The Netherlands is one of Europe’s most densely populated countries and one of the most popular to intern.
The country’s name is an indication of its topography- much of the land is under sea level and about a fifth of its territory is water. There is an extensive system of dykes to reclaim land and to provide protection against flooding. The Netherlands is a modern industrialised country but at the same time, exports a lot of agricultural products. It was one of the six founding members of the European Economic Community (now European Union).
The Netherlands was home to several men of letters such as Erasmus and Baruch Spinoza, and has produced some of the world’s most popular artists such as Rembrandt Van Rijn and Vincent Van Gogh. The Netherlands has for a long time enjoyed a reputation for being a country with liberal laws regarding the consumption of ‘soft drugs’ such as cannabis, and coffee shops in the country sell them openly.
Quick Facts
• Population- 16,491,000 (est)
• Principal language(s)- Dutch, English widely spoken
• Capital- Amsterdam
• Other major cities- Rotterdam, The Hague
• Monetary unit- 1 Euro = 100 cents
• Internet domain- .nl
• International dialling code- +31
Placements
You can find work experience opportunities in cities like Amsterdam.
Types of Industries
Popular areas to apply include:
Architecture
Business, Consultancy, Finance
Events Management
Film
Healthcare and Pharmaceauticals
International Business
Journalism
Law
Medical Elective
NGO
Photography
PR & Marketing
Publishing
Real Estate
Sport
Paid Internships in the Netherlands
Some companies offer paid intern programs.
Netherlands currency is known as the Euro, which is the same currency used in France, Italy, Germany, Ireland and Spain. You should always know the exchange rate between U.S. dollars and any foreign currency before you travel so you will be prepared to make purchases without any trouble.
Here’s what you need to know about the Euro:
Coins = 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cent and 1 and 2 Euro
Bills = 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500