SUSTAINABLE STUDENTS 58 Written by Isla Pearson Designed by Kalvis Janis 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 TABLE OF CONTENT

WE ARE IIAM 6 HELLO THERE! Welcome to the ultimate guide to student life in the Netherlands! Moving #1 - HOLLAND 101 8 to a new country or city, connecting with its culture and meeting new people from all over the world will definitely make this experience of studying abroad unforgettable! In this guide, presented by #2 - HOW TO BE DUTCH 12 International I Am, you’ll find loads of information, life hacks and advice from actual international students to help you make the most of your time in the Netherlands. #3 - ESSENTIALS OF STUDENT LIFE IN THE NETHERLANDS 20 Of course, student life is not all fun and games, you’ll be dealing with practical issues of finding student housing, setting up a bank account, getting your insurances sorted and navigating your way through a new #4 - GETTING AROUND 29 city. But not to worry! The Ultimate Student Guide to the Netherlands is your go-to source written by your fellow students. Whether you’ve just set foot on Dutch soil or have been around for a while, we’re here to help you #5 - LEISURE 40 out. From the do’s and don’ts of biking to the sickest events in the Netherlands, from saving cash to faking your way through the Dutch language, it’s all in there. #6 - NIGHTLIFE 50 Enjoy your time in the Netherlands, and don’t forget to study!

The IIAM. team #7 - COPING WITH PERSONAL ISSUES 54

#8 - SUSTAINABLE STUDENTS 58 Written by Isla Pearson Designed by Kalvis Janis 6 7

WE ARE IIAM. EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IIAM. is here to unite the entire student community in the Netherlands and create the ultimate student experience! Over 160 events are organized annually, spread With over 130,000 annual visitors to the IIAM. concepts it’s safe to say that the over 21 concepts! For 9 years, a group of 42 fun-loving students have dedicated events are loved by the students. A wide range of concepts is offered to make themselves to making sure that students in the Netherlands make the most of sure that there is something for everybody: Tequila Tuesdays (“infamous” for the their precious years. Wednesday hangovers), Halloween Festival, Prohibition, Live music nights, Neon parties & the list goes on! Use the app to stay up-to-date with our awesome events, discover the hottest places hand-picked by us and redeem exclusive deals around the city. Besides Curious what parties you can attend this semester? Download the IIAM. app! sweet discounts on food, drinks, entertainment and transportation, IIAM. has also created ‘The Ultimate Student Guide’! Everything you need to know about student life in the Netherlands! THE IIAM. COMMUNITY Together with our community of international and Dutch students, we’re here to guide you through issues, questions, or ideas that you might have about living THE IIAM. APP and studying in the Netherlands. Better together! Join the IIAM. family and become a member of the community through the app. Here you will find our events and other events that might be interesting for you, STUDENT NEWS AND UPDATES amazing deals and discounts around the city, and even a pocket version of this Creating the best possible student experience also means you need to stay up- guide! Everything you need to discover the city & save money doing so! to-date with what’s going on around you, we do just that. Follow our socials and website to see student-related news and blog posts! The app is available in both the Play Store and App Store.

@internationaliam IIAM.nl 8 9

4. The Netherlands has the highest English-speaking proficiency in the world. #1 - HOLLAND 101 If someone tells you they don’t speak English, you’re either out of luck or being played. 86% of the country’s population speaks English as a second language. Ahh, the Netherlands. The country of tulips, cheese and windmills (or of weed, bikes and world-class DJs - both are applicable). These stereotypes may be true, but that’s 5. Lovers of gin, welcome! Your favorite not all this country is about! If you’re keen to know more about your new home drink originates from the Dutch jenever, head over and check out these quick facts. You’ll be an expert in no time. Have you brewed in the port city of Schiedam. The already been living here for a while and think you know it all? Test your knowledge Dutch drank this berry-based booze about the Netherlands here: before it was cool! #gettingtoknownetherlands #cheese #windmills #bikes #gin 7 FACTS ABOUT YOUR NEW HOMEcaleb

1. Holland and the Netherlands are not the same thing. Even though they’re used interchangeably, these terms don’t actually 6. Lowlands, tall people. A big part of the mean the same. Holland is made up of the Netherlands is situated well below sea-lev- provinces of North- and South-Holland, el. Luckily, Dutch people have found a way while the Netherlands refers to the entire to balance it all out by growing ridiculous- country. Dutch is an Old-English word that ly tall! Dutch men are the tallest in the basically means the people (in Dutch, Dutch world with an average height of 1.83m means Nederlands). Confusing much? (6 ft.) 2. The Netherlands has more bikes than people. Yes. There are about 17 million inhabitants and 22 million bikes in the country. 7. “On King’s Day, we wear orange”. The Dutch celebrate the King’s birthday on the That’s 1.3 bikes per person. 27th of April by wearing orange and partying on the streets until the early hours.

3. The Dutch basically tamed the sea. There’s a saying that goes a little like ‘while God may have created the world, it was the Dutch who created The Netherlands’. Due to a lack of living space, the Dutch claimed parts of the sea and created an entirely new province called Flevoland. The Netherlands is considered the leading figure in water engineering. 10 11 MAP OF THE BIGGEST STUDENT CITIES IN NETHERLANDS

Groningen(55k)

Amsterdam (108k) Enschede (55k) Leiden (32k) The Hague (30k) Delft (24k) Utrecht (67k) Rotterdam (65k)

Nijmegen (42k) Breda(21k)

Eindhoven(32k)

THE NETHERLANDS IN 1 MINUTE OR LESS Maastricht(21k)

Capital city: Amsterdam (also largest city) Government: Constitutional monarchy, based in The Hague Number of inhabitants: 17.2 million Number of students: 700k Climate: temperate maritime climate (rainy winters, warm-ish summers) National holiday: Kings’ day (27th of April) 12 13 #2 - HOW TO BE DUTCH caleb BORRELS DID YOU KNOW? In the Netherlands, almost ev- Regardless of whether you arrived here from the other side of the world or you’re ery type of occasion calls for a borrel. Dutch loooove deep-fried food? their next-door neighbor, you will notice some cultural differences between you Friday-afternoon borrels (called vrijmibo Especially at borrels, where they and the Dutchies at some point. And this is okay! Because what is more fun and in- in Dutch), New Years borrels, networking even offer borrelnootjes (deep fried teresting than mixing with people from different backgrounds? We’ve listed some borrels, and the list goes on! On a typi- nuts)! Do not miss on the opportu- Dutch traits, customs and habits that we think you’ll encounter for sure. cal borrel, you’ll be hanging out with col- nity to try them! leagues or peers at uni over a couple of drinks and borrel-sized bites, such as bit- #culture #food #borrels #language #gezellig! terballen and cheese.

