Andrea's Erasmus Experience in Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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

I chose Rotterdam for the quality of teaching in my field of study (Music).

How long does the grant last for? How much money do you receive as support?

In my case, the grant was for a full year. I received around 350€ a month.

What is student life like in Rotterdam?

It's very good, there are lots of students of many different nationalities. As well as the Erasmus University, there are lots of other institutions. For example, I studied Classical Music at Codarts, where they also teach Jazz, World Music, Flamenco, Latin, Tango, Pop, Musical Theatre, Dance and Circus Arts.

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Would you recommend the city and the university you studied at to other students?

The city is very lively - there is always something to do. The university where I study, Codarts, is highly recommendable.

What is the food like in The Netherlands?

The sweets are incredible, but the rest... there isn't a big food culture here. But, the good thing is that in the supermarkets and the little markets, you can find all kinds of foods from many countries for reasonable prices.

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Was it difficult to find accommodation in Rotterdam?

Yes, it was a little bit difficult in the beginning. You have to weigh up a wide variety because it's challenging enough to find anything anyway, and they are not always very good.

How much does it cost to live in Rotterdam?

Adding together the costs of rent and bills, it can end up costing 350€ (and up) per month, and it's more when factoring in transport costs and other daily expenses. If your bills turn out to not be very expensive, you can live off around 550€ to 600€ a month, but it always depends case-to-case on the individual.

What is the language like? Did you go to any language classes at the university?

I have not been to any classes. The local council used to offer free language classes, but not anymore. I study Dutch by myself with study guides. Although, you can also do many language exchanges (Tandem) through websites.

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What is the cheapest way of getting to Rotterdam from your city?

With the following airlines: Ryanair, Transavia and Vueling.

And eating out in Rotterdam? Can you name your favourite places?

• Bazar
• Surinam
• and, any Chinese restaurant in the city.

And cultural hotspots?

• Delfshaven
• Kubuswoningen (Cube houses)
• Erasmusbrug
• Kranlingen
• Rotterdam Zoo
• Blaak Markt
• Rotterdam Public Library
• and, Laurenskerk.

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