Erasmus experience in Haarlem, Netherlands

Why did you choose to go to Haarlem, Netherlands?

Because everyone speaks English so well that was one less thing to worry about.

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

5 months and 2 weeks. In addition to my normal loan I received a £600 bursary and a £500 bursary. You will definitely need to save some money before you come.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Haarlem?

There isn't really a student lifestyle in Haarlem, but you have all your friends from the Erasmus Network anyway.

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

I would not recommend the University as the courses are very bad quality and they are having some trouble at the moment with the government who are questioning the standards of education at that Uni.

The city of Haarlem is a lovely, beautiful city and, fortunately, not far from Amsterdam which is good because it's a small city and you will want to explore other things. It's a very safe area to live in and I felt completely comfortable riding around at night.

What is the food like?

Unless you can afford to eat out every night you'll be making your own food I hope? The supermarket had lots of fresh fruit and veg which is good, but can be a bit on the expensive side. There are some good restaurants where you can get a meal for 10 euros like Het Pak Huis.

How did you find your accommodation?

Through the University.

What are the accommodation prices like? What are prices like for other things in general?

It's about 500 euros per month which seems like a lot but they are big rooms and all your bills are included. There was a fridge in my room which I was not expecting and some rooms have balconies. It's a new building so in quite good condition.

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

Yes there are language courses available. Once you get the hang of it Dutch is quite easy to learn however, you rarely have a conversation in Dutch because everybody seems to prefer to speak English to foreigners.

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

Walking! It's not far at all about 15 mins and everybody should have a bike. You can get a good second hand bike for 50 euros and you can go anywhere on it.

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

I prefer to go to bars than clubs and there are loads in Grote Markt. I like the older style pubs as well like the vischandel.

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

Het Pak Huis for a steak and De Gooth for spare ribs!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The church is nice, and the windmill. There is also a museum of Haarlem which is sort of hidden away and only costs 4 euros.

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

Don't walk on the bike lane! Always visit the Schalm on Zilweg for second hand furniture before you go anywhere else, it's really cheap.