented.