Experience in Breda, Netherlands by Alicija

What is it like to live in Breda? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Breda is a relatively small Dutch city, with a perfect location between Rotterdam, Eindhoven as well as not far from Antwerp, which makes it easy to travel. Dutch people for some reason really enjoy living in Breda, they find people friendly and open and the surroundings safe.

What is the student lifestyle like in Breda?

Being a student in Breda is fun. All your friends will be living close enough to get there by bike. As a student in Breda you are close with each other and if at a party you meet a person, who does the same studies as you or lives in same neighborhood, you might feel the connection immediately. However, living there for two years and currently having an internship abroad, I’m not looking forward to go back. Simply because I’ve seen it all what Breda has to offer, but it's just me

How much does it cost to live in Breda?

This is something that depends on how often you would party or how lucky you would be with the place you are renting. 550-700 euro is the range that most students spend per month.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Breda? Is there any advice you can give?

It is a real struggle to find accommodation in Breda! The prices are high, especially if you want to live in the very city center or as close as possible to it. There is a constant demand for student rooms, due to two big universities in the city, this is why landlords have no shame to put very high prices. There is a good website kamernet.nl for accommodation, however you need to pay to be able to send a message to landlord and sometimes they don't answer and if they do, they often invite you on "kijkavond", where few more people will look at the room and people living in the house will choose the one to live with them. Though there are facebook groups for students searching for rooms, a lot of international students find their place there.

What places would you recommend visiting in Breda?

The big city park is fun in summer. Festivals, concerts and movie nights - all this is happening in the Valkenberg park.

Is it good to eat out in Breda? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Inspire cafe is a great place to have a cup of coffee with whipped cream. Very relaxing atmosphere.
IJssalon Frezzo has the best ice-cream.
For the rest it's just a matter of taste. But I would also recommend to do an unlimited spare rib competition in one of the restaurants.

Is the nightlife good in Breda? Where is good to go?

Nightlife in Breda is all about small crowded bars with loud music and lots of beer. On streets Visserstraat and Vismarktstraat you'll find plenty of them. If you prefer something less mainstream, you should try out Speeltuin, which is the most international place in Breda. Very popular among international students. Some evening they have live gigs. Proost now is a trending club in Breda. Overall Breda is a relatively safe city to party. It's most fun on Thursdays and Fridays. Saturdays it can get too crowded and a lot of youngsters from other cities come to Breda.