DUTCH CULTURE STRANGEcaleb SANDWICH SPREADS DUTCH DIRECTNESS: KEEPING IT REALcaleb Some Dutchies chase their daily dose of thrills by putting the most ran- Some internationals may experience a Dutch person as being rude, but the dom stuff on their boterham (sandwich) and getting away with it too. To be fair, how matter of the fact is that people in the Netherlands are opinionated and don’t tend to can you not be fan of hagelslag? Name one other country where putting chocolate hold back very often. They rather consider themselves honest and sincere. So how do sprinkles on your bread for breakfast is socially acceptable. If you want to take it you respond if you find yourself being a victim of Dutch directness? Just let it happen to the next level though, consider getting Muisjes (aniseeds with to you, they just want to express their sincerity and don’t mean any harm at all.

a sugared and colored out- s

Are you a real t er layer), Schuddebuikjes n

sweet tooth? Try putting e

(spiced shortcrust biscuit d

caleb u buttons) or Speculoos (a vruchtenhagel on your bread t WEATHER TALK s sugarrush guaranteed! y spiced shortcrust biscuit b s p People in the Netherlands are not too big on small spread) from the super- ti # talk, but somehow every single conversation is still intro- market. duced by a comment about the weather. Especially in the rare occasion of good weather, the Dutch love to just call out ‘lekker weertje he?’ (literally translates to tasty weather, right?) to anyone who wants to hear it. 14 15 THINGS THAT STOOD OUT FOR caleb GEZELLIG INTERNATIONALS If you haven’t heard of this one • “I immediately noticed that the before, it’s time to spend some time Dutch greet each other with three outside of your room. The Dutch could kisses on the cheek.” literally call anything gezellig, from the • “Cursing with illnesses is a thing feeling of being inside with heavy rain here.” pattering down on your window pane to • “What surprised me the most was getting drunk with your best friends. The how open everyone is talking about word has no translation whatsoever, but everything - even drug use.” it’s best described as a warm mood or setting, or rather a sense of connected- ness you have with people or places. If you want to make Dutch people happy, use this word!

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS caleb

If you ever get invited to celebrate your Dutch friend’s birthday at their family’s home, get ready for some very awkward encounters with friends and relatives. Dutch birthdays are celebrated in the living room, with everyone sit- ting in a circle. When you come in, you’re expected to congrat- ulate EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON in the room. Why? It’s not their birthday, right? Little insider’s tip: make sure you come early so you can skip that custom altogether. 16 17 NEDERLANDS caleb

HOW TO FAKE IT! Gezellig (gahzellig) Lekker (lehkur) As we mentioned before, you say Although this word translates to gezellig in situations that give you tasty, you can use it in many, many Hello/Hey...... Hallo (hah-low) / hoi (hoy) a positive feeling. So use it as a re- situations. Use this word if you’re re- sponse to the invitation to go drink ally enjoying the stroopwafels you’re How are you?...... Hoe gaat het? (hoo gaht hat?) some coffee with a friend, to look eating. Or say lekker weertje he? back at last night’s house party or to when the sun has finally come out. I’m doing good!/I’m not good!...... Het gaat goed! (hat gaht good!) describe a bubbly person you met in But you can also call someone a lek- /Het gaat niet zo goed (hat gaht class. ker ding if you think they’re undeni- neet zoe good) ably hot. Kan echt niet (kahn eght neet) Please...... Alsjeblieft (assjuhbleeft) Closely in the running for most used Normaal doen (normahl doon) Dutch phrases is ‘Kan echt niet’, es- ‘Doe normaal, dan doe je al gek Thank you...... Dankjewel/Dankje (dank juhwell) sentially translating to ‘That really genoeg’ is what the Dutch like to can’t be done’. The beauty of the say. It roughly translates to act nor- You’re welcome...... Graag gedaan (grahg guh dahn) phrase is? You really can’t argue with mal, you’re already crazy enough. If it, which is why it’s so often used by you’re Dutch classmate is acting up Yes/No...... Ja(yah)/Nee(nay) many Dutch customer service staff! again, just tell them: doe normaal!

Excuse me/Sorry...... Pardon /Sorry (pardon) (sorree) Flikker op (flickur ohp) Toch? ((tohg?) Is someone continuously blocking Maybe not your favourite, since it I don’t understand...... Ik begrijp het niet (ick buhgrayp hut neet) you in front of the cheese section includes that awfully harsh g sound, at Albert Heijn? Tell them flikker op! but this list wouldn’t be complete I can’t speak Dutch...... Ik spreek geen Nederlands (ick sprayk (Actually, please don’t). This means without it. It means something like ‘… gayn naydurlawnts) ‘get lost’, and the Dutch love using right?’, but can be used in almost ev- this since it rolls of the tongue so ery context in any part of a sentence. perfectly. For instance, ask your teacher: we only have to read chapter 5, toch? 18 19 caleb FOOD

Ever saw a Dutch restaurant outside of the Netherlands? It’s probably because very few people can get excited over pickled herring or mashed potatoes mixed with kale. But, hey, you don’t live if you don’t try, right? Besides, there are plenty of other traditionally Dutch dishes that are hard not to love. We guarantee you that you’ll be taking back stroopwafels in your completely stuffed suitcase EVERY. TIME.

Raw herring Raw herring may sound a little scary to the uninitiated, but every visitor to The Netherlands should give it a go. Served with pickles and onions. Bitterballen A gooey mixture of chopped beef, beef broth, flour, butter, herbs and spices bat- tered in a breadcrumb coating. If you have never ordered bitterballen then they are a great addition to a round of beers. Usually served with mustard. Kapsalon A “calorie bomb” you will surely enjoy. Fries topped off with döner or shawarma meat, then smothered in cheese and put under the grill until it melts. Once that’s done, it gets covered with a layer of salad greens, garlic sauce and sambal. Tompouce Apparently named after a performing dwarf who went by the stage name of Tom Pouce, this cream-filled rectangu- lar pastry is characterized by a layer of Drop - Licorice smooth pink icing on top. Drop is the Dutch word for licorice, and the Netherlands truly loves this dark colored candy snack. With the highest per capita consumption of licorice in the world, each person in the Netherlands eats more than 2kg per year on average!

