Hey you! You've probably clicked here because you need some inside information and honest thoughts about studying in the Netherlands. Seriously though, I’ll try to share with you my true feelings about student life and the culture here and maybe you’ll find out it’s something you’d want to try. Let’s dive in!
The country is awesome!
“What’s so awesome about it?” you’re wondering. I feel like the Netherlands is a country with two sides. On the one hand you have a beautiful countryside with all those windmills, adorable cottage houses (as if from a fairy tale), vast fields of crops and happy cattle wandering around the fields. And tulips, of course! On the other hand it's really modern and tolerant with its stunningly modern cities, drug tolerance, tolerance of same-sex couples, huge music events and some of the best DJs in the world.
“How does such a small country do it?!” These are my thoughts after living here for a month. The view out the train window changes quickly, as the cute villages and fields with sheep turn into busy cities with state-of-the-art buildings. I get off in Amsterdam, where I struggle to find my way through the crowds of tourists. Now, after living here for more than a year, it all feels so normal… But did you get my point?
The Netherlands seems to be managing all components of life so well. People are happy, usually content with their state of being. Everyday life runs smoothly while development never stops. Nature and culture are sustained, as modernization grows. Maybe it’s just me being an Eastern European but damn, this country works so well!
What are the people like?
If you think the Dutch people are tall blond individuals riding bikes, you are correct. But not entirely. A great number fit the description and yet the population is so diverse that this statement somehow seems too generalizing. There are all kinds of people of different descent, colour, religion and lifestyle, making up a remarkably tolerant and accepting society.
Dutch people are social. You’d be surprised how often you’d get a smile or a nod, or even a “hi” when you meet someone’s eyes on the street. At least I was. They are quite cooperative if you need directions or help and don’t mind a random friendly small talk with a stranger. The best part? Almost everyone speaks English, even the elderly! On many occasions have I been approached by a cute old grandma, who after realizing I’m not Dutch, strikes me with a sentence in flawless English. Leaves me speechless every time.
Many say the Dutch are direct and straightforward, so if you’re confronted with something that might sound like an insult – cheer up! It’s just their way of “being real” with you. Honestly though, everyone needs a wake-up call every once in a while, they got it right…
Making best friends with Dutch people and sharing deep heartfelt secrets takes some more time, as they are known for being a bit closed-off. To put it bluntly, they’re very welcoming and feel at ease with social situations, while there’s this hint of reservation, typical for the Northern European countries.
S#!T weather?
The weather in the Netherlands is simply…weird. It changes so often and so quickly that whatever you put on in the morning will feel totally wrong at some point of the day. How do I cope with it? Well there’s really not much you can do, so honestly…I just suck it up.
Let’s go briefly through the seasons. Summer is quite pleasant and breezy, the temperatures rarely go over 30℃ and those who don’t particularly like melting in the scorching sun, like myself, will truly like it. Autumn and spring feel basically the same – mostly rain and wind with occasional warm days. Winter comes with a fair amount of hail, rain, wind and a little snow just to keep the Christmas spirit alive.
So if you were to ask me what clothes to bring I’d say a bit of everything. But most importantly at least one pair of waterproof shoes, a warm jacket and gloves for when you no longer feel your fingers biking in the cold. Some anti-flu medicine for the first few times you come home soaking wet would be a smart addition to the luggage, too.
Did someone say food?!
We students are so lucky all the typical Dutch food can be bought out on the streets, but not in fancy restaurants. Such a relief for the budget…
People in the Netherlands love eating deep-fried food without a single regret, as they hop on their bikes right after and burn the calories on the way home. Some very tasty examples are kroketten and bitterballen, both made of а gooey mixture of chopped meat, butter and spices, coated in crunchy breadcrumbs. Kibbeling refers to white fish that is battered and deep-fried until it gets a crisp crust. And the everlasting classics – fries! But with mayonnaise for a true Dutch experience.
Moving on to the sweet treats: stroopwafel is the first thing any Dutch person would urge you to try and I promise you won’t regret it. It’s a chewy waffle cookie with syrup in the middle that just tastes like heaven. Poffertjes are tiny, fluffy pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar. Oliebollen will remind you of doughnuts - deep-fried balls of dough, sometimes with raisins, currants or apple, especially popular during the winter holidays.
If you think you’ll miss your home cuisine too much – trust me, you’ll find a shop or a restaurant set up by your people. In addition, if you can’t live without döner kebab – you won’t have to! It’s literally on every corner.
See you in The Netherlands.
