One of a series of studies related to the Delphi research project: "Policy Instruments for Higher Education in the Western Europe of the Future", this paper describes and analyses the recent development of the higher education agenda in the Netherlands to show that the development of higher education policy is an incremental process of change, yet significantly influenced by new political choices. The fall of the Christian-Democrat/Liberal cabinet in 1989 eventually led to September elections which installed a new Christian-Democrat/Social Democrat coalition with a new minister of Education, Dr. Ritzen. He introduced three major policy shifts in the first 10 months in office: an evaluation of the Department of Education and Science budget; enhancement of a process of deregulation and enlargement of substantive autonomy of educational institutions; and a change in the relationships among institutions, students, society and the government. These policy trends influenced a bill before Parliament with anticipated implementation in 1992. Future trends may bring changes in: government financing of education; the student grant and loan system; higher education decision structures, research funding mechanisms; and an internationalization of education in the wake of current European political changes. Never the less, the change of cabinet showed more continuity that discontinuity in higher education policy. (JB)