20 21 The Student Hotel (www.thestudentho- tel.com) offers fantastic studios (from 2 #tip #3 - ESSENTIALS OF STUDENT LIFE sbyst weeks up to 12 months) in Amsterdam, the ude nts IN THE NETHERLANDS Hague, Rotterdam, Groningen, and Maas- Facebook is a tricht. great place to look for rooms Now that you have an idea about the number of bikes in the Netherlands and are and possible flatmates, so don't sleep on it! able to speak three words of Dutch, it’s time to get to the nitty-gritty of living in the Sublet You can usually find groups by searching "your Throughout the year, students sublet Netherlands. Read on to learn about all the essentials of student life here. city name" and "student housing" or any their room because of a semester abroad, other local student groups. #studenthousing #bankaccount #phonesubscription #healthcare an internship in a different city or a long- term holiday. This is a great solution if you HOUSING & REGISTRATION don’t plan on staying here long-term since it comes fully furnished. Ask around people you know (especially those who are close to graduation or preparing to study elsewhere), maybe you can TYPES OF STUDENT HOUSINGcaleb take over their room or they might be in need for a roommate. Antikraak University housing (more info at duwo.nl/en), and post an ad To prevent vacant property being squatted in, housing agencies offer There are very few universities in the for the room themselves through social antikraak (anti-squatting) as a very affordable option to those who don’t Netherlands that offer on-campus ac- media or other student housing websites. find to live flexibly. Do keep in mind that you don’t have a lot of rights as commodation. Students have to active- an anti-squatter, as you might be kicked with very short notice. Apartments and studios ly look for housing themselves. Most Tons of private housing agencies offer universities, however, offer student ac- caleb apartments, studios, and rooms that are commodation through their housing of- LivingHOSPITEREN with roommates (VOTE-INS) also suitable for students. Because of the fices or partnerships with private hous- increase in internationals coming to study If you were to get invited for a viewing in a Dutch student house, chanc- ing organizations. Usually, international in the Netherlands, affordable studios are es are that you have to take part in a hospiteeravond (vote-in night). Consider it a students are prioritized over Dutch stu- practically popping up in every city, just sort of job interview, speed dating session, if you will. You and several other candi- dents, so you might have a shot finding keep an eye out for these local housing dates will be invited to see the available room and meet the other roommates. During a place here! projects! Some of the most popular web- these evenings, you are expected to show who you are so that your potential roommates can decide whether you’re a good fit for the house or DUWO housing sites for housing on the private market DUWO is the largest student housing are: Kamernet.nl, Huurstunt.nl, Easykamer, not. corporation in the Netherlands, offer- Pararius, Huurwoningen, Housing Any- ing over 32.000 accommodations in where and Rooming.nl. YOU SHOULD KNOW! Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Delft, De- Short stay accomodations • When looking for housing and writing a message, venter, The Hague, Haarlem, Hoofddorp, If you are staying in the Netherlands for a do not ask if you can come by to see if the room fits Leiden, and Wageningen. Universities short amount of time or if you are strug- your needs. Explicitly mention why you want the based in these cities usually offer a se- gling to find housing, you might want to room, or rather, why the house wants you! If you re- lection of DUWO housing, but you can opt for a short-term accommodation. alize that it’s not for you during the hospiteeravond, also check their website to apply di- Short stay hotels or hostels are stu- don’t be afraid to be honest. rectly. Some DUWO houses select their dent-friendly and sometimes offer good • Make sure you make a lasting impression on all people voting. Don’t only talk about yourself, but also ask and show your interest! new tenant through a vote-in system deals too. 22 23 • Be ready to also answer some quirky questions, or even take part in a challenge. Making your house your home Yes, of course, they’ll want to know your name and what you study, but what Getting furniture and essential house- about your secret talents? Least favorite Ben and Jerry’s flavor? It matters. hold items can be even more costly than #tipsb ystu a month’s worth of rent. As if rent isn’t den caleb ts already eating away enough of your REGISTRATION Tons of Facebook monthly budget! This is why it’s groups offer free or cheap fur- If you’re planning to study or stay in the Nether- good to know where you can get niture. Rent a bakfiets (carrier cycle) lands for over four months, you are required to register at all your necessities for a good and roam around the city for the your municipality. Upon registering you will receive your price. best finds! BSN-number (citizen service number), which you will need for your administration. You won’t be able to get a job or open a bank account without this BSN-number. Usually, you have to register at the municipality within the first 5 days of your arrival, but if you haven’t been able to find housing yet this will have to wait until you receive your rental contract. You’ll receive your BSN-number up to two weeks after registering at your municipality. calebHOUSING CHALLENGES caleb COSTS OF STUDENT HOUSING IN THE NETHERLANDS We’ve heard time and time again that finding suitable student housing is The monthly price of renting a place varies per city as well as per one of the biggest challenges for interna- area within your city. Renting a room in Amsterdam is much higher than other tional students living in the Netherlands. student cities like Rotterdam or Leiden, but overall, the average student pays We are less likely to get chosen by land- 350-500 euros in rent. You can also assume that the cost of shared housing is lords to rent a place because we are gen- significantly lower than having your own studio without shared facilities. erally renting a room or apartment for a shorter period of time. Additionally, there According to the Dutch Student Union, 73% of students pay too much rent. If are instances where Dutch students get caleb you feel like your landlord or agency is overcharging you, go to dutchstudentunion.nl/ favored over international students be- LIVINGLiving withWITH roommates ROOMMATES rentcheck/ to check if what you’re paying is fair, or pay a visit to the Juridisch Loket for cause of the assumed language barrier. free legal aid. Are you struggling to find student ac- This may be the first time for you commodation in your city? to live with people who won’t put up with With most private housing, you are required to pay a deposit, which is usually your shit like your family would normally, one month’s worth of rent. If you decide to get help from a housing agency, take into For more information check the housing so make sure you and your roommates account that you will have to pay an agency fee as well. hotline: www.dutchstudentunion.nl/hous- make things work. DID YOU KNOW? inghotline Taxes and municipal matters Students are not required to pay all munici- Under certain circumstances, you pal taxes and can get an exemption in most may be eligible to rent benefit, cases. Yay us! This, however, does not hap- which can be up to a maximum of pen automatically: you’ll still get letters from 360 euros per month. This depends your gemeente (municipality) charging you on your income, the housing type (e.g. for water or waste taxes). You have to and other factors like your age. apply for an exemption every year. 24 25 SETTING UP A BANK ACCOUNT now send payment requests in the form of a Whatsapp message or link to make DID YOU KNOW? Once you’ve received your BSN-number from the municipality, you can set up a Dutch sure that they’ll pay you faster. The most Dutch people are not really fans of us- bank account. Having a Dutch bank account will make your life here a looooot easier: common app to do this is ‘Tikkie’ (which ing credit cards. Most stores outside you’ll avoid unnecessary transaction costs of paying with your international card and means nudge), but most banks now have a similar feature on their banking app. of Amsterdam don’t accept credit arranging stuff like a new phone subscription will be done in a jiffy. In the Netherlands, cards either. But nonetheless, it’s not no one really uses cash, so having a bank card (pinpas) is an absolute must. Wireless paying (contactloos pinnen) a bad idea to have one in case you’re Talking about wasting time, you can now completely broke. Most banks offer With the right documents at hand, setting up a bank account is incredibly easy. Some save about 2 seconds in the queue of credit cards for students which allow banks allow you to set up an account online, but you can also make an appointment at your local Albert Heijn by wireless pay- you to take out some extra money for a location closest to where you ing. Most banks have issued new banking a rainy day, but with realistic and fair

live or study. You’ll need the fol- terms.

s cards with the wireless feature, which al-

lowing: n

e lows you to pay by card without you hav-

Bought toilet paper u t ing to insert it or type in your pincode.

8 times in a row? Share hous- s • Your BSN number y

b Simply hold your card against the ma- ing expenses with your roommates s

p • A passport or ID-card i chine for a couple of seconds and you’re on wiebetaaltwat.nl t • Proof of residence # good to go! This usually only works for transactions under 25 euros, but you can customize the transaction limit online. INTERNET BANKINGcaleb PHONE SUBSCRIPTIONS IDEAL and banking apps Dutch banks have made the full shift to One of the great things in the Netherlands is that you can online banking, and online payments are find free WiFi hotspots pretty much anywhere. Still, it’s much more easily done through a Dutch method convenient to have a Dutch data plan and phone number. It’d be a called iDEAL. If you choose the iDEAL DID YOU KNOW? shame if you want to drunk text someone and don’t have a 4G con- option, simply select your bank and you’ll nection, right? Considering you most likely already have a phone be forwarded to make a payment by fin- Many Dutch banks offer special packag- of your own, a sim only plan is probably the best choice for you. gerprint scan or a code. es for internationals, but the most popular ones amongst students are ING, ABN One thing you should take into account is that phone subscriptions including a new Amro and Rabobank. For an internation- phone are now considered a form of a loan. This means that you have to prove that you al student with an account at the ING Payment requests (betaalverzoeken) can actually pay off your subscription. If you can’t, the phone company can actually bank, service fees cost 3.75/quarter Splitting the bill is cool and all, until you € refuse to engage with you into that specific contract. This does not apply to sim-only (every 3 months). ABN’s service costs end up chasing your friends for months on plans and phones that cost under 250 euros! (so basically only Nokia bricks are the are currently €1.50/month and another end for not paying you back. Now you’re exception). €1.25/month for the World Card, while stuck home, broke and waiting for that Rabobank’s are at €1.55/month. money to come through. Luckily, you can Most people are either signed with Tele2, T-Mobile, Ben or Simpel. As a student, you can also get special offers and discounts in most situations. t

