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YouthWiki

EACEA National Policies Platform
Netherlands

Netherlands

9. Youth and the World

9.2 Administration and governance

Last update: 28 November 2023
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  1. Governance
  2. Cross-sectorial cooperation

Governance



Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the main governmental authority responsible for young people's contribution to global processes. The Dutch government is for sustainable economic growth in development countries. Also, it promotes global stability and security, and respect for human rights. The government believes they will achieve the best results if they focus on the fields in which The Netherlands excels, for example water management and food security. The four main themes of Dutch development collaboration policy are:

  • security and the rule of law;
  • water management;
  • food security;
  • sexual and reproductive health and rights.

In each of these four themes, issues like equality for women, environment and climate play an important role. More specific information about these themes and the government’s activities is available at the government site.

 

We have not found specific information about youth and youth collaboration at a global level.

 

Education, culture and science

Also involved in policy-making in the field of youth and the world is the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). They are responsible for stimulating international exchange programmes and supporting students, financially, to go abroad.

The Dutch government finances several parties that facilitate exchanges for youth and youth collaboration at global level.  Examples are the European programme Erasmus+, Nuffic the Dutch organization for internationalization in education, the Bologna Process, Neth-ER the Netherlands House of Education and Research and UNESCO schools (only in Dutch).

Next to this, municipalities, schools and other parties are free to address youth collaboration at a global level in their own way. They are not tied to government regulations in this area.

 

Cross-sectorial cooperation

 

It is safe to assume that the Ministry of OCW and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs work together, but there is no specific information about existing mechanisms. The national agencies of Erasmus+ are executed by Nuffic, CINOP, and the Netherlands Youth Institute, by order of the Ministry of OCW and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). This leaves no doubt about collaborations with the Ministry of VWS and these executive partners.