Princess Eléonore of Belgium to Study in the Netherlands

Princess Eléonore, the 18-year-old youngest daughter of King Filip and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, will begin her higher education in the Netherlands this September, the Belgian Royal Palace confirmed on Thursday. She will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences at University College Utrecht (UCU), part of Utrecht University, marking a new chapter as the last of the four royal children prepares to leave the family home.

A Modern Education Abroad

The three-year, English-taught program at UCU is an honours college where students design their own curriculum with guidance from a personal advisor, combining courses from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Depending on their chosen academic track, graduates earn either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc), according to VRT NWS.

University College Utrecht, founded in 1998, was the first university college in the Netherlands. Its residential campus hosts approximately 750 students from diverse nationalities, as Royalty Online reported. It remains unclear whether Princess Eléonore will live on campus or commute from Belgium, and the palace has not disclosed which specific courses she will take.

Educational Journey

Princess Eléonore began her schooling at the Dutch-language Sint-Jan-Berchmanscollege in Brussels, where her older siblings Gabriël and Elisabeth also attended. In September 2020, she moved to Heilig Hartcollege in Tervuren for the early years of her secondary education. In the summer of 2023, she transferred to the International School of Brussels (ISB), an English-language private school in Watermael-Boitsfort, where her brothers Gabriël and Emmanuel also completed their secondary education. She graduated from ISB in June 2026.

Following Family Footsteps

Princess Eléonore is the last of the four children of King Filip and Queen Mathilde to embark on higher education. Her siblings have pursued diverse and international paths, as the Nationale Onderwijsgids noted.

Crown Princess Elisabeth, 24, the eldest, earned a Bachelor’s in History and Politics at Oxford University and recently graduated with a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University in May 2026. Prince Gabriel, 23, is completing a Master’s in Social and Military Sciences at the Royal Military School (KMS) and is expected to pursue a military career. Prince Emmanuel, 20, is in his first year at Istec in Brussels, a French-language business and marketing school, after initially starting at UCLL in Leuven.

No Royal Allowance

Unlike Crown Princess Elisabeth, who receives a state allowance (“dotatie”) as heir to the throne, Princess Eléonore — like her brothers Gabriel and Emmanuel — must earn her own income. A background article by VRT NWS published in May had already speculated on her plans, noting that she would need to study for a profession given the absence of a royal stipend.

A Closer Choice

Princess Eléonore’s decision to study in the Netherlands is notable for its proximity to Belgium. The Netherlands shares both a border and the Dutch language with Belgium’s Flemish community, offering a familiar environment while still providing an international education experience. This contrasts with her sister Elisabeth’s seven years of study abroad, which included time in Wales, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

What Lies Ahead

As the youngest royal child prepares to leave the nest, several questions remain open. It is not yet known what academic focus she will choose within the Liberal Arts & Sciences program, whether she will reside on the UCU campus, or what her long-term career plans entail. The Reformatorisch Dagblad confirmed that her studies will begin in September 2026, marking the start of an independent chapter for the young princess.

Her choice of the Liberal Arts & Sciences model — an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes critical thinking and student-driven learning — reflects a growing trend among European royalty toward modern, flexible education paths. With all four royal children now embarked on their respective journeys, the Belgian monarchy enters a new generation defined by international education and diverse career trajectories.

The princess’s move to Utrecht also raises practical considerations. Security arrangements at the university, while not publicly discussed, will likely follow protocols similar to those observed for other European royal students studying abroad. The presence of a member of the Belgian royal family on the UCU campus will add a unique dimension to the university’s international community, which already prides itself on its diverse student body representing numerous nationalities.