Adrián's Erasmus Experience in Tilburg, Netherlands

Why did you choose to go to Tilburg, Netherlands?

I’d always fancied Holland as a destination, and the University is known internationally to be very prestigious.

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How long was your scholarship for? How much money did you receive?

The scholarship was for 10 months and I received a total of €2, 300, half of which was from the Ministry of Education and the other half from the University of Salamanca.

How is the student life in Tilburg?

It’s excellent. From the moment you arrive the I-ESN association help you out, they are always organising trips and all kinds of activities. The first few days are made so much easier since they help you meet your classmates who you’ll be hanging out with for the rest of the year.

Would you recommend Tilburg as a city and University to other students?

I would 100% recommend both the city (it’s the perfect size, neither too small or too big) and the university.

How is the food?

The food is what you would expect from a country like the Netherlands. It doesn’t have the rich gastronomy of Spain but you soon get used to it, it’s a paradise for anyone who loves cheese.

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Was it difficult to find accommodation in Tilburg?

Not in my case. The university provided me with some websites where I could find accommodation. I arrived in Tilburg with a place to stay but I knew classmates who had to arrange something once they got there.

What is the cost of living in Tilburg?

The monthly cost was around €900. €450 went towards rent and the rest for food and leisure. Of course, if you reduce your leisure expenses you can live in Tilburg for around €700-750 a month.

How did you get on with the language? Did you attend a course at the University?

The language spoken above all was English so with there’s no issues in that regard. There are Dutch classes but not many people are willing to learn it since it’s so difficult and not a very, shall we say, “pleasant” language.

What’s the most cost-effective way to get to Tilburg from your hometown?

To get to Tilburg I took a Ryanair flight from Madrid to Eindhoven. From Eindhoven airport, it’s another hour to Tilburg: half an hour to get to the train station and another half hour by train. That was the most direct and cost-effective way to get there.

Where would you recommend for a night out in Tilburg?

There’s a lot of places for a night out but they are all quite close to each other. There’s a street in the centre where all the bars/clubs are, bars like Philip or GL for instance. There’s also Carpe Diem, a bar exclusively for ESN members.

It’s not difficult to find places to go out… it’s usually the first thing on the agenda!

What about eating out in Tilburg? Can you tell us some of your favourite places?

Like the bars and clubs, most restaurants are in the centre. There are plenty where you can eat out for a decent price, although not on an everyday basis. A good place to eat every day is in the University cafeteria, there’s a lot of variety and the prices are good. However, the cheapest option would be to eat at home.

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What is there in terms of cultural places to visit?

As a city, Tilburg doesn’t have a lot of cultural places to visit. I would recommend instead going for a walk around the city, enjoy the atmosphere of the place and the traditional architecture.

Any advice for students going to Tilburg in the future?

Enjoy every day of your Erasmus experience, it will undoubtedly be one of the most enriching experiences of your life.

The destination is not important, wherever it is will feel like your second home and the best place in the world once you’ve returned.