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Why Netherlands Preparation Arrival Living

Why Netherlands

Education Quality

Are you a student that is going to study abroad? But you cannot choose where to go? Then most probably you already have a list with all kinds of universities all around the globe, located in cities whose names you cannot pronounce and don`t even know who to show them on the map. Well, especially for you, we prepared an agitation campaign about why you should definitely choose the Netherlands for your study.One of the best education systems and high-quality education. This education builds in the way that theory that is taught is repeated through practice over and over again. So even if you would decide to study the subject purely for an exam, most probably life will hit you hard during your project 9or practical work, where you still will be forced to learn this. Moreover, the Netherlands understands that the world is moving really fast and there is an ideal education system. They renovate every subject every year and make sure it becomes better. How? Collecting feedback from students, teachers and professors who are still in industry. So don`t worry, your program is actually up to date and there is nothing that can be considered unnecessary to know.A lot of English-taught programs and international communities everywhere. You will be surprised that whatever you want to study, you will find here. Because you will google in English and the Netherlands will definitely have an English course for it. Now imagine, after studies you will decide to play tennis and get to know people. And instead of “Good afternoon!” you receive some unintelligible sounds. Then you already don't want to play tennis but realize that you need to buy groceries. But you don't know the name of any of the products in this language… What does it call? Netherlands… Ah, Dutch! Then you are depressed, decide to drink something and basically the same story. And you are about to die because of hunger and starvation. So! This will never happen in the Netherlands. Everyone understands and the majority speaks English. And some cities, like Eindhoven, it's pretty normal if you even decide to ask something in Dutch to hear in response “Sorry, can we continue in English? I don`t speak Dutch”. And people are really friendly: even if they don`t understand you, they will find the solution to help youStudy in the center of research and development. Eindhoven is considered to be the technological center of Europe. On top of that this is the country that has a lot of researches going on and supplies technological solutions to a lot of countries. If you look at European development, a lot of the engineers were studying in the Netherlands (especially, good paid ones).Like it or not, you will end up having a job. The Netherlands have a lot of business and they supply a lot of stuff all around the world. And what do they feel because of that? Yes, lack of workers. Companies grow faster than the amount of people universities can provide. So usually even during your studies you can already be working for some company. And moreover if you already graduated: your LinkedIn will remind you of that. And at last, you will be living in the center of Europe with one of the highest living standards. So now you should just think about whatever is said here and actually continue with preparation to go to study in the Netherlands. We did it, that why we said all of these nice things. Wasn't that hard, believe me! And if you don`t, you can always write to us.

