Princess Eléonore of Belgium to Study in the Netherlands
Princess Eléonore of Belgium, the 18-year-old youngest daughter of King Filip and Queen Mathilde, will begin her higher education in September 2026 at University College Utrecht (UCU) in the Netherlands. The announcement was made jointly by the Belgian Royal Palace and Utrecht University on Thursday, July 23, as reported by VRT NWS.
A Flexible Academic Path
The princess will pursue a three-year, English-taught Bachelor of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the Honours College of Utrecht University. Unlike traditional degree programs, students at UCU compose their own curriculum from over 200 modules spanning the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, with guidance from a personal academic advisor. Depending on their chosen track, graduates receive either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc).
Hans Brug, Chairman of the Executive Board of Utrecht University, expressed pride in the princess’s choice. “We are proud that Princess Eléonore has chosen to study at Utrecht University,” he said, according to RTV Utrecht. “I wish Princess Eléonore and all other first-year students starting in September an inspiring study time.”
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. She moved to Heilig Hartcollege in Tervuren for her lower secondary education in September 2020, before transferring to the International School of Brussels (ISB) in the summer of 2023. At ISB, an English-language private school, she completed her secondary education in June 2026. Her brothers Gabriël and Emmanuel also attended ISB.
The princess speaks fluent Dutch, French, and English, as noted on the Belgian Monarchy’s official website.
A Family Tradition of International Education
Princess Eléonore is the last of the four children of King Filip and Queen Mathilde to leave the family home. Her siblings have all pursued international or specialized educational paths:
- Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant (24): The Crown Princess completed a bachelor’s in History and Politics at Oxford University and a master’s in Public Policy at Harvard University, graduating in May 2026. As the future queen, she receives a state allowance (dotatie).
- Prince Gabriël (23): Completed a master’s in Social and Military Sciences at the Royal Military School (KMS) and is expected to pursue a military career. Like Eléonore, he does not receive a state allowance.
- Prince Emmanuel (20): Studying at Istec in Brussels, a French-language business and marketing school, after initially starting at UCLL in Leuven.
The choice of Utrecht is notable for keeping Eléonore close to home — approximately two hours by train from Brussels — while still providing an international, English-language education, as NOS reported.
No State Allowance
Unlike her sister Crown Princess Elisabeth, Princess Eléonore — fourth in line to the throne — does not receive a state allowance and must pursue a career to support herself. This makes her choice of a broad, flexible Liberal Arts & Sciences degree particularly strategic, as it leaves multiple career paths open. The palace has not confirmed whether she will live on the UCU campus, which houses approximately 750 students from over 70 nationalities, but given the distance from Brussels, it is considered likely she will reside in the Netherlands.
What’s Next
As the youngest royal child embarks on this new chapter, the Belgian royal family transitions into a new phase with all four children pursuing their own paths. Questions remain about which specific subjects Eléonore will choose to focus on and what career she may ultimately pursue after graduation. Her choice of a flexible, interdisciplinary program at a respected international institution positions her well for whatever path she chooses to follow.
“A beautiful academic adventure across the border, in an environment where she stands out just a little less — but with the parental home within reach,” wrote Sandy de Vries of Beau Monde. “A nice safety net for the young adult princess!”