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Sun, 07 Jun 2026

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 'No dead ends': What the Dutch can teach us about tackling youth unemployment

The Netherlands has one of the world's lowest rates of 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training.
The UK has a youth engagement crisis, with nearly one in eight young people between 16 and 24 not in education, employment or training (Neet). A landmark report by Alan Milburn suggests that unless urgent action is taken, one in six young people could become Neet within five years. The Netherlands has a significantly lower Neet rate of 4.9%, and experts believe the UK can learn from its approach. The Dutch education system is designed around the principle "no dead ends", where every stage of a young person's journey leads to somewhere. It compels children between 5 and 16 to attend school, and then they must stay in education or training until they secure a qualification or turn 18. One key tool used by the Dutch to cut school dropout rates is the kwalificatieplicht (qualification requirement), which streams pupils into three secondary tracks based on teacher recommendations and primary-school test results. However, critics argue that early streaming can disadvantage some children and affect their self-esteem. In contrast, the UK allows young people to leave school at 16, with varying rules in different regions. In England, they must stay in education or training until 18, while in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there is no equivalent legal requirement. Amelie, a Dutch student who was placed on the vocational VMBO track, said that this took a toll on her confidence. However, she eventually found success through work-study pathways, employer partnerships, and state-supported apprenticeships. The Dutch system prioritizes hands-on experiences and treats students as valuable assets to society. Businesses can request customized college programmes tailored to their needs, and students are encouraged to pursue vocational qualifications that are in high demand. A host of alternatives exist for students who struggle with formal pathways, funded by school budgets. Alexander Koppelle's organization, Mooi Jong (Beautiful Young), works with school-referred pupils at risk of becoming Neet, providing a layered safety net designed to keep them engaged and reduce dropout rates. However, the Dutch blueprint is not foolproof, and youth unemployment is rising. The government has introduced measures to make it easier for young people to claim benefits and connect jobseekers with employers through the UWV (Dutch Employee Insurance Agency). Despite her turbulent journey through school, Amelie believes that without the flexibility to change path along the way, she might have dropped out altogether. She now hopes to pursue a career in education and support young people who face similar challenges.