EVEN if you are normally a “home body”, getting the chance to test a new academic and cultural environment, I find, brings out the best in students. They inevitably go through a process of growth while they are away. As someone who spent a year abroad in the Netherlands, I can attest to the fact that I have made mistakes and subsequently learned from them.
To this day, I still get asked advice about the day-to-day aspects of living in the Netherlands. People’s inquiries can span from what the Dutch are like to what clubs or eateries are worth visiting. But the most frequent question I get is regarding finance – specifically, how much does it cost to live abroad in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands has a bit of a reputation as an expensive country, and this is why I’ve listed some important financial advice below with regards to what basic expenses you will incur as a foreign student there. (A disclaimer I feel obliged to add is that I’ve done my best to be objective and include details that can be useful to students across the board, but beware that the situation may be different depending on your lifestyle and the area you choose to move to.)
Rent
Inevitably, you will need a place to stay while you are abroad and unless you are incredibly fortunate to have relatives or close friends who are willing to host you during your stay, then rent will most likely represent the bulk of your expenditure. This is somewhat tricky, since the cost of rent varies depending on where you live.
From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, Amsterdam, Hague and Utrecht are the most expensive places when it comes to rent. An average room to rent from a private landlord in either of these locations can cost between 450 – 750 Euros/ Month (approximately £380 - £680/month). Naturally, if you search hard enough you will be able to find cheaper ones, as well as more expensive ones if you require a greater degree of comfort (e.g. a studio for a student in Amsterdam costs between 1000 – 1500 Euros/month, the approximate equivalent of £840 – £1200/month). Other student cities, such as Maastricht, Leiden, Delft or Arnhem have cheaper rental opportunities, with rooms from as little as 250 Euros/month (approx. £210/month).
Some universities may provide accommodation in halls for visiting students and this cost differs greatly from one location to another. From experience, living in halls in the Netherlands can prove to be a bit pricier than living in private accommodation, although in the latter case, you may have the extra hassle of finding where to live on your own. Beware that you will also have to pay a non-refundable “search fee” if you are using a real-estate agency. They are very efficient and will always come up with the best solution to cater for your needs, but their fees may be rather steep (100 – 400 Euros / £85 – £340).
Food
Personally, I found that food in the Netherlands is pretty affordable, and even on a student budget you are actually able to eat a good, healthy meal. With a weekly food budget of 30 Euros (£25) a student can purchase quality dairy, fruit & veg, meat, rice, cereal, bread, pasta etc. Once again, prices vary, but some of the most popular supermarkets in the Netherlands I would recommend for a weekly shop are Albert Heijn or Jumbo.
Transport
The fantastic thing about living in the Netherlands is the fact that you can get around really easily. In typical Dutch manner, the most common mode of transportation is the bicycle. They are really easy to come by, as students are always selling their old bikes and their price ranges from 100 – 200 Euros (£85 – £170). Of course, you can always bargain for less, or find a cheaper one – but make sure that the cheaper ones are in functional shape, otherwise, you can end up spending even more on repairs.
The public transport links are also very efficient and in bigger cities (where you get more of your money’s worth for using them) like Amsterdam and Hague, they function using a similar system to the London Oyster Card.
Travelling from one city to another can be rather pricy – BUT, at shops like Albert Heijn, Blokker or Krudivat, every month they offer day cards for off-peak train journeys to any destination in the Netherlands for as little as 15 Euros (£13).
Overall cost
Some say that living in the Netherlands is cheaper than living in the UK. Again, this ultimately depends on the way you chose to spend your time. My last piece of advice is to estimate how much you are willing to spend on your basics before you leave (given the information above), then calibrate your expenditure when you arrive.
Don’t forget that if you are travelling as part of an Erasmus or Study Abroad programme, you may be entitled to a monthly allowance from your university to help you with your studies. Make sure that you get in touch with your Erasmus/Study Abroad representative from your home university in order to discuss your options.
Good luck!