Career Opportunities

When pondering which country you’d like to study in, you might find yourself thinking of not only what you’d do once you study once you study there, but also about what you’ll do AFTER your study has concluded. What can you do once you’ve earned your degree? Do you go home and work back in your motherland, or would you like to work in your country of study? Well, if you were planning on the latter, then rest assured, the Netherlands is a great pick.In fact, it is one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters, and for those interested in engineering this is good news for you as this field has mostly been mechanized. But we are going a bit too fast now.Some general information to know before we delve into the relevant job markets in the Netherlands: As of January 2024, the minimum wage for workers above 21 years of age is 13.27 euros per hour. Note that the amount decreases the younger you are, with about the lowest being 3.98 euros per hour if you are 15. You can click this website to check what the minimum wage is for workers your age here:https://www.government.nl/topics/minimum-wage/minimum-wage-amounts-as-of-2024According to the Dutch Central Planning Bureau, the average yearly salary of workers in the Netherlands is projected to be 42,236 euros as of 2024, but of course they can be lower and much higher than that, depending on what job you want, which brings us to the next topic of discussion: The job markets in the Netherlands.Of course, as previously mentioned, engineering-related jobs are in high demand there. In fact, according to a worldwide talent bureau study, it is the country with the second-most demand for engineers, accounting for around 13% percent of all engineering job offers. 13%! If you were planning on studying engineering here, then rest assured, your job prospects are well-secured.The Dutch job market is heavily influenced by digital transformation. There is a growing demand for IT professionals, particularly in cybersecurity, software development, and data analysis, ergo IT related jobs are also in high demand. Cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam house a great many tech companies, but perhaps the one most famous for having lots of tech job offers would be Eindhoven. It is home to Brainport, a section of the city comprising 5000 tech and IT related companies. 5000! Some of these companies include ASML, a company who specializes in manufacturing photolithography machines, commonly used in making computer chips, and of course, Philips. So, if you are looking for tech or IT related jobs, you are also very much sorted.If you are not interested in tech fields, then worry not. Healthcare and social services jobs are also in demand, as the aging population of the Netherlands is increasing, and nurses and caregivers are very much needed too.TLDR, the job market is broad (especially for engineering and IT/tech related jobs), and you shouldn’t worry too much about having difficulties finding a job.Knowing that jobs exist might be nice, but how exactly do you find them? Knowing they exist doesn't necessarily mean finding them is easy.Well, fear not. Finding them isn’t necessarily that hard, either. Job offers in the Netherlands are mostly posted online. Glassdoor and Indeed, for example, offer numerous job opportunities here. These websites usually identify what educational level is needed, what languages are needed, etc. for the workers they are hiring, so you don’t need to worry about applying for a job that’s out of your skill set.But of course, job offer websites aren’t completely foolproof. The competition can be tough, and these kinds of job offers rarely convey enough information for the potential hire to know what kind of company they are working for i.e the company’s work culture, ethics etc. are usually left out.Fear not, however. Some universities in the Netherlands organize their own company fairs, where students and companies interested in potential workers can meet. For example, Fontys organizes an event called Meet & Match, in which they host their very own fair where students can sign up for a scheduled 1-on-1 conversation with a representative of a company of their choosing. These conversations can bring insight to the culture of the company while also presenting job offers to students who are looking for them. If you aren’t interested in a 1-on-1 session, then there is also an open section of the event where you don’t need to sign up for anything and can simply walk around and talk to the companies available in such sections, although they tend to be briefer and less personal.I myself attended this event, and I had numerous conversations with multiple companies, some of them leading to emails inviting me to join the companies on their internship programs. It was also very nice talking to the representatives, as a lot of them were also previously interns, and I was looking for an internship offer at the time so they were able to inform me a lot on what the company culture is like for interns specifically.In conclusion, the Netherlands presents a compelling option for those considering studying and subsequently working abroad. The country offers a vibrant and diverse job market, with high demand in fields such as engineering, IT, and healthcare. With its status as one of the world's leading agricultural exporters and a hub for technological innovation, opportunities are numerous for graduates and students alike.The supportive infrastructure, including a competitive minimum wage and substantial average salaries, further enhances its appeal. Additionally, initiatives like university-organized company fairs, such as the Meet & Match event at Fontys, provide students with direct access to potential employers and valuable insights into company cultures.Navigating the job market might seem daunting at first, but with resources like online job boards and university events, finding suitable employment is manageable. Whether you choose to return to your home country or build a career in the Netherlands, the possibilities are promising.

