DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

21 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

The Netherlands to screen academics to stop knowledge leaks

April 8, 2025
Delft is the top-ranked Dutch institution. Photo: Depositphotos.com

The Netherlands is to introduce new legislation to screen all researchers and students who will have access to sensitive information to prevent knowledge from ending up abroad.

A first draft of the Wet screening kennisveiligheid (knowledge security screening law), introduced by education minister Eppo Bruin, names China, Russia and Iran as countries that may benefit from Dutch scientific knowledge, for instance, to develop weapons systems.

The education ministry estimates some 8,000 researchers and students a year will be checked, including Dutch nationals.

At the moment, institutions and universities carry out their own background checks on new staff, which has resulted in hundreds of rejections over the last few years, an investigation by NOS showed.

The new law will allow for a much more thorough probe, which, apart from a police record and past study and work experience, would include family background and contacts with certain regimes. Information gathered by the Dutch intelligence services would also play a part in the risk assessment.

Institutions and universities have three months to come up with suggestions about the new legislation.

Universities have already warned the screening could put off talented academics who will opt to go elsewhere. But according to Bruins, other countries are contemplating similar legislation.

A sticking point for some MPs is the inclusion of all foreign and Dutch academics instead of only those from countries identified as risky. Bruins said that a broad screening would not only prevent discrimination but that foreign intelligence services have been known to put pressure on academics from other countries than their own. 

The screening law identifies several specific areas which affect national security, including rocket science, AI, quantum technology, biotechnology and microchip technology.

Bruins admitted that the screenings are not infallible. A person who is deemed safe to work with sensitive information may, at a later point in their career, be recruited by a foreign agency. It will at least put certain extra conditions on access to sensitive information and technology, he said.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Science Security Tech Universities
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Central bank president Knot urges Europe to end dependency on US
Europe's last battlefield: Remembering Texel's Georgian uprising
The wolf's preferred diet is deer and wild boar, research shows
Dutch broadcasters want to discuss Israel's Eurovision role
Dutch travellers, students and exporters to gain from EU-UK deal
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now