The Netherlands is a country where stereotypes are
the norm, but this makes for a beautiful and very characteristic
nation. Dykes, windmills, canals and tulips will be seen wherever you
are, and you can expect to see more bikes, than buses and trains. The
landscape is quite simply, flat! Holland’s position at the heart of
Europe means that a short trip to another of Europe’s vibrant capitals
is never far away. Multiculturalism is being ever-more embraced, with
a host of religious buildings, music ranging from salsa to techno, and
a wide choice of food encompassing the vast variety of flavours from
all over the world. The majority of the Dutch people speak English. Amsterdam, the liberal capital, is full of museums
and galleries, and its canals make for pleasant strolls to discover the
hidden depths of the city. History is abundant – Anne Frank’s house
being the epitome of this which everyone should visit. Mixed in with
this, is a hi-tech and modern nation at the forefront of technology and
education.
There is a shortage of university housing in the
Netherlands and finding somewhere to stay may well be the first
difficulty you have to tackle on, prior to your arrival. You should
make the most of the help that your institution is likely to offer you,
although do not use this as an excuse to take the backseat and assume
they will find you somewhere. Studying abroad in Holland could be a
wise time to slightly lower your expectations, and if you find an
adequate room, take it!
Weather
The Netherlands has a typical temperate climate
with cold winters and warm summers. It has a reputation for being
dreary and rainy, and at times of year this can seem true – where the
overcast skies seem everlasting. However, summers can be very pleasant
and warm. The flat landscape means that weather passes through
the country very quickly and prevents any extremes.
Transportation
Public transport is very reliable and efficient in
the Netherlands, as well as being environmentally friendly. Amsterdam
and Rotterdam have tram and subway systems, which connect all major
stops and run from early morning until late at night.
In the major cities, most notably Amsterdam,
bicycle is the predominant form of transport. Cheap and environmentally
friendly, the flat landscape makes travel on bike one of the easiest
methods of getting around the city. According to the the
Netherlands Tourist Board, the country’s 16 million people own
approximately 13 million bicycles!
Travel between cities is best undertaken by the extensive , clean and reliable train network.
Cost (in Euro €)
| Item |
Price |
| litre of petrol |
€1.15 |
| movie ticket |
€7.50 |
| souvenir t-shirt |
€10.00 |
| local phone call |
€0.30 |
| can of soft drink |
€0.45 |
| litre of milk |
€0.80 |
| litre of bottled water |
€0.80 |
| bus/tram ticket |
€1.60 |
| fries with mayonnaise |
€1.75 |
| glass of Heineken |
€2.50 |
| bicycle lock |
€10.00 |
| CD |
€23.00 |
Dialing code: 31
Currency: Euro (€)
Time zone: GMT/UTC + 1
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