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Countries · Student guide

Netherlands

Complete guide for international students in the Netherlands: bureaucracy, housing, budget, health, work and finance.

Updated on Jul 28, 2026

Cost of living
High

Typical spending band for a student

Language
NL / EN

Main language to handle day to day

Currency
EUR

Local currency for banking and payments

Visas
Medium

Typical visa/permit process complexity

Overview

In Holland, finding a house is often the number one problem, more than the cost itself. BSN, health insurance and bikes define the first months: those who enter with a contract and a groaning appointment have a huge advantage.

What really changes here

  • BSN (civic service number) within a few days of moving: without it, work and healthcare become more complicated
  • Saturated rental market: registration system, offers in hours, often without visits
  • Bike as primary transportation: invest in lock and lights
  • Everyday English ok, but contracts and moaning in Dutch
  • Mandatory health insurance if you work; students often basic policy + integration
  • Payments: iDEAL and card; rare cash

Ideal if…

  • Masters in English, tech, economics, design
  • Who accepts a room in a shared house or outside the centre
  • Students who cycle and love a flat city
  • University cities (Groningen, Nijmegen) for less crazy rents

Harder if…

  • You are looking for an apartment in Amsterdam without a ready registration
  • You do not tolerate daily rain and wind
  • You expect guaranteed campus housing like in the USA
  • You only want Italian in public offices

Arrival checklist

First 7 days

  1. Accommodation with valid address for BSN (also registered sublease)
  2. Groaning appointment for BSN
  3. NL account (ING, ABN, bunq) with IBAN
  4. Basic health insurance (compare premium)
  5. Uni registration + OV-chipkaart or bike
  6. SIM NL (Lebara, KPN prepaid)
  7. Library membership and DigiD if applicable after BSN
Mistakes to avoid
  • Paying “key money” or illegal fees to skip the list
  • Staying without a BSN while working part-time
  • Leave bikes without heavy locks
  • Signing the contract without understanding the service included (gas, internet)

City guides

Cities in Netherlands

Neighborhoods, rent, universities, transport and safety: everything you need to choose where to move.

Amsterdam
  • from 650 EURroom/month
  • 5universities
  • 8neighborhoods

Capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is a UNESCO heritage canal city, cosmopolitan and international, where almost everyone speaks English. It hosts the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the Vrije Universiteit (VU) and a large applied sciences hub, and is a leading economic engine (tech, finance, international offices). The bicycle is king and transport is excellent. The big problem is housing: the rental market is among the most expensive and saturated in Europe, with lists, upward auctions and frequent scams. Registering with the Municipality (BRP) as soon as you have an address is essential.

Open city guideRotterdam
  • from 520 EURroom/month
  • 5universities
  • 8neighborhoods

Second city of the Netherlands and the largest port in Europe, Rotterdam is modern, dynamic and multicultural. Razed to the ground in World War II and rebuilt, it has a unique skyline and bold contemporary architecture (Erasmusbrug, Markthal, cube houses). It hosts the Erasmus University, among the best in economics and management, and is an economic engine linked to port, logistics, finance, design and architecture. More international and "no-nonsense" than Amsterdam, it offers lower rents than the capital (although expensive) and an excellent quality of life for students and young professionals.

Open city guideTilburg
  • from 420 EURroom/month
  • 5universities
  • 8neighborhoods

A city in Brabant in the south of the Netherlands, Tilburg is a lively, medium-sized university town, once a textile capital and now known for culture, the Roadburn festival and a strong creative scene. It is home to Tilburg University (among the best in Europe in economics, law and social sciences) and the large Fontys and Avans, with a young and international population. Compact, flat and bike-friendly, it offers a significantly lower cost of living than Amsterdam and Rotterdam, with more affordable rents and an excellent quality of student life.

Open city guide
Move checklist Plan documents and deadlines step by step

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