26 27 HEALTHCARE & HOSPITALS Your local healthcare provider European healthcare Depending on where you live and what The European Health Insurance card is type of healthcare system your coun- issued completely free to anyone who It’s never a bad idea to check with your health insurance if you’re actually try has, there are options to get inter- lives in any EEG member state (or Swit- covered before your big move to the Netherlands! If you’re an international student national coverage. Check with your zerland). Just like international health just studying, you are not legally obliged to take Dutch healthcare. healthcare provider if this international coverage, treatment will only be covered coverage works for you: usually this will if it’s absolutely necessary (serious illness only cover emergency situations, so if or an accident). This is because the Euro- you regularly visit the dentist or GP, this pean Commission believes that you can might not be the best alternative. wait until your return to your home country with less important health issues.

Dutch Healthcare All in all, Dutch healthcare seems like a safe option in case of unexpected issues DID YOU KNOW? and better coverage of the costs of the healthcare. Of course, no one hopes to Zorgtoeslag (health care subsidy) fall ill during their time as a student, but If you take Dutch health insurance, having a good safety net will save you and also have a part-time job, the loads of stressing about waiting lists majority of the costs may be cov- and unexpected costs! ered by a governmental health care subsidy which you can ap- The Dutch healthcare system is among ply for. In that case, the subsidy the most well-organised in the world. will be transferred to your ac- Everyone pays an equal amount of count every 20th of the month. money to their healthcare provider regardless of their health, age, or income. It covers standard medical costs such as a visit to your GP, hospitals, pharma- ceutical costs or urgent medical care outside of the Netherlands. If you have medical needs that are not covered by the standard insurance, such as dental care and physio- therapy, you can opt for supplementary insurance.

There are about 40 different healthcare providers in the Netherlands, each offering different plans and slightly different prices for healthcare. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the many options, so luckily websites like Independer.nl offer the ability to compare providers and plans based on your personal require- ments. Disclaimer: If you are unsure about your health coverage, check with your EU health insurance card provider in order to make sure, it varies from country to country. 28 29

SHOULD I VISIT A DOCTOR OR HOSPITAL?caleb #4 - GETTING AROUND

When you move to the Netherlands, make sure that you register with a gener- Now that we’ve covered all the essentials of living in the Netherlands, we’ll also show you how to al practitioner (and dentist, if needed) as soon as possible. Get yourself a doctor get around, and make your life here as hassle-free as possible. (Spoiler: it involves bikes). close to your own home, uni, or wherever you spend most of your time because you don’t want to be biking for half an hour with a displaced elbow or high fever. #transport #biking #universitylife #wheretogo #supplies Some offices may not be taking new clients or have a waiting list because they are full, but there are always plenty of other options or locations to choose from. PUBLIC TRANSPORT The only situation where you should go to the hospital first is in case of an emergency. If it isn’t, always call or visit your GP first. If you do plan on going straight to the hospital for a non-emergency or to see a specialist without getting a referral from your caleb doctor, you might end up not being insured and paying things out of your own pocket. LivingOV with CHIPCARD roommates The OV-chipkaart (public transport card) is the holy grail of public transport (unless you want to pay a small fortune for single tickets). Simply buy a card online or at one of the stations, top up your balance, and you’re good to go (literally). When you check in on a bus, tram or train, hold your card against the designated machine,

usually by the side of the door. An auto-

matic tariff of 4 euros will be taken s t

Traveling with a n

from your card. This amount will e d

Dutch friend who has a u be put back on your card if t

free transport plan? Ask them if you s

y you check out, so don’t forget! b

can use their samenreiskorting (joint travel s

p i discount). You can pick up the 40% discount t It might be useful to get a per- offer at the machines located in every # sonalized rather than an anon- train station. ymous card if you want to arrange automatic top-ups to save the hassle of doing it manually and seeing the train drive off in front of you every time. If you find yourself traveling between cities on a regular basis, it’s also a good idea to get a personalized OV-chipkaart so you can add a train subscription if necessary.

30 31 The Dutch public transport is generally very well organized and connected, so, all in caleb all, is a reliable option. Transport planner 9292 (also get the app) will help you find the TRAMS,- TRAINSroom &with BUSSES Living fastest way from A to B every single time.

If you were to base your opinion on what Dutch people around you are telling you, you’d think the trains are a disaster: never a free seat, always delayed, cold and caleb everything else in between. Don’t let them fool you, the Netherlands has one of the Living with roommatesBIKES most sophisticated and well-functioning train systems in the world. Plus, all NS trains are even completely run by wind energy! Depending on where you live, you’ll find bus- With more bikes than people in this ses and/or (underground) trams, which are privately owned local transport companies country, it’s safe to say that we wouldn’t get far without them (literally). Crossing tram tracks without any collateral damage may Dal Voordeel Altijd Voordeel Weekend Vrij be a personal triumph for you, but the locals 40% discount during 40% discount during off Travel for free during somehow manage to flawlessly move across the road while carrying groceries, chil- off peak hours peak hours the weekend dren… even furniture! Owning one is an absolute necessity of life in the Netherlands: 40% discount during 40% discount during the 40% discount during it’s faster, cheaper, and you do not want to be that person who doesn’t have one and the weekend weekend off-peak hours ends up taking public transport by themselves. Another plus side: you’re now living in the flattest country in the world, so you’ll never have to cycle uphill. €5,- per month. 20% discount during €32,- per month peak hours caleb €24,- per month WHERELiving TO with BUY roommates A BIKE?

Of course, you’re now all excited to buy a brand-new designer bike, but es- Seen a subscription you like? Head over to www.ns.nl/abonnementen, click the En- pecially if you’re not sure how long you’re going to stick around here, we advise you glish-language icon and order online. Note: these are yearly plans, so reconsider if to get a second-hand bike. You can get them for as cheap as 50 euros, and it won’t you’re here for a short period of time! be as much of a heartache when it gets stolen. A wise bike repairman once told me to invest more money in an unbreakable lock than a bike.