Lifestyle

If you are sick of or used to life in your country and want to have new adventures and experiences, then Eindhoven is a great place for you. I will proceed to explain how living in Eindhoven can be an enriching experience for you and why you should leave your life and come have fun in Eindhoven. Welcoming (Diversity, open-minded, welcoming) The open-minded and welcoming Dutch nature has been the reason behind the high diversity rate in The Netherlands, especially in cities like Eindhoven, The Hague, and Amsterdam. You can very easily go through your life without ever uttering a word of Dutch if you know English. Most Dutch people who went to school speak perfect English and are usually very happy to switch to English when they realize you can't speak Dutch, at least when they are sober. Of course a lot of drunk gentlemen have tried to convince me to learn Dutch and even tried to teach me a couple of words but I am pretty sure that comes from a nice place as they also want you to fit in.SafeI am pretty sure some statistics will show you exactly how safe The Netherlands actually is but speaking from personal experience, I have never felt this safe in India. I can go on a walk with my girlfriend at 2 am and still feel the same as we are walking in the day, even better sometimes because the city looks so much better at night and it’s not even a question.Cost of livingIf we put aside the accommodation price, everything you will spend is up to you. Traveling around the city in Eindhoven is so convenient and cheap as you do not need public transport in most cases. This is a city that is designed to be more accessible with a bike than anything else. Every one of my friends (who are not fat and lazy) including me used our bikes for everything. Also, if you live near the center, you don't even need a bike. You can pretty much just walk for anything you will possibly need.Now that the boring stuff is said and done, let's dig deeper into why as of 2019, the Netherlands is the 5th happiest country in the WORLD (Spoiler - the primary reasons are weed and alcohol).Drinking CultureFor alcoholics like myself, Eindhoven is short of heaven on earth with 3 designated party days in a week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). A long weekend party goes  on the biggest bar street in Europe, Stratum, with an aesthetically perfect ambiance to host this part.The street of Stratum embodies the spirit of alcoholism and party freaks. You will find everything you want for the night in this street. So many pubs to choose from, every kind of music, sports bars, shawarma, weed and of course ALCOHOL. Check out which bar will be best to start the pub crawl with our recommendations further down this website.Well at one point you will be tired of going to a single area every week. Don't worry though, there are event parties all around the year in other areas where you can go and do the same thing as you would do in Stratum.WeedIt’s not a surprise that weed is legal in the Netherlands and if you did not know this, there you go. And as they say “When in Rome do as the Romans do”. Well if you do decide to try out the legalized and regulated strains in the Netherlands it won't disappoint you. With the distribution of weed being legal, you can be stress-free that what you are getting is pure and what your budtender says it is. You are getting what you pay for. The budtenders in most of the coffeeshops (weed shops) are usually very knowledgeable about their stuff, so feel free to ask them any question you have. You can find more information on how and where you can get smoking stuff from shops article in the “Living” sectionLet’s say you have some food, beers, and Zaza, but you are looking for a more chill environment than the overwhelming stratum or pubs. Don’t worry, Eindhoven has so many good outdoor spots like parks or on top of the Van Abbe museum (technically it’s illegal to go there but if no one sees you it's kinda nice) for some za sessions or a picnic date, etc. There will be a map or articles with most of the spots in the cities soon on our website.Student city (associations, student promos (bars, gym, museum) throughout the city, student jobs)Last but not least, the city of Eindhoven is filled with students, so naturally it makes sense that companies and businesses will want to capitalize on that by giving out promotions for students in places like museums and gyms. Additionally, there are apps like Knaek which will give you promotions on restaurants/bars.Being a student city means there are a lot of jobs which are hiring students and associations which will help you to meet more people who have similar interests. It is very easy to find them with our website as we have a dedicated page for this, so check it out in the Association tab if interested.And to know more about part time jobs check out the job article in the “Living” section!

