Top 9 Law Schools in the Netherlands

Leiden University is ranked by Times Higher Education as the Netherlands’ best university for law. The University’s 450-year history gives it a solid reputation for teaching and research excellence. There are several highly rated LL.M. programs to pick from: European Law; Public International Law; Criminal Justice; Air and Space Law; European and International Business Law, to name just a few from a wide range of courses.  

Amsterdam Law School, at University of Amsterdam, is second on THE’s list. It draws students from all over the world, which gives the law school an international atmosphere that is vital for any aspiring lawyer. In this sense, this diversity reflects Amsterdam, a truly global city that is home to a plethora of companies to work for, and an energetic social science. There are several full-time LL.M.s available: Public International Law; International Trade and Investment Law; European Union Law; European Competition Law and Regulation; and European Private Law. 

The School of Law at Utrecht University, one of the country’s oldest and most beautiful academic institutions, is ranked well by most of the major league tables including QS Top Universities. Students can go on exchange to a number of universities around the world such as the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Beijing’s Peking University, and the University of Toronto. The school boasts many notable alumni who hold senior positions at prestigious institutions around the world, including Nobel Prize laureates. There are a few LL.M.s to pick from: in European Law, Public International Law and more. 

Tilburg Law School was founded as recently as 1963 but has quickly achieved a stellar international reputation. It’s naturally ranked highly by THE, QS and the Social Science Research Network (SSRN), and has been especially commended for the quality of its staff, as well as the quality of support facilities such as IT, counseling, and its university campus. Tilburg is well known for its university and was arguably made famous by an annual 10-day funfair that takes place each July. The school puts on several LL.M. programs, for instance on International Business Tax Law, and Labour Law and Employment Relations. 

The Faculty of Law at Maastricht University is distinguished by its acclaimed Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method, which leans heavily on student discussion and presentations. Practical learning is at the core of the law school, with students also able to take part in several national and international moot courts, including the European Court of Justice. Several full-time LL.M. programs are on offer, including in Globalization and Law; Forensics, Criminology and Law; Dutch Law; and European Law. 

A regular feature each year on many league tables, the Erasmus School of Law runs LL.M. courses in Commercial and Company Law, International Trade Law, Maritime and Transport Law, and International Arbitration and Business Law. Rotterdam is the second biggest city in the Netherlands. Its large port and melting pot of cultures draws many international companies and enriches student life. 

The University of Groningen dates back to 1614 and boasts such accolades as the first female lecturer in the Netherlands, the first Dutch astronaut and the first president of the European Central Bank. The Faculty of Law has been around for 400 years and has grown to be one of the largest law faculties in the country, with 300 staff teaching some 4,000 students, 650 of them international. There are quite a few LL.M. courses available, in Energy and Climate Law; European Economic Law; Global Criminal Law; Governance and Law in Digital Society, and more. 

Since its foundation in 1880, VU University of Amsterdam has been renowned for its focus on people and society, not just knowledge and power. This is the case with its esteemed Faculty of Law, ranked well across the board and globally. There is a raft of LL.M. options for high flying but mindful lawyers: Corporate Law, Markets and Behaviour; International Business Law; International Migration and Refugee Law; Law and Politics of International Security, and more programs. 

Situated in a “green campus” in the oldest city in the Netherlands, Nijmegen, the Faculty of Law at Radboud University has a solid international reputation for teaching and research excellence. There are many cultural activities and festivals, numerous museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas and eateries in the buzzing city. LL.M. students can specialize in four areas: Advanced International and European Law; Human Rights and Migration; Business Law; European Law and Global Affairs.