The fietsenmaker Living with roommates caleb The Netherlands has plenty of bicycle repair shops per square kilometer. You won’t TAXIS have any trouble finding a good bike in these shops, and they sell both new and second-hand bikes. There are loads of night trains running on weekends, but it’s usually not as easy to get home during the night. If you don’t own a bike, a taxi might be a good Marktplaats.nl and Facebook groups option to get you home safely. Official taxis have a blue number plate, but most cit- If you’re looking to buy a second-hand bike, you’ll find loads of bikes for cheap at ies now also have plenty of Ubers driving websites like Marktplaats.nl and in public Facebook groups. Make sure you don’t get around. These are usually half the price of a registered taxi, so get an Uber if you can! overcharged, and if you suspect that you’re buying a stolen item, don’t, as you’ll be punishable by law! Protip: you can get a 10% discount on the Swapfiets HTMC taxis by using the deal in the IIAM. Swapfiets allows you to rent a bike for only 13,50 euros a month! If your bike gets sto- app. len or breaks, it will be replaced by a new one in a day or less. This is perfect if you’re staying for a shorter period of time. 32 33 MASTERING THE DUTCH BIKING ETIQUETTE LivingcalebBIKE TROUBLES?with roommates Maintaining your bike is relatively carefree: the most common issues are flat In the Netherlands, bikes pretty much own the tires, broken lights, and a faulty bike chain. All are DIY fixes, but if getting technical is traffic. We have our own cycling lanes, bike storages, traf- not your thing, you can always bring your bike to your local repair shop. fic lights and fietsenmakers (bicycle repair shops). Be- cause our biking infrastructure is so well organized, you’ll Every city center has a number of free monitored bike storages, so if you be perfectly safe navigating through the city, if you know can, do make use of them! Parked it elsewhere and came back to an what you’re doing. Follow these tips and you wouldn’t so If your much as get a scratch. empty space? It happens to the lights are broken, best of us. Luckily, it doesn’t get some cheap portable ones always mean that your pre- from HEMA. Do take them off when cious bike is stolen: if you you stall your bike, though! parked your bike outside of a designated area, it may have been taken by the municipali- s ty. You can get your bike back #tipsbystudent at the local fietsdepot. Because • Make sure to stick out your hand in the direction you’re heading when you turn. If you don’t, people behind you won’t know that you’re turning. When you cross, look left and right to make sure that there’s no traffic that could hit you. • It’s okay to bike next to each other (no more than two). Cycling is considered a social activity, so by all means, keep on chatting! • Make sure that you have working head and back lights when you cycle during the night. Not only is it unsafe to not be properly visi- ble, you can also get fined up to 55 euros by the police. • Always lock your bike to a fixed object with a chain, preferably attaching your front wheel and frame. Bikes are known to be the most frequently stolen item in the Netherlands! (yes, that’s hun- dreds of thousands of them each year) • If you’re doing something wrong in traffic, you’ll know. The Dutch can sometimes be a little bit hot-headed on their two-wheeled transporter, but definitely don’t take it personally if you get cussed at. you parked your bike in a place you shouldn’t have, they do charge you 25 euros as • Don’t underestimate those nasty tram tracks! Especially after a night out, they’re a symbolic fine to get it back. If they don’t have your bike, you can most likely count quite easy to get stuck in. Biking under influence can be punishable by law, but on it that it has been stolen. If you have proof of ownership of the bike, you can file usually, the police are quite lenient with such situations. an online police report, but frankly, it happens so frequently that Dutch people hardly ever report their bikes stolen. • Handling a phone while cycling is illegal since July 2019. It could result in a fine of 95 euros. 34 35 Another thing to look out for is the propedeuse, which basically functions as your safe- THE SCHOOLING SYSTEM ty net. This is the first phase of your study program, which you need to complete within a specific amount of time (usually two years). Once you’ve acquired your propedeuse, The Netherlands knows two graduate education systems: University of ap- you have the option to spread or delay courses over the rest of your academic career. plied sciences (in Dutch this is called HBO) or a research university (called WO). Some may tell you that a research university is better quality institution than a university of In order to graduate, you will need to pass #tip applied sciences, but it essentially comes down to your personal approach to learning. sbys each class with a 5,5 or higher tud en and receive all credits. The total credits ts per study program vary per university. Studying can be all WO institutions (research university) HBO institutions (university of applied fun and games, but the real Currently there are 14 research universi- sciences) studying takes focus and discipline. ties based in the Netherlands. The cur- There are far more HBO than WO-institu- Adopt some good habits and stick riculum focuses on theory and teaches tions in the Netherlands. Here, students ISSUES AT UNI to them! students skills like abstract and critical are taught to apply their knowledge and thinking, analytical skills and academic work in a solution-oriented manner. Usu- writing. ally, HBO-students have more contact hours and If you have trouble keeping up with your bigger classrooms than classes or have a question about your specif- WO-students. ic course or study program, do not hesitate to get in touch with a study coordinator at your university. To- THE GRADING SYSTEM gether, you can figure out how to make your programme work for you. There’s always room for negotiation if you reach out for support on time! Let us break it down for you: in the Netherlands, schools, and institutions work with a grading system that ranges from 1 to 10. A 1 is the lowest grade (as in did-you-even-try), and a 10 the highest (as in you-are-the-epitome-of-knowledge). If you want to pass an exam, paper, of course, you must get a 5,5 or higher.

We’ve seen international students often get discouraged because they hardly ever score higher than an 8-9 despite all the hours of brain-crunching at the library. Un- like the British or American grading system, a 10 means a perfect score and is nearly im- possible to receive. Dutch students are known for their zesjescultuur (culture of six): they are okay with getting the minimum passing score (5,5 or 6 rounded up) with less effort. If you notice that Dutch students are generally much happier around the 24th of every month, you’re right. This is when study finance is paid by the government. You don’t Every class is tied to a number of credits (ECTS) based on difficulty and total have to miss out though! study hours. The number of credits also determine the weight of your grades and your If you or your parent is from a EEA country (including Switzerland) and you (or your average grade. For example, an intense 10-credit class where you’re averaging registered partner) works 56 hours a month, you are eligible to receive Dutch student 8 weights in more than the 5-credit class that you’re failing with a 5. finance. This comes in the form of a loan with 0% interest. Check out -

https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance/

to test your eligibility and the amount you may be receiving per month. 36 37 GETTING AROUND

Depending on where you lived before moving to the Netherlands, the average Dutch city might give you a culture shock, or not at all. Knowing your way around and where to go for all your essentials such as groceries, health and grooming products etc. is an important step into feeling at home, so make sure you start exploring as soon as possible!

caleb Bachelor Students of International Studies GROCERIESroommates with Living Most grocery stores are open between 8AM and 10PM on weekdays and Saturday, and have alternative openings on Sunday (usually be- Discover | Experience | Learn tween 10AM and 6PM). Maybe differently than in your home country, you can’t buy alcohol contain- Discover | Experience | Learn ing more than 15% in these supermarkets. • Albert Heijn: The grocery store you’ll see most Discount on Study books often is the Albert Heijn (the Dutch sometimes call it Appie). You can recognize it by its light blue stores and there’s legend has it that there’s always an Appie 150+ events every year 5 minutes away from you. Get a free Bonuskaart from the service desk and enjoy their many weekly offers. • Jumbo: With fewer locations, the Jumbo (the yellow Professional and personal development store) is a slightly smaller but modern-looking grocery store, generally offering in committees branded products for a lower price than the Albert Heijn. • Lidl/Aldi: Good stores to shop on a budget, but their offer may sometimes be somewhat limited. Lidl has been awarded for the best fruit and vegetable section Get social and party with the BASIS for six years straight. • Local markets/urban farms: Why not go to local markets for your groceries, where family you can get cheaper products, but also support the local, small businesses? Dutch Visit our website: markets always occur on specific days, so check before you get your shopping bags ready.