Travel to The Netherlands

After reading the introduction to the Netherlands mentioned in the previous articles, you might have different favorite reasons to come here. Whatever your reason is, if you decide to come to the Netherlands, you should know what to know before you start planning your journey. Obviously, by the name of this article you can probably (and rightly) guess that we will be speaking about Eindhoven specifically, so let's not waste time and move on to core topics we will discuss on this website!Firstly, it is important to note that the Netherlands, just like any other country, has a set of entry requirements that a person must fulfill. So, you should think about the list of documents that are required for you to enter the Netherlands, of which there are a few. Here are all the general documents you would need to enter the country:VisaIf you are from the EU, you do not need a visa to enter the country and stay in the country.If your country is not eligible for entrance without a visa, you will need a visa to come there no matter the length of time. But be aware! There are two types of visas: travel and work/study permits. By name, you can understand that with the first one, you cannot work or study.Official visa website: https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlandsThe visa you would require is for the Schengen visa, which is a visa that is eligible not only for the Netherlands but for a lot of countries in the EU too. However, usually study or work organizations will help you out throughout the process of your visa. I am not aware of what every university offers, but my university checked my documents before sending them to the Dutch Immigration Department (IND).Most universities will send you an action plan and will ask you to notify them at every step of your visa application. Also, they will send you important links to Dutch websites which can help you with the visa application and everything should be fine if you just follow the instructions given by the university and the IND website.Valid passportIf you don’t have a valid international passport, you will not be able to cross the border. However, we would recommend reissuing your passport if you have less than 6 months to the expiration date. In this case, the airport staff would wave “goodbye” and you will drink an average, run-off-the-mill cup of tea instead of eating the famous Dutch “Haring” (we will speak about Dutch culture later, just scroll down).It is also worth noting that you do not need to take a Covid test to board the plane there, but just in case, here is a good place to double-check this information:https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroadSpecial documentsWe do not have enough space to cover all special cases here, however, the Dutch government has more than enough space for it here: https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/checklist-relocating-netherlands-immigrationBy the way, this site also has a lot of information about documents in general (driving licenses, for example) and your university should also provide you with a list of documents you need.About Transportation to The NetherlandsIf you are going to travel via plane, then you should know that in the Netherlands there are five international airports but the busiest ones, or the ones you will need the most will be Schiphol and Eindhoven airports. The first one is one of the biggest airports in Europe. I would recommend looking for both options because it is impossible to guess what option will be cheaper. However, by experience, tickets from Eastern Europe are cheaper to Eindhoven, and from Western Europe it is cheaper to Schiphol.Usually, it’s very hard and expensive to get a flight from a non-European country straight to Eindhoven, so you will most probably need to arrive at Schiphol and then take the train to arrive here.If you are looking for all possible ticket options, I would recommend this place: https://www.aviasales.com/airportsIf you are going to get there from Europe, you can give it a try by going by train, but usually, it costs a lot and requires a lot of transferring in between.One of the other options is a FlixBus. It is a network of green buses that cover most of the big European cities. It is not the cheapest or the most comfortable (unless you enjoy sitting for hours in buses) option. However, it is an opportunity nonetheless. To get the tickets you must buy them in advance here: https://global.flixbus.com/Sometimes if you are lucky, they have some spots left and you can get them from the bus driver. I would not recommend it however because if you rely on this method and it turns out that there are no spots left, you will be left without a place.BlaBla cars are also quite popular, but it is a matter of preference as they are quite risky as they do not have a driver verification, so you are technically getting inside a stranger’s car, so I will not take responsibility for whatever that stranger can do to you.One thing to note is that the Netherlands time zone is Central European Standard Time, or GMT+1, so for those in far differing time zones, prepare for the jet lag!Side note: The Netherlands phone code is +31, so if you want to contact traveling agencies or any services you might need from the Netherlands, make sure to write the right phone code.That was it from our side. Of course, don’t read information from only one source. We recommend you continue preparing about coming here and read the rest of the articles on this website to know what you need to know about this city, as the Dutch people say,Veel succes!

