Dutch do not have to give other EU students a travel card, court says

The Netherlands is not required by European law to provide students from other European countries with a free public transport card, the European Court of Justice said on Thursday.

The case dates back to 2008 when a British student studying on an Erasmus scholarship made a complaint to the European Commission, website nu.nl said.

He felt the Dutch refusal was discrimination and broke EU regulations. The European Commission agreed and tried to force a Dutch rethink.

The European court has now ruled the Netherlands is within its rights to refuse EU students the travel card, because it forms part of the Dutch student loan system and would have to be repaid if a student fails to complete their degree.

Dutch students get free public transport at either weekends or during the week. The aim is to reduce the cost of travelling to and from college or university.