Top 10 questions about studying in the Netherlands

Studying abroad is definitely a much broader experience than the daily commute and the stress of the session. While it may seem a little daunting at first, it offers a unique chance to rediscover yourself in a place where the traditions and pace of life are different, as well as to discover the culture of another country. Many of us have visited cities abroad, perhaps on a city break or to visit loved ones, but living for years in another country comes with both challenges and nice things you may not have thought of yet. Whilst I can't give you all the answers, I've gathered here ten questions I've often received that I think will be useful to help you navigate this stage of life more easily.

1. How does public transport work and how important is it to have a bike?

You probably all know by now that the Netherlands is famous for the multitude of bikes dotted around the corners of every city - that's no myth. Here, cycling can become, if you want it to, a lifestyle. The infrastructure is perfectly developed for cyclists and it's often quicker to get where you need to go by bike than by bus. Another aspect to consider is the flexibility this mode of transport offers - you can come and go at any second, without having to depend on strict timetables. In my experience, cycling in the Netherlands is an extremely enjoyable activity, especially when it's aimed at genuinely exploring the cities - when you have to climb bridges with a laptop in the rucksack on your back, it can be a bit tiring.

This is where public transport, which is generally very well organised, comes in. Buses, trams and underground trains are rarely late, depending on what your city of choice has to offer. With a universal transport card, OV-Chipkaart, or even a bank card, you can travel lightly without the stress of buying tickets in advance. Unfortunately, international students don't get free transport, but there are certain passes that can reduce these costs - in all fairness, it can be quite expensive if you get on this kind of transport every day. If you're planning to work during your studies, there's even the possibility of getting free travel on all types of transport, including trains, but only if you fulfil certain conditions - this is frankly a topic for a separate article, as it's a fairly complex system.

2. How do I find a flat in the Netherlands?

Perhaps the most burning topic when it comes to studying in the Netherlands is accommodation. Many of us have struggled in our obsessive search for a roof over our heads - however, it's by no means impossible. From personal experience, I reckon the best move is to try to get a place in student accommodation in your first year. These are not necessarily dormitories in the sense that we know them, but buildings with individual rooms that generally offer shared facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms or study rooms. Coming to a new city for the first time, student housings are a great way to meet new people and not feel lonely. Of course, there are disadvantages, but they depend a lot on the people you'll be living with on the floor. If you really don't like the idea of not having your own space, there are many such buildings offering studio flats. As well as the social aspect, there's a more practical one - you can book your room on the company's website, and if you do this early enough, there's a good chance you'll find something reasonable on price too.

Of course, there are many other independent accommodation options, such as estate agents or sites like Pararius and Kamernet, or even Facebook groups. You need to be prepared to send lots of messages and it would be good to have a template ready to make your life easier. In most cases, the next step is to do a viewing of the room, and you should never sign a contract without making sure the property exists in the first place, and then that it looks like the one in the photo. It's certainly impossible to travel every time you receive such an invitation 2000 kilometres away - A top-tip from me is the Uni-View platform, which connects people in those cities with you, the accommodation seekers. They'll go to the viewings for you and show you the location on video, so everything runs smoothly.

As a last resort, there is also the option of finding a hostel, hotel or AirBnb for a short period of time - in most cases it's easier to find accommodation by physically being in the city or through tips from new university mates. However, the stress that this comes with comes to be taken into account.

I know it sounds complicated, but it takes perseverance, optimism and a lot of patience. It's a good idea to start looking as early as the spring of the year in which you start your studies, because once you have a contract, your student life will settle down. And once you're drinking your morning coffee in your own room, you'll feel that all your hard work has been worth it.

3. What kind of health insurance is needed and how do I get it?

In short, if you don't want to work in the Netherlands, there's no need to worry about that. The European Health Insurance Card, which you can apply for very easily in Romania, is enough. If you fancy a bit more pocket money, you'll need what's called Public Dutch Health Insurance - all the options are just a Google search away. The price will scare you at first, but since you need this insurance because of your employment, you are eligible for a substantial subsidy from the Dutch Tax Administration.