Dutch Accommodation

Main rule: you should look into long-term accommodation at least 6 months before you are going to move. Sorry, usually even that is not enough.Next rule: read the main rule every time you think that you have enough time.To be serious, accommodation is a big problem here. A lot of Dutch people live with their parents because they cannot find accommodation. A couple of years ago the Dutch government came up with a chain of laws that made the process of building real estate the most unprofitable business in this country on behalf of ecology, as you understand. This makes building housing in general a pretty terrible idea, let alone student housing. At the same time, they started the policy of “globalization”, which makes it easier for well-qualified workers to move to the Netherlands. We guess you have an idea of what exactly happened after that law took precedence.The Housing crisis in the Netherlands justifies the word “Crisis”, and even if  by some amount of luck you get a place for rent, the Eindhoven housing rent prices will haunt you every month, luckily you can apply for the Netherlands housing allowance, you can find more about it on this government website – Government website for housing benefits So without further ado let’s do a little overview of the different types of accommodation in the Netherlands.Rent a flat/houseBest place to search for: https://www.pararius.com/englishhttps://www.funda.nl/en/huur/heel-nederland/Useful tip #1: A lot of the flats available for rent are without furniture and flooring(!). Usually, it is required to leave the place after rent exactly the same as it was before. Because of the same rule, you are also not allowed to drill holes in the walls and have pets, but you should ask for all the details in advance before assuming or making decisions. So, every person who moves from such a place has a lot of furniture that they do not know where to leave. For this reason, second-hand furniture in the Netherlands has quite good prices. If you are interested in it visit, Marktplaats - the biggest online market in the Netherlands: https://www.marktplaats.nl/Useful tip #2: Usually renting a flat is equal to buying a house document-wise for most of the country. They can request a passport, certificate of birth for every family member, income statement, work statement, and even the vaccination certificate of your cat. This process takes a lot of time. However, the biggest problem is that this option is not available to students. You need to show your income, and most of the students either don't have one or do not have enough. Every income that is outside of the country is not counted, even more so for income outside of the EEA (Europe Economic Area).Buy new house/flatBest place to search for:https://www.pararius.com/englishhttps://www.funda.nl/en/huur/heel-nederland/Useful tip: Believe us, most of the estates you are going to look for will be "primary", in terms of size and utilities. Exceptions can be houses in small cities. So, you most likely will pay money to purchase the building and after some time you will have a real place. Therefore, if you have enough money and you can wait at least 1 year, you can think about it. By the way, the rules are quite strict with mortgages: you can request it only if you have a permanent work contract or you can present an income declaration in the Netherlands for the last 3 years. But if you are trying to purchase a house, even the names of your first ex-girlfriend and the height of your dog will be questions they’ll ask you. That’s how strict it is. So, be prepared for it if you are trying to purchase a house.Student houseBest place to search for:https://kamernet.nl/ (you need to pay for a subscription)Useful tip: In most cases, a student house is a house where separate rooms are available to rent for multiple students. The kitchen and bathroom are usually shared. Because this accommodation is in high demand, landlords have strict requirements for who they are willing to rent their house to. Plus, they are booked fast, especially before a new study year, so be prepared to play Rental Hunger Games! The best time to start hunting is several months after school starts because everybody starts shifting places at this time. Also, if you have the opportunity to talk in person with the landlord, it will be way easier and faster. However, a downside to talking in person is that you should already have accommodation before coming to the Netherlands for university documents, therefore this might hinder newcomers from being able to communicate with their landlords in person.Campus Best place to search for:The website of your university of choiceUseful tip: Campuses are quite luxurious compared to the other options on this list and they do cost a lot, but usually, all of them get booked extremely fast. You can be very lucky if somebody who is offered a chance to live in one rejects the offer, but don’t rely on this. When you get to the university, they will ask you if you want to apply for a campus room, and if you agree, you will be put on the waiting list for such accommodations. They also have priorities depending on the country and stuff like that, so don't rely on it. By the way, I am still waiting for a campus room!Hotels/hostelsBest place to search for: https://www.booking.com/index.nl.htmlUseful tip: it is a good solution if you want to find lodging in the Netherlands, but it will cost quite a lot. Some hotels in Eindhoven Netherlands can also offer you a half-year contract with them. Read carefully about what is included and how you need to pay for the accommodation. One time we came to a hostel without a kitchen and towels because it was cheap, but it turned out to be more expensive than it seemed to be because the original offer did not include all the details of the contract. This is one of the options for Eindhoven: https://www.thesocialhub.co/eindhoven/More options:If you work/study near the border and especially if you have a car you can think of having accommodation in Germany or Belgium and just traveling back and forth. There are multiple Netherlands housing agencies that might help you find a place, but you should not keep your hopes high for this one.Useful tip: when looking for student housing, please do so from trusted people on websites. Always look out for people who have had no prior history of renting before, as they might be scams. Scams in general do exist, especially in the housing market, so make sure to check that your sources are trustworthy before spending money for accommodation here. Check and recheck with the renter to make sure.

