Erasmus Experience in Amsterdam, Netherlands by Louise

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

I am working here for 10 months and will receive £3403 in total from Erasmus.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Amsterdam?

Finding accommodation in Amsterdam is the hardest part of moving here. There is a lot of competition for every room as so many people want to live here!
For a room in a shared house within the ring road you can expect to pay around 700 euros per month (550-950 depending on size,location etc). For a 1 bedroom apartment you will pay over 1000 euros per month. You can find cheaper places outside the city. I have colleagues who live in Leiden, Utrecht, Rotterdam and they commute each day, as rent is cheaper and houses are generally bigger outside Amsterdam.

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

The language isn't too hard. To be honest I have hardly used it, because everyone speaks such good English.

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

Bike! By far the cheapest, though for longer journeys there are trams/ buses/ trains. Trams are the cheapest of the three. Public transport is generally good but the price to commute can quickly add up and become quite expensive.