4. Do I need to have a Dutch bank account?

If I had written this article in my first year of university, i.e. 2021, the answer would have been yes. Now, however, most shops and payment systems here have implemented the option to pay with any Visa or Master card, so you can use your Romanian cards without any problems. Again, for some jobs you need to have a Dutch account, but the process is very easy. Many big banks here, such as ING, Rabobank or ABN AMRO even offer special packages for students that don't involve a monthly fee, and the account can be opened either online or by appointment at Service Points, depending on the bank you choose.

5. Are part-time jobs available for internationals?

We've been talking about the things you'll need if you get hired - but how does this process work, especially as an international student? The good news is that there are lots of opportunities out there, from jobs in hospitality or retail to faculty positions. For a start, being an EU citizen makes it much simpler as you don't need a work permit. Depending on what kind of job you want, the steps differ, but it's worth noting that at many shops you can just leave your CV at reception and wait for a reply. If you want a job in education, LinkedIn or sites such as werk.nl are the most handy options. Faculties in the Netherlands offer students platforms dedicated to work opportunities within the university and some examples could be Student Ambassador, Peer Mentor, positions in departments such as Social Media, and many others. The fact that you don't know Dutch is not a limitation, as many such jobs don't require this knowledge, but in order not to waste your time, check this at the start.

I know it's tempting to take a job to cover expenses and feel financially free, but bear in mind that it takes time to adjust and studying requires quite a bit of commitment. If you think you can keep up the pace and don't put too much pressure on yourself, this experience will not only be a new section of your CV, but also a way to meet new people and discover new perspectives, and gain skills that courses can't teach.

6. Do I need to learn Dutch during my studies?

As already mentioned, don't stress about the Dutch language. Ever since I first came to the Netherlands I was surprised how well everyone speaks English, regardless of age. Whether it's ordering a coffee or registering at the municipality, any conversation can be carried on in English and I personally have never felt that people look down on me. But I do think it's really tasty to play with the language - it often seems made up, but the minimal effort of knowing trivial phrases like saying thank you (dank je wel) is appreciated by locals.

When you hear a language on the street every day, you'll gradually learn it even if you don't want to, but if you're interested in learning the language in the true sense of the word, there are plenty of opportunities, from cultural exchanges on various applications to courses offered by university language centres. Check first of all what is required of you by your university - there are certain specialisations, such as medicine or psychology, which will at some point require you to master the local language.

7. How is the education system in the Netherlands and what is different from what we are used to in Romania?

Clearly I cannot give an objective answer to this question, but I can say that studying in the Netherlands is very much based on personal discipline. Many programmes are based on classroom interaction, also reflected by the existence of Tutorials, which are smaller group classes where each student is encouraged to participate actively. Each profile comes with its own structure, but in general the system in the Netherlands is very much based on projects, communication between students and testing your own limits. In my experience at the two faculties I studied at, Maastricht and Leiden, professors are often seen more as mentors than authoritative figures, and the relationship between them and the students is more informal than what I imagine from the stories of my friends who are doing bachelor or master courses in Romania. The teachers are open and your opinions really matter. The feedback form at the end of a course is inexpensive and, of course, anonymous, and many programmes organise Student Panels at the end of study stages - a safe space where you can share what bothered you about the course structure or the teacher's approach.

By far the biggest difference is the international environment in which you will work. The diversity of cultural backgrounds from which students come opens up discussions that will help you to form global perspectives on the issues presented in the lectures. If I had to pick three words to capture my experience of teaching in the Netherlands, they would probably be autonomy, innovation and pragmatism - like anywhere else, at university there is no one to remind you of deadlines or to push you to learn, but creative thinking and personal input on projects or topics is encouraged.

8. How can I find a community if I don't know anyone in my new city?

The great thing about the international environment of Dutch universities is that most students find themselves in the same situation - away from home, on their own, for the first time. There are lots of parties and activities organised to make the socialising process easier, and people are very open to conversations that can seem surprisingly personal given that you only found out each other's names an hour ago. Friendships formed while studying abroad will inevitably go through different trials than those in high school, based as much on discovering the world together as on supporting each other in times of crisis.

