Erasmus Experience in Amsterdam, Netherlands by Katja

Why did you choose to go to Amsterdam, Netherlands?

Amsterdam was my one and only choice to go on Erasmus. I went to Amsterdam four times and I decided that I wanted to spend more than a week there.

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

My university helped me, as any other one would, by giving me a scholarship of 450 euros per month. Of course it did not cover all of my living costs but I can be only glad to have a scholarship in Amsterdam.

What is the student lifestyle like in Amsterdam?

Lifestyle is what you choose and make it to be. If you only want to party Amsterdam - it's perfect for you as well as if you want to gain something in the education sense. There is something for everyone in Amsterdam and nothing is ever too weird or unusual!

Would you recommend the city and the University of Amsterdam to other students?

I would definitely recommend Amsterdam if you want to experience an amazing exchange. I'm sure everywhere is a good experience however, there is nothing like Amsterdam.

In the educational way, Amsterdam has a well-known university which is also known as one of the best universities in amongst employers. You should study in Amsterdam because it's an awesome city to live in and if you study at the University of Amsterdam it is also a plus for you.

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What is the food like?

Be prepared to be a little disappointed when it comes to dutch cuisine. Of course cheese is the best there but for lunch you cannot eat only cheese. They usually have a late lunch which is a little bit strange for other cultures. So when you get hungry at 3pm, you have a warm meal rather than a snack. Eventually you will get used to their habits. When it's the actual time for lunch you eat a typical meal you would have at home such as pasta or chicken, nothing surprising there.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Amsterdam?

Accommodation is not hard to find and the university provides you with some options. However, some students decide to find a place on their own which is also not that hard in Amsterdam.

How much does it cost to live in Amsterdam?

I lived 7km away from the centre so my rent was cheap. It was 270 euros per month and I shared a small apartment with a roommate. I went food shopping once a week to Lidl where you can find a lot at the cheapest prices. The most expensive things are transport and night life. If you have a bike you can easily reduce transport costs to a minimum.

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Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

The language is not that hard to understand if you already know English and German. However, it is not that easy to get grips with. I'm sure that the university provides with dutch lessons.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Amsterdam from your city?

I traveled to Amsterdam by train. It was the cheapest way and it allowed me to take more luggage with me rather than taking a plane where you are limited with the stuff you can take. It was the easiest way but not the fastest. I was travelling for almost one whole day.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Amsterdam?

It depends on what kind of person you are and how much you're willing to spend on a night out. If you are on a low budget, like most of us are, pubs are the best for students. I recommend Coco's Outback on Rembrandtplein. You also have clubs with a large capacity where on weekends entry is 10-20 euros but student bars are the best and you can get a beer for just 1 euro!

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Amsterdam?

If you go to Leidseplein (the main square), it's not hard to find a good place to eat. You can find cheap Italian restaurants, Mexican or Greek. Actually, whatever you want I'm sure you can find. Usually when I went out I went for a kebab or to Burger King.

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

You have a lot of museums and small villages that are typical for Holland and so unusual for us.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Amsterdam in the future?

Be prepared to meet a lot of people with different backgrounds and try to fully embrace Amsterdam! You won't regret going on Erasmus to Amsterdam.