NIGHTSTORES caleb

Whether you’re running out of alcohol during pre-drinks or just feel like a late-night snack, the avondwinkel will be saving your [email protected] life multiple times. These stores are often open until midnight or later, and you can probably find them on the corner of your street. Sign up: basisthehague.nl/join 38 39

DRUGcaleb STORES & COSMETICS YOU SHOULD KNOW: TAKEOUT

Other stores like clothing and drug stores If you feel lazy or overburdened by all are usually opened between 10AM and the studying you are doing then you can 6PM. On Thursdays or Fridays, most cit- always use one of the food delivery ser- ies have a koopavond, an evening where vices available in the Netherlands: stores are open until 9 or even 10PM. • Thuisbezorgd (biggest selection) Opening times on Sundays are shorter, • Deliveroo (delivered by bike) but most stores have opening hours be- • Uber Eats (not widespread every- tween 12PM and 6PM. where yet)

Kruitvat: A low budget drug store with plenty of products and good offers. Action / So-Low: Low budget shops with Etos: A drug store with affordable a surprising range of products for the products, good customer service and a smallest of prices. Also recommended to bigger pharmacy section with licensed find party items! employees. ICI Paris XL / Douglas: Both stores offer high-quality cosmetics and perfumes. DEPARTMENTcaleb STORES

HEMA: As Holland’s most prized pos- session, you probably can’t go more Dutch than this. Have a meal at their canteen-style restaurant (try the tom- poes and rookworst!), browse for uni caleb supplies and get those much-needed GET THRIFTY household items. De Bijenkorf: You’ll recognize this lux- Marktplaats.nl: If you want to save some ury department store by their extrav- money, check out this website for sec- agant window displays. Shop here for ond-hand products. From washing ma- brands like Mac, Adidas, Balenciaga and chines to table-cloths, they really have Fjällräven. it all. You can even list items yourself if Hudson’s Bay: Slightly more affordable you’re ever in need for quick cash! brands are available in this department Thrift shop: Go full Macklemore to your store. local thrift shop and see what gems you’ll come across. Thrift stores are often called ‘Kringloops’ here in the Netherlands and they sell a variety of used goods from clothing to furniture, you name it, they have it! 40 41 STAYING IN THE NETHERLANDS IN SUMMER? #5 - LEISURE Mysteryland: Jam-packed with dance stages, secret paths through for- Of course you will be spending a lot of time on your studies, but let’s face it we do need some dis- ests and grassy fields, chill out spaces and art installations, Mystery- tractions (other than parties). From joining a student/sports organisation to building those travel land is the longest running electronic music in the world, and there’s no miles, in this next chapter you can find our best tips. stopping them! Join 100.000 fellow festival friends to see Fatboy Slim, #sports #studentorganization #holidays #travelinginthenetherlands #studentjobs Axwell Ingrosso, Benny Rodrigues and many more! 7th Sunday: Voted best medium-sized festival of 2017, make sure to keep an eye out STUDENT ACTIVITIES for this one. The Flying Dutch: The Netherland’s biggest DJ’s are being flown into and between caleb Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven by helicopter - all on the same day! Get ready SPORTSroommates with Living for some heavyweights like Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Fedde Le Grand, R3hab, Sun- nery James & Ryan Marciano. Sadly, the rumors that we students gain a bit of weight during our academic years are true. The average student gains about 1-2 kilos PinkPop: This three-day festival takes places every Pentecost weekend in the south in their first three months of studying. Playing a sport (next to your dai- of the Netherlands and never fails to deliver. This year’s headliners were Lenny Krav- ly biking workout, of course) can be a great way to get in shape, stay itz, Armin van Buuren and Major Lazor, just to name a few. healthy and meet people outside of your university or course. Football, fitness, rowing Lowlands: Awarded the UK Festival Award for Best Overseas Festival, Lowlands is and hockey are some of the most popular sports played by students in the Netherlands. definitely one for the books. This summer with killer headliners: A$AP Rocky, Ander- All universities have their own sports centers with student associations of- son Paak & The Free Nationals, Ziggy Marley and Franz Ferdinand next to three days fering a wide variety of sports and activities, usually for a reduced fee. There are also stuffed with other fantastic artists. plenty of sports clubs that are not part of the university and have international teams. Most students that don’t play a team sport choose to go to Solar: Next to the music, Solar is all about creative expression, with impressively dec- the gym occasionally. Budget gyms like Basic Fit and Fit For Free orated stages and areas, entertaining games, hilarious theatrical pieces and legendary always have offers that allow you to have access for as little as 20 eu- water gun fights. Line-up: Kriss Kross Amsterdam, Chase And Status etc. ros, but do look out for additional contract and administrative costs. STUDENTroommates ORGANISATIONSwith Living caleb Still too much free time? Join a student organization or fraternity! A student organization is part of your university and is usually organized per academic program. By becoming a member, you can go to borrels, attend lectures organized by the studievereniging, and make use of special discounts. You also have the option to join or apply for a committee, such as the sports, events, or music committee. A fraternity is an organization which isn’t tied to the university but ran inde- pendently by students. Here students from different backgrounds get a chance to network and meet other people through events and activities. Fraternities have their own ‘clubhouse’ where they throw parties, organize borrels and have dinners. During the first months, you get hazed, and assemble your own ‘club’, consisting of up to 20 people, with whom you have weekly dinners together, party together and even go on trips together. Every city has a number of fraternities, each with a different identity and different commitments. 42

DUTCH HOLIDAYS CALENDAR

Just like in any country, Dutch are also huge fans1st ofof September taking days off. Public holidays are celebrated widely.A start of a new academic year. Make sure all your documents are in On these days, schools, city councils, post officesorder. and We all like surprises unless they are negative. banks are closed the whole day. Prinsjesdag 17th of September Prince’s day could be described as a rather wacky- tradition. Ev ery second Tuesday of September, Prinsjesdag marks the start of the parliamentary year, where the King addresses the fiscal budget.

Amsterdam Dance Event 16th to 20th of October- ADE is probably the world’s most-renowned dance- and elec tronic festival, taking place all across Amsterdam every October.

You’ll be guaranteed to see your favourite DJ perform rightChristmas there - Kerstmis (official25th day & 26thoff) of December Like most other places where they celebrate Christmas,- the Neth and then. erlands does not tend to stop until the New Year. Make sure to book your tickets early and be wary of overlapping your vacation Sinterklaas 5th of December with your studies. Sharing loads of similarities with Father Christmas, his Dutch counterpart takes his horse called Amerigo on nightly trips on the roofs, while his helpers go down the chimney to put presents in children’s shoes.

Carneval 3rd to 5th of March Easter - Pasen (official day off) 12th & 13th of April You’re gonna have to visit the south of the Netherlands- Thein Feb Dutch celebrate two days of Easter (Easter Sunday ‘eerste ruary to really experience carnival the Dutch way. Put onpaasdag’ your and Easter Monday ‘tweede paasdag’). most ridiculous costume and sing along to Dutch folk songs all night long!

Kings day (official day off) 27th of April The official day of the Netherlands, celebrating our King Willem van Oranje (William of Orange). Think 36 hours partying with thousands of people dressed in orange with a Heineken in their hands at all times.

Ascension Day - Hemelvaartsdag (Official day off) 21st Remembrance Day - Dodenherdenking 4th of May The Dutch pay respects to those who have died in- wars or peace of May Celebrated fourty days after Easter. keeping missions since the outbreak of the World War II, holding two minutes of silence, memorial services and silent marches.

