Erasmus Experience in The Hague, Netherlands by Angelos

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

Why Northern Europe instead of Southern Europe? Because I wanted to experience something totally different in terms of mentality, culture etc.

Why the Netherlands instead of some other country? Because:

1. Dutchies are known to be the 'party animals' of Northern Europe,
2. bikes,
3. open-mindedness

Why the Hague and not any other Dutch city? Because

1. it's not as big as Rotterdam or Amsterdam - all the students were living pretty much close to each other and we hanged out in the same places
2. because it wasn't totally touristic and crazy the way Amsterdam is, you could actually 'live' in this city
3. beautiful city
4. Scheveningen!

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

I got a scholarship for 5 1/2 months, however the renting contract of my student dormitory was pre-fixed to 7 months and I couldn't change it!

What is the student lifestyle like in The Hague?

The Hague might seem a peaceful, quiet city if you do a day visit as a tourist, however there are numerous bars/pubs and even clubs playing all sorts of music, that stay open until 4 at night. Especially for Erasmus people you can find at least two international parties per week (usually on Thursdays) organised by different exchange student NGOs. Once the weather gets better the beach bars at Scheveningen open for the summer season and everything gets wild! There are hundreds of shops, super-markets, parks and everything so you'll never feel short of anything (other than money)!

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

The city - definitely yes. The university, depends on what you're looking for. Compared to my home university the Hague University was quite easy, flexible and only with a few classes of hours and assignments. It depends on the Department of course. For instance, I didn't have classes on Mondays and Fridays, and the other days I had only a couple of hours of classes - back in my university I have 6 hours of classes everyday on average!

What is the food like?

Dutch food is crap (the only exception is some sweets). However, the good thing about the Hague (and the NL in general), is that they are such a multi-cultural society and you get the chance to eat all sorts of food from all around the world. Chinese, Japanese, Surinamese, Turkish, Indian, Greek, Italian, Spanish - you name it! There are some super discounts on pizzas (like 4 euros a big pizza on special 'discount days), discounts on famous fast-food burger chains (like 2 euros menus) and of course the best way to get full is with the 5 euros "Kapsalon" which you can find in Turkish, Indian and Greek restaurants and it's a Dutch 'invention'.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in The Hague?

Way too expensive. Student Dormitories were run by one company named DUWO that charged you for a pre-fixed price for 7 months no matter how long your studies were (usually they are 5 months). The problem is that the scholarship covers you only those 5 months, and you should pay these 7 months from your pocket money.

How much does it cost to live in The Hague?

If you get your own second-hand bike (for 40 euros on average) so that you avoid using transport and if you cook your own meals, it's affordable. Good thing about the Netherlands is that there is some big competition in super markets so you can find many companies selling some lower quality products for lower prices - this is how students mainly survive. There's also a big food market with extremely good prices. Drinks are super cheap (unless you're Spanish).

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

Dutch is impossible to pronounce the right way. However almost everyone speaks English as good as a native speaker does! You won't have any problem communicating. There were also 'Introduction to Dutch Language' courses in the university.

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

Transavia airline is normally the best option to travel from Greece. The best price you could find would be 160-180 round trip.

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

• Whoosah Beachclub (Scheveningen),
• Supermarkt,
• Fiddle's Irish Pub.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in The Hague?

Turkish restaurants for Turkish pizza and kapsalon. Burger King for 2 euros menus (or 3 euros menus with double cheeseburger).

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

'Escher in Het Paleis' is freaking amazing. I'd advise you attending the numerous cultural events throughout the year such as the Chinese New Year or the Holi Festival (must-do). Hague is also famous for it's Queensnight (one day before Queensday - now called Kingsday I guess)

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

Don't think about it twice. Just go!

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