My Erasmus Experience in Amsterdam, The Netherlands - by Carla

Why did you choose to go to Amsterdam, The Netherlands?

Amsterdam is a wonderful city, cosmopolitan and a cultural meeting point. The city is easy to fall in love with - it's an attractive one and is quite busy.

How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

How much Erasmus grant you receive depends on the length of your stay, either half a year or a full year depending on whether you go for one or two semesters respectively. You usually receive around 250 euros a month, which isn't much in comparison with the standard of living in Amsterdam. If you haven't got any savings, you'll definitely need financial help to be able to afford to live in Amsterdam.

What's the student life like in Amsterdam?

It's great. There are thousands of Erasmus students as well as the Dutch who study there too. The teaching style is different at the universities there, but it's quite good.

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

I would recommend the Erasmus experience as a whole, regardless of which city you go to, but Amsterdam definitely has a lot to offer, and there's always something to do.

I studied at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), and not the University of Amsterdam (UvA). I enjoyed studying there, although the level of work required is high and continuous.

What's the food like in Amsterdam?

Holland is known for its many different types of cheese and also for its beer. Chocomelk is a very tasty chocolate bar. Stroopwafels, biscuits with a caramel filling, are very typical Dutch. There are also the typically Dutch croquettes. In general, there's a real variety of food there (breakfasts, lunches, dinners... ), but it's worth mentioning that it still doesn't compare with Spanish food.

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Amsterdam?

Student flats are very expensive (about 700 euros per month per person! ), and that's not counting all the Internet scams around. You really have to be careful with this: never pay any money in advance until you've actually seen the flat and spoken to the landlord, and know that you'll be given the keys straight away. There are lots of people who pay after having spoken with the supposed landlord online, and who find themselves with nowhere real to live when they arrive in Amsterdam. You don't have to be officially registered to live in some flats - if you're going to be staying for less than three months, you don't need to register with the council, but if you are staying longer, you need to get yourself registered (you'll be given a BSN number, which certifies your registration and right to live in Amsterdam).

Another thing I recommend doing is accepting any offer of accommodation the university gives to you. They're all well-equipped student residences, and have a great atmosphere. Rent for the student residences can vary between 350 and 500 euros per month, depending on what kind of room you choose.

How expensive is everyday life in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam isn't a cheap city, especially if you compare the welfare state we have in Spain with what they have in Holland.

Between accommodation (at least 400 euros per month), food (about 150 to 180 euros per month), public transport (about 20 euros per month), university costs, partying and travelling around Holland and beyond, I'd say you end up spending around 700 euros a month, more or less.

Don't forget about how popular bicycles are there. You'll save money not having a bike, as you won't have to use the public transport. You can buy bikes for 60 to 80 euros at Waterlooplein, for example. Be careful though, as you can get fined 15 euros for locking your bike in an inappropriate place, above all in and around the university.

The most affordable supermarkets in my experience are Dirk, Lidl, Jumbo and Albert Heijn. Depending on what it is that you're looking for, a product might be cheaper in one place than it is in another, so I recommend shopping around a bit. You can also save money by going to the second-hand fleamarkets in Noord-Amsterdam. You can also find things at Waterlooplein and at the Albertcuypstraat market. Here they sell everything: home decoration, clothes, accessories, utensils, etc. which would cost three or four times as much if you bought them from anywhere else.

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language class at the university?

Dutch is a complicated language. I personally haven't gone to any Dutch classes. It's very easily to make yourself understood in English in Amsterdam, since lots of Dutch people speak it (they watch TV in English and all the films in the cinema are in English, nothing is dubbed apart from animated films). It's even possible to find work in the hotel industry and in supermarkets without speaking the national language, as English is enough. It can't hurt knowing the natives' language however. The VU Amsterdam offers cheap Dutch courses, from beginner to advanced level.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Amsterdam from your home city?

By plane. It depends on what time of year you're flying, but it's possible to find tickets from Madrid to Amsterdam for 100 euros return. Bear in mind that flights will be cheaper when it's not high tourist season. Book your tickets in advance, too, as the closer the date becomes, the more expensive the flights will be.

I recommend using websites such as:

• Kayak
• eDreams
• Rumbo
• Travelgenio
• Atrapalo

Which you can use to find the cheapest flights.

What are the best places for partying in Amsterdam?

There are lots of well-known places, such as the Odeon Theater, Melkweg, Trouw and Coco's, where you'll find all the international students. In the De Pijp area there are some cool bars, as are the ones in the gay district. There's a thing: you have to pay to get into most clubs, and you don't get a free drink with the entrance fee. I recommend pre-drinking before you go out, since rum and coke is expensive in most places.

What about eating out in Amsterdam? What are your favourite places?

I don't remember any particular names, but there are an infinite amount of restaurants to choose from. You go looking for one and find a thousand. I recommend taking a look online before you go somewhere to compare prices, because as I've said before, it's not cheap here.

What does Amsterdam have to offer in terms of culture?

Amsterdam has lots on throughout the year. Not only should you visit the city centre (Dam, Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein, Spui, Bloemenmarkt, Museumplein, etc. ), but you should wander through the streets and canals and get lost among them. There are over fifty museums to visit, boat trips, festivals (this year the MTV EMA 2013 was held there, for example, and there's also the Amsterdam Light Festival, among many others), shows, and a very big etcetera. If you've come to do sight-seeing, buy the 'I Amsterdam' City Card, which gives you access to several museums, public transport, boat trips, etc. (www.iamsterdam.com).

On the other hand, if you're going to be living here and will want to do touristy things every once in a while, there's a card you can buy called the 'Museumkaart', which costs 54. 90 euros and allows you to visit 34 museums (including the most important and famous ones such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, etc. ) as often as you like for a whole year and lets you skip the queues. These cards are sold in some museums (but not in all), but at Leidesplein No. 26 there's a shop called Uitburo (AUB) where you can also buy them. These card don't just include entry to 36 museums in Amsterdam, but also to over 400 museums throughout the Netherlands.

You should also visit Maastricht, Den Haag, Utrecht, Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Naarden, Urk, Rotterdam, and as many other cities as you can. Visit Belgium too (Gante, Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels). Take advantage of being in the middle of Europe and do lots of travelling!

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Amsterdam?

I know you'll be worrying about all kinds of things before you come, but when you get here, you'll realise that they were all unnecessary. There's a lot of paperwork to be completed, but it's all totally worth it. There are always people willing to help you out. You can get in contact with me (Carla Enrique) on here if you've got any questions.

The experience is so worth it, so get excited to embark on your Erasmus adventure, as you won't be disappointed. Get to know new cultures, new people, new countries, new situations...it will all enrich your life.

Quit worrying and enjoy yourselves in Amsterdam!