[Ihmahr]

"Is there not something rather bizarre about the government taxing the money it's giving to you to support your studies?" Not at all. Its just like mp's, staff and everyone else employed by the government.

"I'm not sure how it works in the Netherlands, but in the UK you can claim unemployment benefits without having to have been paying taxes (so far as I'm aware)." No, in the UK and the Netherlands they won't hand out money to unemployed foreigners who choose to come and live there.

"That's the only difference I can see between a grant system and a salaried one." You can still get a grant. Lucky you!!