The Dutch Educational System

Every single person who has, at the very least, attempted to do research on Dutch universities was more confused than desperate. People who tried to apply were rather more desperate than confused. What is going on and why is everybody so frightened? We will discuss it here. So, without further ado, let's go!How is Dutch education structured?Primary Education (Basisonderwijs): This is where students build their foundational skills in subjects like language, mathematics, and social studies. It's not highly specialized and focuses on a broad education.Secondary Education (Voortgezet Onderwijs): At this stage, students start to specialize. There are three main tracks:VMBO (Voorbereidend Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs): This is a practical-oriented track that prepares students for vocational education or the workforce. It offers various specializations like technical, health care, and economics.HAVO (Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs): HAVO is a more general track that combines theoretical and practical subjects. It's a good fit for students who want a well-rounded education but might not be as focused on hands-on skills.VWO (Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs): VWO is the most theoretical track, designed for students who plan to pursue higher education at universities. It's academically rigorous and offers deep knowledge in subjects like science, humanities, and languages.MBO (Middle Vocational Education): After completing VMBO, students can enroll in MBO programs, which are highly specialized in various trades and professions. These programs provide practical training and often lead directly to specific careers. It's a hands-on approach to education.HBO (Higher Professional Education): HBO school is for students who completed HAVO or MBO and want more specialized, practical training in fields like engineering, nursing, business, or the arts. It's a higher level of education than MBO, emphasizing real-world skills and application.WO (Academic Education): VWO graduates can choose to pursue academic studies at universities. Here, they delve deep into theoretical subjects and conduct research. It's the most academically focused path, ideal for those interested in scientific, research, or analytical careers.Ph.D. (Doctorate): For those with a passion for research and academic excellence, a Ph.D. program is available after completing a master's degree. This path leads to becoming an expert in a particular field and often involves publishing original research.The Dutch system's flexibility allows students to switch between tracks, ensuring that education aligns with their evolving interests and career goals. This commitment to specialization and adaptability is a hallmark of the Dutch educational system, designed to prepare students for success in their chosen fields.However you, as an enrollee, will be more interested in these two types of education:HBO and WO. HBO is a four-year program, and in such a program, you will receive what is called applied education. You can get there only if you have finished at least 11 grades. This is a good option for some of the countries that have only 11 grades of school.  WO is a three-year program that allows you to study what is called theoretical education. You can get there only if you have finished 12 grades. In terms of names, HBO is usually referred to as “applied university of…”, while WO is mostly named  “university of…”.“What is the difference between theoretical and applied education?”, you may ask. The first one concentrates more on theory, so you will not get your hands dirty and you’ll work only with numbers and programs. In applied education, you will get a lot of practical knowledge. Be prepared to have projects every time and to build a lot of stuff on your own. However, you will not delve too deep into the theories of the study you are applying to.Is there any difference in job opportunities later? We cannot say. Technically, with both educations, you can find a good-paying job without any problems. The fact is, preference matters more than what you can gain afterward: I like doing research and dealing with numbers vs. I like building stuff and testing it.In Eindhoven, there are two major universities: TU/e and Fontys. Fontys is an applied university: four years of education, projects, lots and lots of practicals. On the other hand, TU/e or Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (Technical University of Eindhoven) is a research university. As you can see, they are two completely different universities with differing philosophies. The Engineering buildings for both universities are located on one campus that for most of you will look like a different city. It has its own shop, bar, SportsCenter, student associations, and a bunch of other good stuff.  We are not going to tell you everything, we believe it is better for you to explore it for yourself 🙂.