End of the academic year Aaaand... it’s a wrap! Your projects are done,June essaysPentecost - Pinksteren (Official day off) 31st of May & 1st of June handed in, and books burnt. Time to celebrate Seven the weeksend after Easter. The Dutch celebrate two days of Pentecost of the academic year the right way! (on Sunday and the following Monday). 43 44 45 TRAVELING IN AND OUTSIDE NETHERLANDS Haarlem Just 15 minutes away from Amsterdam lies its little sister Haarlem (New York’s neighborhood As an international student living in the Netherlands, you’ll probably never be living in a Harlem is named after this city). This city offers country as small as this one. Where else can you drive through a country in less than three hours? Exactly. With a different city less than a thirty-minute train ride away from yours, we encourage you the perfect escape if the bustling streets you to see as much as possible during your study abroad. of Amsterdam are a little too overwhelming for you. It’s a lot more quaint, but you’ll still find all the charm from the capital, such as the canal houses, cobblestone streets and flower Zaanse Schans caleb markets. PLACES IN THE NETHERLANDS YOU NEED TO SEE THAT ARE NOT AMSTERDAM Travel back to the 18th century during your visit to the Zaanse Schans, the historic neighborhood area of Zaandam that has plenty to offer. Cycle Volendam To live in a country along the scenic road past windmills, wooden The epicenter of Dutch stereotypes: in this means to have seen (almost) houses and tons of arts and crafts shops. Great fisher’s town you can try the freshest herring, everything it has to offer - and for a summer’s day! everything in the Netherlands is only dress up in traditional regional clothing (in- a day trip away! Grab your friends cluding clogs!) and sing along to Dutch pal- and explore! ingsound music. #t ipsbyst Veluwe udents Let’s face it, there are few exciting landscapes to Livingcaleb with roommates see in the Netherlands because of its perpetual TravelingTRAVELING outside OUTSIDE of the OF netherlands THE NETHERLANDS flatness, but the Dutch all foster a love for the Veluwe, a nature reserve located in the east. The Schiphol Airport: the biggest airport in Holland offering the largest selections destinations area offers an interesting mix of forest, heath Giethoorn Eindhoven Airport: this tiny airport offers 75 destinations in Europe and sanddrift landscapes, and wild deer, foxes Often called the ‘Venice of Holland’, Giethoorn Rotterdam The Hague Airport: conveniently situated in between the two cities, this airport offers and boars. is a truly idyllic town that’s mostly car-free, and about 40 flight destinations, mostly in and around the Mediterranean. has waterways instead. Take a boat ride and Maastricht Aachen Airport: a small airport in the south of the Netherlands that offers a number glide along these century-old houses before of destinations like Tunisia, Greece, Portugal and Spain. heading to the marshy Weerribben-Wieden Groningen Airport Eelde: this airport has a one-stop connection with Boston and San Francisco, National Park located right next to it. as well as a number of Scandinavian destinations. 46 47 JOBS AND VOLUNTEERING - -

Let’s face it - no one ever said this student-thing was cheap! If you’re noticing you’re spending half of your savings on the better things in life, you might need to consider getting a part-time job.

WHERE DO I FIND A JOB AS AN INTERNATIONAL?caleb If you plan on working during your study abroad to gain some practical experience or just have some extra cash, you might be wondering where you’re going to find a job where speaking Dutch is not required. Luckily, the Dutch economy is transforming fast, with more and more foreign companies and international organizations coming to cities like Rotterdam, The Hague, Amsterdam and Utrecht.

This doesn’t mean that English-speaking jobs are up for grabs though. You’d have to go the extra mile to find something that suits and benefits you (more than the average Dutch student,

at least). We’ve lined up a few options for you: legibility to about your sure aren’t still Disclaimer: If you should check the informa in the Netherlands, you work de differ could because the information yourself tion for pending on the countries.

Horeca Babysitting With tourism booming, more and more expats Both Dutch and expat families are very welcom- moving to Dutch cities and of course a healthy ing towards international students that cannot dose of international students, there’s a grow- only watch and take care of their children but ing need for English-speaking staff at restau- also be a helping hand in their language acqui- rants, bars and hotels. Beware that working in sition. A big plus is that this job is quite flexible this sector usually means long and late work- and pays very well! ing hours, so do consider if you’re able to find a good work-study balance. AM I ALLOWED TO WORK IN THE NETHERLANDS? WORK TO AM I ALLOWED

Jobs at Uni In most cases, your own university offers jobs for Tutoring students. These can range from working at the Similar to babysitting, you can make some ex- cafeteria or library to surveillance during exams. tra cash by tutoring a specific subject to chil- Check their website to see what vacancies they

dren or even fellow students. offer! able to are (including Switzerland) residents All EU/EEA do permit. If you in the Netherlands without a work work permit for a residence and have category under that not fall get a job. to not legally allowed are you only, studying 48 49

DUTCH LABOUR LAW caleb

• If you start working under a Dutch contract, you are by law required to get Dutch healthcare, regardless if you have international healthcare or not. If you don’t, you can get a serious fine. Luckily, you can apply for a healthcare subsidy to cover most of your costs. For more info check: www.iamexpat.nl. • When you start a job, it’s common that you get a contract for the duration of 6-7 months, of which you have a month trial period. If you want to quit, you are also required to give a month’s notice. • Your employer can extend your contract twice before they are legally obliged to give you an indefinite contract. • If you or your parent is an EU/EEA-resident, and you work 56 hours a month, you may be eligible to receive study finance in the form of a loan.

There will be times

# where combining work and study- t

i ing simply sucks, but do remember

s b that this experience will set you up y s t with skills for life, no matter the u d e type of job. n t s 50 51 #6 - NIGHTLIFE Livingcaleb withOUR roommates EVENTS With over 130,000 annual visitors to the IIAM. concepts it’s safe to say that With a big chunk of Dutch DJs and producers ruling the DJMag Top 100, you’d expect the events are loved by the students. A wide range of concepts is offered to make to spend your time partying in the most phenomenal clubs while casually rubbing sure that there is something for everybody: Tequila Tuesdays (“infamous” for the shoulders with Martin Garrix on the dancefloor. Nope! Most Dutch clubs usually are Wednesday hangovers), Halloween Festival, Prohibition, Live music nights, Neon nothing more than over-glorified bars. And there’s nothing wrong with that since parties & the list goes on! they still know how to party! Curious what parties you can attend this semester? Download the IIAM. app! #nightlifeculture #ourevents #drugpolicy #smartshops #drugtesting

PARTY CULTURE If you feel

hungover the day s t

n after, crawl to the cornershop to e

Partygoers in the Netherlands tend to stick to their no-nonsense attitude and like to d

get some AA-sports drink. It contains u

t keep things casual. Spotting a dressed-up Dutchie is like finding a four-leaf clover: it’s electrolytes that help rehydrate your s y rare, it’s special, and you’ve got to cherish it! b brains (and soul). s p ti # STANDARD REGULATIONSroommates with caleb Living

No one wants to be rejected at the door after a whole night of getting ready and having pre-drinks with friends. How strict the bouncers or hosts depend on the caleb club or bar, but there are some ground rules that everyone has to follow. DUTCH DRUG TOLERENCE POLICY • Always bring your ID. Some venues allow you to show a picture of your ID and get away with it, but don’t take the risk of being The preconception that weed is legal in the denied entry anyway. Netherlands is false. However, soft drugs like cannabis • Kind of a no-brainer this one: do not take alcohol or drugs are part of the Dutch gedoogbeleid: this means that into the club. Bouncers will throw away your booze and you users and sellers of soft drugs will not be persecuted can risk a fine for trying to smuggle drugs in. under specific circumstances. For instance, if you carry more than five grams of cannabis on you or own more • Think twice if you want to go in with a backpack; not than five hennep plants, you are actually committing a every club will allow it. criminal offense and risking a fine and/or community service. If you carry less than 0,5 grams of cocaine or BEER BEER BEER one XTC pill, you are also not punishable by law (but your stash will be taken from you, of course). Also, if you go to a festival or any other event and get caught sneaking in drugs, you’ll be denied entry, if not fined or arrested.