Apps like Uni-Life centralise events and give students a platform to find people with similar interests or a means to ask questions of others who have had similar experiences. Just getting involved in events organised by associations or even joining the various clubs at university can open countless doors to future friendships.

If you feel lonely or simply miss speaking Romanian, want to participate in events that remind you of your origins and share the beauty of Romanian culture with the Dutch We are waiting for you in the League of Romanian Students Abroad - home away from home.

9. How can I ask for help if I feel like I don't fit in or if I'm finding it hard to keep up with university?

Faculties in the Netherlands can be quite demanding and it makes no sense to pretend otherwise; feeling overwhelmed or disconnected is absolutely normal. However, one thing I greatly appreciate here is that mental health is by no means a taboo subject, as many of us have been used to. Study programmes have both people in charge of guiding students through the academic process - study advisors - and psychologists with whom you can schedule a few sessions, in some cases even for free. With both you can openly discuss personal problems in strictly confidential sessions, and seek solutions together. If you will need outside help, counselling is quite affordable - I'm not an expert on the costs of these services, but I know that some insurances cover a few sessions. The most important thing is to forget about shame, as you will not be judged if you ask for help.

To make stress more bearable, many faculties organise Well-being weeks throughout the year, where you can take part in a variety of events, from outdoor sports to scented candle workshops and talks on mental health. Make the most of all these resources and opportunities as they are created for you and make this experience not just about academic learning, but also about personal growth and self-care.

10. Which Dutch cultural events should I not miss?

Although your main goal is your studies, the best part of moving to the Netherlands is the opportunity to truly discover the essence of the Dutch people. The Dutch are people who like to party, and during your studies you'll have the chance to take part in numerous events that will bring you culture shock and unforgettable memories.

King's Day is the first tradition worth mentioningThe Dutch festival, probably the biggest Dutch celebration, during which the whole country is enveloped in orange clothes and music. Every year on 27 April, the streets become stages and the festival spirit is hard to capture in words. Another similar festival is Carnival, celebrated during one week in February in the southern regions of the country - Limburg and Brabant. Even if you're studying further north, it's worth experiencing the chaos of the festival for once, with whole towns and cities covered in red, green and yellow ribbons. People dress up in completely unexpected and usually slightly comical costumes, and Carnval outfit planning is usually as relevant as Halloween in Dutch culture. As it's fast approaching, we can't forget the Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of Father Christmas, which brings with it parades and reveals traditions strikingly similar to the Romanian traditions of Santa Claus - chocolate in the boots and a sense of community.

In addition to these major events, there are many music, light or cultural festivals worth experiencing, and whatever the season, you'll find something to do in the Netherlands. Perhaps many of the traditions will seem strange at first, but all I can say is "don't knock it 'til you try it" - live the Dutch experience to the fullest and let yourself be carried away by the energy of these (maybe) unique moments in your life.

I hope that these glimpses of my experiences as a student in the Netherlands will help you to have the smoothest possible moving process and have given you some directions in which to do more research. Most of all, I hope that I have inspired you to see Dutch studying beyond the barrier of lecture halls or the nights when you leave the library last, and that you get to explore the little joys that make this country so special. When I made the decision to come here, I was unsure - it is, after all, a big decision for an 18-year-old, but looking back, I would choose the same. Everything I learnt here has become part of who I am now, and I feel that every day here was an opportunity to grow in an open environment. I hope that your story will also be a colourful one of spontaneous bike rides across the Belgian border and moments of discovering who you really are.

An article by Miruna Cotfas

Miruna is a Master in Media Technology student at Leiden University. She joined the Rompro team because she wants to present the Netherlands from her own perspective - a once unknown, intimidating world that has now become 'home'. Although her undergraduate profile inherently suggests a person who always relies on reason, Miruna likes to let herself go with the flow sometimes, to live every moment to the fullest and make her mark wherever she goes, through volunteering and content creation.