Working in Amsterdam

Finance

In the Netherlands - Amsterdam in particular - most people are reliant on grants. I only received 350€ from my internship (in the Netherlands you shouldn't assume that you'll be paid for any internship) so I also received grants for study abroad programmes, international universities and Erasmus+.

These grants were especially necessary because Amsterdam is one of the most expensive cities in Europe to live in. For a 9m² room in the city centre you could expect to pay anything from 650€ to 800€. Also remember to consider the cost of living.

Preparation

In Amsterdam you have too register with the local authorities and apply for a BSN number. This number is the equivalent of the tax ID in Germany. To apply for this number you need to provide your passport, birth certificate and an address in the Netherlands. For short stays you you can also complete a temporary registration, which only requires you to provide your passport. You should also have liability, accident and health insurance. I got liability and accident insurance through the DAAD and got a year-long overseas health insurance policy from the TK.

Accommodation is hard to come by in Amsterdam and as a result, very expensive. The website https://kamernet.nl/?gclid=COiQ4aCD7dQCFYccGwodmZIP0A offers private accommodation but be aware: there are lots of scams on this website! You should never sign a rent contract with anyone who doesn't have a registered profile.

Another place to look for accommodation is Facebook. There are lots of groups and there is also the Studenthotel which always has a room available.

In emergencies, Deskbookers can help you find accommodation. I solved my accommodation problems by living in a caravan for 5 months (which I highly recommend).

Arrival

If you want to travel to Amsterdam by car, don't forget to take the lack of parking spaces (that are as a result ridiculously expensive) into account. A week-long parking permit costs between 100€ and 150€.

Arriving by plane is easy. The Schipol airport is a bit out of the city but it only takes 20 minutes to reach the centre by train. Public transport generally runs very well and is easy to navigate. I'd recommend buying an OV card at the airport. You simply top up the card and then it is valid on all public transport.

You can get to Amsterdam with Flixbus in around 11 hours. This is the cheapest way (approx. 35€ each way) and with the bus you can take as much luggage as you need. You can also take your bike with you for a small supplement.

Internship

Deskbookers is an online market place where you can find interview and meeting rooms. The firm was founded in Amsterdam in 2013 and allows people to advertise their rooms for free. The marketplace is similar to websites such as booking.com and Airbnb. Registration and all services provided by the website are free and a fee will only be charged once the reservation has been accepted.

Desk bookers offers start-up companies a standard working environment that allows employees to work both individually and in a team.

My official job title was 'sales representative' and I had a variety of exciting tasks. Anyone who decides to take up an internship in a start-up company should be aware that the day-to-day running of the company can change every day.

Nice to know

The Netherlands is a very international country and you'll quickly feel at home. The atmosphere in Amsterdam is very comfortable and most of the local speak English, some even speak good German.

The weather is a bit unpredictable. You should be prepared for wind and rain; the weather even changes quickly in summer and can suddenly turn cold.

There are a lot of sights to see in Amsterdam so set aside enough time. There are lots of tourists and it gets really busy. You can reach all parts of the country by train from the main station.

You can also get around easily by bicycle, but don't bring an expensive bike with you because they often get stolen. The locks on the bikes are normally the most expensive part - you can buy them all over the city and the price ranges from 50€ to 90€.

The cheapest places to shop are Lidl or AlbertHein.

If you're there over summer, you should make a note of Kings Day (27th April). On this day, the Dutch celebrate their king and everyone wears orange - it's a must-see!

I'd definitely recommend a day trip to the nearby city of Utrecht. There are lots of restaurants along the canals that are cheaper than in Amsterdam and don't have as many tourists.

/Conclusion

It's definitely worthwhile doing an internship in the Netherlands. Because Amsterdam is such a diverse place and really very liberal, you'll find people from all over the world there. The city is a dream in summer but in winter it can be dark, windy and bitterly cold.

Working in the Netherlands is also exciting, especially in a start-up. Right from the beginning you have a lot of responsibility and can participate and contribute effectively. I learned a lot and will definitely use these skills again.

If you have any questions about an internship with Deskbookers, don't hesitate to get in touch with me.

Good luck!