5 AUGUST 2023 /

VIRTUAL PREDEPARTURE BRIEFING

Living and Studying in the Netherlands

Table of contents
• Before departure
• Arrival in the Netherlands
• Living in the Netherlands
• Studying in the Netherlands
• NL Knowledge Community
Before
departure
Before departure
Get all your documents in hard copy and soft copy:

Passport and visa

Flight ticket
Housing agreement
Other important documents
Other documents you need to prepare:

• Legalised birth certificate

• Admission letter + tuition fee receipts
• Medical insurance
• Diplomas or certificates you already possess
• Evidence you have enough money to stay
 Season Weather Euros
August / September: 18°C to 23°C Make sure you
transition from with outliers have some
summer to autumn. (can be colder or money on you to
hotter) start with!
Arrival in the
Netherlands
 Upon arriving at Schiphol
Pass through Load at least €20. Train
Seek instructions to the
immigration tickets are slightly more
officers/screens nearby
and collect expensive than buses,
if you need assistance.
your luggage. tram and metro tickets.

Top up your Arrival at

Pass through
OV card at your city of
immigration
the airport residency
 How to use your OV chipcard?

Where to buy it? How to use it?

(follow the signs!) (tap in and tap out!)

Schiphol Train NS
Tickets & Service Vending Machine Trains Trams / Buses Metros
After arrival
• Register at the municipality and get a BSN

• Open a bank account

• Get used to public transportation: bus, tram, trains, metro and taxi

• Find a bike

• Arrange health insurance

• Register with a General Practitioner
To stay connected
• Many different internet providers: KPN, T-

Mobile, Lycamobile, and Vodafone, Telfort

• Can be purchased from nearest supermarket

and/or airport

• WiFi is vastly available

 Useful apps to have
Travel Daily Food
Living in
the Netherlands
Expenses and costs of living
Restaurants, cafeteria and pubs. The cheapest way to eat is to do your own cooking.

Some average prices:

• a cup of coffee/tea in a café: € 3,00
• dinner in a typical student restaurant: € 12,50

Average amount of €30/month for public transport, depending on where you

are travelling to.

Plenty places have easy access to trains, buses, metros and trams.

Average amount for shopping is €116/month, depending on your shopping

habit. Manage your finances well!
General practitioner
• Register with a GP (Dutch: huisarts)
• How to register:
⚬ Visit zorgkaartnederland.nl or kiesuwhuisarts.nl gives you
the nearest GPs based on your postal code
• When you are sick you must first go to the GP, the GP will then
decide whether to send you to a specialist in the hospital
• Call your GP's office first to make an appointment
Healthcare insurance
• Healthcare insurance is compulsory in the Netherlands!
• Independent and reliable advice on healthcare insurance:
www.zorgverzekeringslijn.nl/english
• Apply for an insurance before arriving in the Netherlands or
as soon as you've arrived.
Dutch culture
• Straight-forward: It is better to speak the truth rather than beating
around the bush!
• Always be on time: It is important to respect each other's availability
and time, so don't be late.
• Scheduled meeting: Always communicate a place and time for a
meeting, a sudden visit is not common in the Netherlands.
• Non-cash transaction: Using your debit card and other form of e-
payments for your daily needs is preferable.
 Dutch culture

Straight-forward: Always be on time: Scheduled meeting: Non-cash transaction:

better to speak the It is important to Always communicate a Using your debit card
truth rather than respect each other's place and time for a and other form of e-
beating around the availability and time, meeting, a sudden visit payments is
bush! so don't be late. is not so common. preferable.
Studying in
the Netherlands
 Foundation of discussion:
Respect
Respecting others' opinion and
conviction. This does not only apply
in classroom but also external
surrounding. Be open-minded to
Active Interaction increase your international Useful Application to study
Be proactive in class! orientation!

Ask questions and be critical in your

thinking and collaboration. Your
creativity and engagement are
encouraged!

Studying Culture in the

Netherlands
Teamwork Where can we meet?
Teamwork enables to interact with Students are still welcome to use
others and hence other international most campus facilities that are open
students. (subject to booking and
appointments).
Working groups are common to
explore specific problems and get Rooms can be used for group meeting
practical work experience or self-revision
Dutch teaching style
• Straight-forward: It is better to speak the truth rather than beating
around the bush!
• Always be on time: It is important to respect each other's availability
and time, so don't be late.
• Scheduled meeting: Always communicate a place and time for a
meeting, a sudden visit is not common in the Netherlands.
• Non-cash transaction: Using your debit card and other form of e-
payments for your daily needs is preferable.
Contacts & Websites
Indonesia: KBRI Den Haag Thailand: Royal Thai Embassy Den Haag
• Fixline: 070 3108 100 • Fixline: +31 70 345 97 03
(available during working hours) • Website: thaiembassy.org/hague
• Website: id.indonesia.nl • E-mail: TheHague@ThaiEmbassy.nl
(including hotline numbers)
• Register yourself at KBRI: bit.ly/NL-lapordiri

Singapore: Singapore Consulate in Den Haag Viet Nam: The Embassy of Viet Nam Den
• Fixline: +31703538273 Haag
• E-mail: hdo@mfa.sg • Fixline: +31 70 364 89 17
• Website: vnembassy-
thehague.mofa.gov.vn/en-us
• E-mail: thehague@vietembassy.nl
NL KNOWLEDGE
COMMUNITY
PREDEPARTURE BRIEFING
5 AUGUST 2023
International students in NL

Academic year 2022/2023:

• 40% of all first-year students at universities had an international
background
• 21.130 students were from Asian countries

Top three fields:

• Law, arts and humanities, and social sciences
• Mathematics and physical sciences
• Engineering
Source: cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2022/11/40-procent-eerstejaars-universiteit-is-internationale-student
 1500 >6500 >250
Indonesian Alumni registered Indonesian-Dutch
students in the in the NL Alumni collaborations in
Netherlands Database higher education
NL Knowledge
Community
NL Alumni: alumni who have studied or have engaged in academic education and/or
research in the Netherlands.

The alumni network is very diverse: age, geographical location, academic background
and professional expertise.
 NL Alumni Network
> 6500
Registered / active members in the NL Alumni database

Activities

Thematic
Transformation

Wider target group and audience:

From NL Alumni Network to • Alumni
• Students
NL KNOWLEDGE • Diaspora
• Researchers / DHEI
COMMUNITY
From Southeast Asia
Study in NL is looking for a student ambassador!
As a student ambassador, you will share your experiences on social
media, the Study in NL website (in blogs), webinars and during
events/activities.

How to apply:
www.studyinnl.org/student-stories/student-ambassador-application
To stay in touch
nufficsea

NL Knowledge Community

Nuffic Southeast Asia

info.sea@nuffic.nl

bit.ly/nuffic-io