Dutch music conservatories are experiencing a significant decrease in Dutch students, with only 22% of current students being Dutch nationals—a drop from 52% two decades ago. The other 78% of students pursuing advanced musical training are international. Experts attribute this decline to substantial cuts in music education funding over the past fifteen years, leading to reduced access to music programs in schools and fragmented extracurricular opportunities. The Netherlands’ culture sector as a whole has lost over 500 million euros in funding annually since 2005, forcing closures of music schools and limiting individual lessons. This impacts talent development and the pipeline to higher education. While private initiatives are emerging, access remains unequal based on geographic location and socioeconomic status, despite a considerable pool of potential talent within the Netherlands.