Interest rates on student loans and financing in the Netherlands are increasing next year for hundreds of thousands of students and former students. A significant portion will see an increase of nearly 1 percent, moving from 2.29 percent to 3.28 percent. The exact rise depends on current student status and the applicable repayment terms. Most current students, under a 35-year repayment plan, will experience a smaller increase, from 2.33 percent to 2.70 percent. Approximately 250,000 graduates operating under a 15-year repayment scheme will face the larger rate hike. The difference in rates stems from how they are calculated, with the 15-year plan based on a single benchmark date, while the 35-year plan uses an average over a longer period. Despite a recent decrease in overall student debt, the number of graduates with very high debts (over €50,000) has substantially increased, prompting calls for lower rates for this "unlucky generation." Multiple political parties have agreed to cap interest at 2.5 percent, though plans for implementation are still pending.