In the Netherlands, students are taking their municipalities to court to demand energy surcharges. In many places, students are the only group excluded from the government-funded one-time compensation of 1300 euros for the vast increase in gas and electricity prices.  In the municipalities of Rotterdam, Delft, Leiden, Groningen and Vijfheerenlanden the first cases have been filed. 

Many students feel the effects of the increased gas and electricity prices enormously and are struggelling to make ends meet. That’s why the National Student Union – an organization that stands up for the interests of Dutch students – wants to change the government’s policy. They want students no longer to be excluded from the compensation that other households with the same income do receive. Within a couple of weeks, the student union expects to receive the dates for their first court hearings.

Watch the video down below.

Text: Nora van der Schoor
Report: Nora van der Schoor