What is it like to study abroad in the Netherlands?

While studying and living in the Netherlands, the first impression I had on the Dutch people was that they were plainly dressed. No matter men, women, old or young, they dressed very casually. It was rare to see people wearing suits and ties on the streets, shopping malls, etc. Men, they like to wear T-shirts or jackets, only those working in law enforcement wear uniforms. Ladies are not very particular about dressing up, and almost all young girls wear jeans. Only some elderly ladies wear beautiful dresses.

The Dutch are particularly hard-working. They always do housework on weekends or other spare time. They spend a lot of time growing flowers and weeding in the small garden in front of the house, and pruning the flower seedlings and small trees neatly. Beautiful. They always clean the front and back of the house and clean the windows every day. Those who have retired also clean the house, remove the trash or clean the windows just like the young people. Families rarely hire nannies or part-time workers. Many families try their best to do it themselves when they need to decorate their house. For example, if the floor tiles are broken and need to be replaced, they go to the mall to buy building materials and then lay new floor tiles themselves. The paint on the door and window frames peeled off, so they bought paint and painted it themselves, because they could save a lot of money by doing it themselves. Many people repair broken bicycle parts or punctured tires themselves, which can save expensive repair costs and improve their various skills.

The Netherlands is also a kingdom of bicycles. Every household has a bicycle, which is an important means of transportation. In business districts, train stations or other public places, you can always see a large number of bicycles parked there. They encourage children to ride bicycles, and you can often see many 4-5-year-old children riding bicycles on the road. Cycling is also an important way for them to exercise. Many Dutch people have the habit of cycling in the morning and evening or on weekends, especially retired people. Both men and women like to exercise by bicycle. When people go on vacation with their families, they always take a few bicycles with them. They fix the bicycles on the back or top of the car, and they can ride around after arriving at the campsite. Each urban area in the Netherlands has dedicated lanes for bicycles on both sides of the road, usually paved with red or other colored concrete, which ensures the safety of bicycles. But what troubles them is that bicycles are stolen from time to time. Many people complain that the car they just bought was stolen after only a few days of riding. The people who steal the car are also very skilled. Some cars equipped with two high-end locks are actually stolen, so people do not dare to take it lightly.

When Asians arrive in the Netherlands, they often exclaim, "The Dutch are so tall!" The average height of the Dutch is currently the highest in the world, with men at 1.85 meters and women at 1.75 meters. But in my opinion, considering that the increasing number of Southeast Asian immigrants in the Netherlands (especially Indians and Indians) are generally shorter in height, the average height of the real Dutch is even higher. The streets are full of men over 1.9 meters tall. There are also many women who are over 1.8 meters tall and over 2 meters tall. But later a Dutch person told me that nearly 100 years ago, the average height of Dutch men was less than 1.7 meters, ranking last in Europe, even behind Greece in Southern Europe. It seems that many things are not always like this.

Although they are tall, the Dutch are actually a relatively gentle nation in Europe and do not advocate violence, probably because they are a business nation. Although there are many thieves in the Netherlands, there are very few violent crimes, and it is rare for two people to get into a fight. Most Dutch people are very polite and gentlemanly, especially towards women. Perhaps because it is closer to Northern Europe, it seems that the social status of Dutch women is quite high. Sometimes when riding on the street and encountering a mother with several children, the mother will signal her children to give way to us foreigners. Foreign parents do not pamper their children like some domestic "little emperors". In China, parents revolve around their children, while in Europe, children generally follow their parents' schedules.

The Dutch are more rigorous about their work, but their attitude towards life is quite casual. They don't pay much attention to food and clothing. From the perspective of people from our country who eat a lot, they are quite careless. The food culture in the Netherlands is basically blank. What ordinary Dutch people eat on a daily basis are: pasta, French fries, sandwiches, hamburgers, cheese, pizza, basically junk food from McDonald’s. They basically eat fish in two ways: fried or raw (not completely raw, sometimes slightly cooked), and vegetables and fruits are mainly mixed with salads. The clothing styles in stores are generally clumsy and nothing new. Even the mobile phones sold are mostly simple in appearance, far less beautiful and compact than the many domestic models.

The above is a Dutch student who shared his experiences while studying in the Netherlands. I hope it can give everyone a more perceptual understanding of the life of the Dutch. If you are interested in studying in the Netherlands, welcome Consult the online consultants of Tiandao Education and we will serve you wholeheartedly.

The advantages of studying in the Netherlands are very significant. Among English-taught countries, the fees are very low and the teaching quality is high. With a Schengen study visa, you can find a job in more than 20 countries in Europe. There is no financial guarantee requirement. It is the only study abroad country in Europe that can return visas. The visa pass rate is 100%.

Universities in the Netherlands are divided into U categories and H categories. Category U is a research-oriented university that focuses on research.

There are 14 universities in total. Except for the open university that is not recognized by the Ministry of Education of China, the remaining 13 are recognized by the Ministry of Education of China. At the same time, most of them rank among the top 200 in the world. The academic system of a research university is 3 years for undergraduates and 1 year for master's degree in business and 2 years in engineering. Of course, there are exceptions. Category H is a university of applied sciences, focusing on the cultivation of practical abilities. Many H-category schools have cooperation with large Dutch companies, which is more conducive for students to find jobs in the Netherlands. The undergraduate program at H-category universities in the Netherlands lasts 4 years, of which the last year of the undergraduate degree is usually an internship period, and the master's degree program generally lasts 1-2 years.

Studying in the Netherlands, international students are generally allowed to work 10 hours a week, and can work all day during summer vacation. The work is usually hotel cleaning, flower-related farm work (such as picking flowers), restaurants, etc., and the hourly rate is 5-10 euros. No wait. If you cook for yourself in the Netherlands, it will cost about 100 euros per month. There are two types of housing, the school’s student dormitory or renting a shared house outside. Students who have just arrived in the Netherlands are recommended to live in student dormitories. Depending on the school and city, and the conditions of the dormitory, Student dormitories generally range from 300 to 400 euros. Renting a room by yourself or sharing a room is cheaper, usually ranging from 200 to 500 euros.