Why you should never marry someone with student debt

Last year, when I had to go to the notary because some things needed to be signed for my marriage, I couldn't help but laugh secretly. And believe me: you don't often laugh secretly at the notary.

But I had fun. Because, what was I supposed to do there? Explain how it was again with my student debt. And I got to hear that once we were married, it would also become his student debt. Look, that diploma in my desk drawer is shining just a bit more now. The Telegraaf headlined last week: ‘Never marry someone with student debt’. Ha. Too late. Already happened. I'm happy, he a bit less so.

Oh, you know what it is with that student debt? Of course, it's annoying that I have it, and I would have preferred not to have it either. But on the other hand, I really lived intensely during those young passionate years intensely. Freedom and joy, and it led to wonderful parties, trips, and vacations. But as you get older and still have that debt, your partner can say something about it. Don't be surprised if your date after the sixth date checks how things are going for you. For a long time, you automatically took over half of someone’s student debt when you got married. Now there are different rules for that, and you don't just marry in community of property, but it is possible. And then you might forget to include that entire study period in your future plans.

It could happen to you: after a divorce, you suddenly find yourself contributing to someone’s wild years in the pub. Because, let's be honest, that's what that loan from DUO is mostly used for. I was curious: how much do we borrow on average in the Netherlands? Quite a bit, as the figures show. On average, a student borrows about 13,500 euros during the entire duration of their studies. And at least 73 percent of students borrow something: you are more of an exception if you don't borrow, it turns out. In total, all Dutch students have about eleven billion euros in debt to the government. There are undoubtedly a lot of beers poured. Well, we just hope they taste good.

I certainly enjoyed them during those tropical years when I could still count on my friends at DUO. Meanwhile, that friendship has cooled a bit. Because although I can still remember those beautiful nights in the pub and I have a photo or two of a lost winter sports trip as a memory, that monthly statement from DUO secretly always hurts a bit in my salary, now that I am grown up.