DISCLAIMER: This section is not intended as a promotion of alcohol and drug use, rather it acknowledges the high levels of intake among students and aims to inform readers about its status and potential risks in the Netherlands. 52 53 WHAT ARE SMARTSHOPS? caleb

If you study in a bigger city, you might have come across a smart shop before. Here, you can buy legal psychedelia, stimulating drugs such as energizers and aphrodisiacs. Also, think hallucinogenic cacti and a big variety of herbs and seeds. Not surprisingly, the Netherlands has the highest number of smart shops in Europe.

DRUG TESTING caleb

If you are planning on taking drugs, please make sure that you know what you’re taking is safe. We know that this is getting a little bit old now, but better safe than sorry is the motto to go within this situation.

There are a number of drug-testing facilities available to make sure that your pills or powder are good to go. There are about 30 locations scattered across the Netherlands where you can test the drugs you bought. Here you can test up to one gram and 10ml of any substance. Within one week you’ll get a report with the ADVERTISMENTS composition of the drug in exchange for information about your drug use. The aim of the testing facilities is to monitor the use of illegal substances and to report potential risks to its users in order to minimize overdose and abuse. So, no, they will definitely not hand you over to the police, but are there to help you have a safer trip!

Want to know where you can get your drugs tested, check www.drugs-test.nl/waar- testen-. 54 55

#7 - COPING WITH caleb PERSONAL ISSUES HOMESICKNESS

For many, studying abroad is one of the best experiences (if not the best) out there. Moving to a new country may be one of the most exciting things in life, but You connect with new, like-minded people, have a ridiculous amount of freedom and being away from the environment that you know so well can be daunting. Combating flexibility, and you can get away with a lot of partying and other kinds of procrastina- homesickness can take many shapes and forms, sharing your nostalgia with fellow tion. What’s not to like? For some, however, being away from your family and friends, students to embarking on mini-adventures. and being immersed in a new culture can bring along some personal challenges.

It’s important to know that you’re not the only one: everyone in their time as a student Head over to iiam.nl to read the full article about homesickness, How to make your experiences some negativity in their life. No matter what you’re struggling with, there’s new house a home. always a way to turn it around. Check out our resources below in case you feel the need to reach out for help or guidance, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you need a nudge in the right direction.

caleb #counselling #mentalissues #homesickness #sexualhealth #resources STRESS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

MENTAL ISSUES Being a student is not all fun and games. High workloads, pressing deadlines and a competitive environment, and being in a constant state of stress can lead to more serious mental conditions like anxiety, depression and burn-outs. If you recognize one or more of the following symptoms in yourself or others, consult your doctor caleb or student counselor. STUDENT COUNSELLORS • forgetfulness, lack of productivity and the general feeling of hopelessness • isolation and detachment from others, loss of enjoyment If you feel like your personal circumstances are interfering with your uni work, • chronic fatigue, often paired with sleeplessness it might be a good idea to make an appointment with your student counsellors. They • increased irritability offer a listening ear, have tons of helpful advice and resources and are there to help you find alternatives that work for you. It’s a good idea to contact your student coun- sellor on time before things get too out of hand and you find yourself completely overwhelmed. caleb RESOURCES

113 Suicide Prevention: contact in full confidentiality:0900-0113 or www.113.nl/english

Jellinek addiction test: test if you have an addiction to drugs www.jellinek.nl/english/addicted/ 56 57 SEXUAL HEALTH

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONScaleb

If you have unprotected sex, you are at risk of getting sexually transmitted infections and diseases. No, we’re not trying to turn this into the birds and the bees lecture you got in high school, but some people can become a little bit too care-free thinking about the prospect of getting laid. You can plan in a consult and get tested for sexually transmitted diseases under the following circumstances:

• You’re at risk of an STI, if: • You’re a male that has sex with men • You’re a sex worker • You’re from an area where STI’s are common • You have high-risk sexual partners • You have symptoms that indicate an STI • You’re under the age of 25 (in this case you’re entitled to a free consult and test) • You’ve been warned by a sexual partner who has an STI

To make an appointment, get in touch with your local GGD (municipal health services). Side-note: if you suspect you’ve contracted an STI and haven’t experienced any symptoms, you need to wait two weeks before taking a test, since it won’t be able to pick up any signs of infection until that mo- ment.

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIONScaleb

If you think you or your sexual partner might be at risk of getting pregnant, it might be a good idea to get the morning after pill. You don’t necessarily need to go to a doctor or pharmacy to get emergency contraception, as most drug stores like Etos and Kruidvat sell them over the counter. These won’t cost more than 20 euros. 58 59 #8 - SUSTAINABLE STUDENTS

By now you know that the Netherlands is a tiny country that wants to be great in caleb many different things. One thing the Dutchies can get really passionate about is a SHOP BIOLOGICAL sustainable lifestyle. As a visiting student, you want to make a positive change in your host country, right? We thought so! That’s why we lined up a number of issues that you can make your own, to contribute to a greener environment. Yes, we know visiting these stores will make your already strung out bank account beg for mercy, but do stop by if you can! Alternatively, try to find locally grown #gogreen #recycling #savingenergy #doingyourpart #circulareconomy produce in the supermarket that has a reduced carbon footprint like Ecoplaza, Marqt and Odin. LIVING VIABILITY

calebECO-PROOF YOUR HOME STATIEGELD caleb This may give you too many flashbacks of the time you lived with your par- To encourage people to recycle plastic and avoid litter- ents, but here we go: ing, most plastic bottles come with statiegeld (container deposit). In stores, you pay a little bit extra for a bottle of coke, but once • When you’re the last to leave the house, check if all lights, as well as the radiator, you hand it back in at your local supermarket, you get it back as a are turned off. It’s THAT easy! discount coupon that you can use at that specific store. • Purchase or lease appliances that have a green energy label (A or B). Tip: Keep a bag specifically for reusable plastic that you and your housemates can take • Try not to crank up the radiator to full Ibiza-heat as soon as you come home back to the store once it’s filled up. during the winter days (we have a lot of those).

Firstly, you need to make sure that your room is prop- caleb erly insulated. Have a drafty door? Add weather strip- SEPARATING TRASH LIKE A CHAMP ping. Is your window only single glazed? Go complain to your landlord until they give in. If your house is Whereas everything would previously be dumped on blessed with a programmable thermostat, use it! one giant pile of trash, municipality has now meticulously found ways to separate trash efficiently. Look out for green containers that say glas (glass), papier (paper), plastic (including tin cans and drinking cartons), textiel (clothes and shoes). Got grofvuil (bulk trash)? You can make an online appointment for the municipality to pick it up on the street. 60 61

GOODBYE So that’s all for now! We have done our best to inform you the best we could and share our personal experiences to make sure you settle in as smooth as possible. Of course you will be running into problems but that’s all part of moving to a new city or country.

We wish you all the fun in the world & we hope to see you at one of the IIAM. events.

P.S. Take note when reading as some information might be subject to change. This guide is updated yearly, therefore we cannot accept any responsibility for possible errors. 62 63 64

2019