Though the Netherlands, or more popularly still known as Holland, may not be the first place that you think of when you consider the study abroad option, but the country has a lot to offer in academics, vocational and language courses and much more.
Reasons to Study in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is known for its cheese, tulips, and windmills across the world but only those who have visited or stayed in Amsterdam know that the number of bikes in the country is larger than the number of people.
This country has coasts that are filled with sand dunes, historical cities like the Utrecht and Maastricht and Amsterdam that has miles of canals and old houses that reek of history, art and culture. The country also boasts more than 600 museums that are replete with paintings of Van Gogh and Rembrandt.
Most people speak English and are warm and friendly. They maintain beautiful homes and decorate them with blossoms. Socializing generally takes place on the pavements outside the houses or while riding bikes to destinations.
But friendly people and richness of culture are not the only reasons why you should choose to study abroad in Amsterdam. The education system is divided into two sections – Primary education course that lasts for 6 years followed by a secondary education program that lasts for an equal number of years. Study abroad programs also need to follow the same curriculum. The range of courses offered at institutes include language, literature, history, mathematics and science.
Where to Study
The Netherlands is a wonderful place to get a top-notch education and to meet a diverse group of international students. Study abroad programs can be joined in places like Amsterdam, Hague, Utrecht and other cities. These include high school study abroad programs as well as high school summer study abroad opportunities.
Best Universities in Netherlands for International Students
The oldest and most distinguished university in the Netherlands is Leiden University, which was founded in 1575.
The university is a research-based institution, but it also offers international students programs that include creative and performing arts, math, law, philosophy and theology. You can even enroll in a 3-week intensive Dutch language course. With four faculty members winning the Nobel Peace Prize and a school environment surrounded by canals, pubs and 18th century architecture, Leiden University is a great place to get a European education.
Located in the center of Amsterdam, the University of Amsterdam is one of the biggest and most attended universities in all of Europe. This academic institution has over eighty degree programs that range from Chemistry and Economics to European Studies and Social Sciences. One of the best things about the school is its location in Amsterdam, which has over 150 canals to tour and dozens of museums, art galleries and theaters to visit after class.
The School of European Studies affiliated to The Hague University offers disciplines like communication management, business management and law.
The oldest school that trains young study abroad students in business administration is the International Business School. It is an affiliate of the Hanze University Groningen and it has been training study abroad students from all over the world since 1988.
Other top rated study abroad Netherlands universities include: Dutch International Management University, Webster University, Central College in Leiden and Institute for the International Education of Students among many others.
Degree in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, accreditation is a precondition for government funding of Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programmes, for the right of awarding recognised diplomas and for granting financial assistance for students. In the light of the internationalisation of education and the labour market, accreditation provides for comparable quality assurance of higher education.
Degree programmes offered by Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences are accredited by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditattion Organisation (NVAO), which is responsible for assessing the quality of study programmes offered by higher education institutions in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium).
NVAO uses a validation framework, containing the topics, facets and criteria to be assessed. A positive validation report indicates that potentially a study programme satisfies the requirements of basic quality.
Study in Amsterdam
A study abroad trip to the Netherlands would not be complete without a stop at its capital city of Amsterdam. There is some form of entertainment for everyone in this city that his visited by over 4.2 million tourists every year.
If you’re interested in art then you should stop at the Van Gogh Museum, which has the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world.
Historians might want to visit the Anne Frank House, which is an entire museum dedicated to Anne Frank, who hid from Nazi persecution during World War II.
The city is also built around a collection of canals, and you can take a trip around the entire city in around 90 minutes.
Or you can take a walking tour of the city on any of the thousands of bridges that canvas the city. While touring the city you can view the many traditional wooden Dutch homes and flower marts that line the streets.
A great place to crack open a book or to just relax is the 120 acre Vondelpark. This urban park gets over 10 million visitors every year, but maybe that’s because it has many bike paths, shows open air films and theater shows and even has golf tournaments.
Of course there is always the famous Red Light District to visit at night if you are adventurous. This district covers several blocks in Amsterdam and is know for its adult entertainment venues.
Visa
If you are convinced about the robustness of the educational system in Holland and lured by the country’s culture, simplicity and its people, then the next step that you need to take is to apply for a student visa if you have decided to study in Netherlands.
There are three kinds of visas that you can apply for.
• Short stay visa – for those looking at a high school summer study abroad option.
• Temporary stay visa – an option where an MVV sticker is placed on your passport.
• Residence permit – ideal for those looking at an academic or a long-term study abroad option. This is acquired after you enter the country and should be obtained within 3 days of arrival.
Citizens of United States of America, Canada, Australia, Austria, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Monaco, Japan, Iceland, Finland or those belonging to the countries of the EU do not need a visa before entering the country. They do, however, need a residence permit within 3 days of arrival just like the others for a long-term stay.
Scholarships
For ideas to help pay for your experience check out financial aid, grants and scholarships – there are lots available for Netherlands and Europe.
Travel and Free Time
While in the Netherlands you have to see as much of the country as possible and there are a variety of modes of transportation to choose from because the country is connected to the rest of Europe by a rather large network of motorways.
One of the most popular ways to travel in the Netherlands is by railway. Both intercity and local trains run on every half hour, and the most popular rail companies are NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen and Syntus. These companies operate just about all of the rail services in the Netherlands, and they also accept rail passes like those offered by Rail Europe. You could other countries nearby like Belgium and Germany.
It’s also very easy to rent a car while in the Netherlands. You can find a complete listing of available car rental companies. You can also ride on any of the bus networks that are located throughout the country.
The best way to get from one point to another in the Netherlands is to ride a bike! The Netherlands is an extremely bike-friendly country, with all of the major roads sharing separate bike lanes and train stations even offering bike rentals. You can even take your bike on the train if you purchase a separate ticket for it.