Top Stuff to Take to The Netherlands

So, you have decided to come to this weirdly awesome country and want to know what you need here. So, let's go talk about some things you should keep in mind while packing the luggage that will change every aspect of your life.Clothes“het kan vriezen of dooien”Dutch weather is the definition of mood swings. No matter what month it is, you will need sweaters or hoodies, even in summer, even on a day as bright as hell. If you do not have a sweater in your backpack, you will be punished. So, gather every sweater/sweatshirt or hoodie you have and put them in your luggage!In winter, the Netherlands might not be as cold as some of the eastern European countries, but on some days it will be hard to walk out without extra layers, so a couple of heavy jackets are essential. Don’t also forget that this country is located near the sea and the humidity there will be quite high, so every temperature, either high or low, will have an effect that is way harsher than you expect. For example, 25 degrees Celsius here will feel a lot more hot and unbearable than 25 degrees in India.Months before September/October and after March/April will come with highly unpredictable rains and sometimes even light snowing. In these cases, waterproof pants will help to not ruin every pair of pants you have in one week. However, for those who get accustomed to heavy snowing in the winter, don't expect it to be the same here. In one of the winters we experienced, for only a couple of weeks, the temperature went below zero and we saw snow for a total of 3 days. That’s it.Do you know what’s worse than living in this weather? Biking in it! From September to April, biking without gloves is something Tom Cruise should try in the upcoming Mission Impossible. If you don't wanna go through that unbearable experience just put a nice pair of waterproof gloves in your luggage along with thick and warm socks.FoodMost European peeps will be used to the food ingredients you can get here so this part will be mostly for non-European students. If you like to cook and are used to using some regional ingredients, Dutch supermarkets (Jumbo/Albert Heijn) will somewhat help or you can just go to a regional store. Eindhoven is filled with regional supermarkets, such as Asian or Balkan markets to name a few.However, it is important to note that most of the stuff is not up to the quality you can find in your own country and prices are also kind of high, so it's better to bring some ingredients in your luggage with you. However, when it comes to transporting food across countries (or goods of any kind really), always make sure that what you’re carrying is allowed to be carried on airplanes, as different countries have different rules concerning what you can and can not bring on airplanes.In general, the Netherlands, Eindhoven specifically, is a very international place and you should not have problems finding your local cuisine or communicating in English. If you cannot find something, just ask people around - most of them are willing to help. Google Maps helps too, of course.EssentialsThis is kind of common knowledge but you might not have enough time on the first few days to look around for a supermarket or a shop, especially if you are like me who arrived at midnight and has to attend school the next day, so bring some essentials like face wash, soap, toothbrush, shampoo, moisturizer, hand wash, etc. You get the point.Don't worry though. Once you have settled down a bit and moved into your accommodation, there are Jumbos and Albert Heijns in almost every neighborhood around the city and you shouldn't struggle to find a supermarket within 10 minutes of walking from your place. I prefer Jumbo over Albert Heijn because Jumbo products are usually cheaper and better than AH (more information about this is in the shop article- https://guidelineforstudents.nl/articles/10/shops ) Room decorMost probably you are coming to this city as a student, and your room will be the place you will spend quite some time in. As an international student, I can understand that you might miss your home, especially when you are alone, so this is a piece of personal advice from me: you should bring some souvenirs from your home and from your family that will somewhat keep you attached to your home and to keep in touch with the life you came from.DocumentsThe city hall requires citizens of the city to apply for certain documents such as BSN, and for that, you will have to present some documents like your birth certificate, so make sure you have all the essential documents with you here in the Netherlands, Also, for the BSN, there is a requirement applicable for certain countries that states that you need to ‘legalize’ your birth certificate, and it's better to take care of that before you arrive here. Your university can provide more information about it if you ask beforehand, and if they don't, you can check what you need to do according to your country here- https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/legalisation/foreign-documents .Other than the city hall documents, your university might also require you to show some of your documents like your diploma or mark sheet. For example, Fontys University of Applied Science has a designated day for diploma checks in the first week of school, so it is important to keep your academic documents with you. Just a friendly reminder: make sure to double-check the document list provided by the university or organizations you are going with; some of the documents need official translations or government confirmation.FinanceIn the Netherlands, some places only accept Maestro cards and they will straight up decline your MasterCard or visa. Luckily for you, most of the places that do not accept international cards accept cash, so it's highly recommended to keep some cash with you. Find a currency exchange center and get some euros, you will need it.If you can’t manage to bring some euros or a maestro card. ATMs are easy to find near the city center only as they want you to keep the money in the bank so it is intentionally made a bit inconvenient by only having one company responsible for opening ATMs and then having big withdrawal fees. Bank accounts that will issue a maestro card are relatively easier to make. You can open a bank account in less than 30 minutes, but only if you have a BSN, so you will have to wait till you get registered in the city hall.This is only for the beginning of your stay here, because in general, it is more common to use cards or online payment like tikkey than cash here. Even homeless guys can come and ask you to transfer some money to their bank account, so keep some cash for your arrival but it is recommended to also make bank accounts here. Although The Netherlands is switching to VISA and MasterCard formats for banking cards, so from 2024 onwards, you should be able to use your international debit card almost everywhere, whereas a credit card can still be rejected at some select places. ConclusionTare are the things you should keep in mind while packing your luggage, so good luck guys, and see you here on the other side.Packing the bag is a very early step in the journey you are about to witness, and we are there for every step. Check out this website for everything related to Eindhoven and if you still have some questions, contact us (bottom of the page) and we will be more than happy to help you.Also, if you think we missed any important advice to include in this article, help us by reaching out.

Living by The Dutch Way

No reason to remind you that you are going to a new country. New country - new rules, new people, and new culture. A general word of advice would be to know about their culture before coming here because your interactions will start way earlier, earlier than even landing in this country. You will need to write emails, find accommodation and get in contact with your university. Therefore, it goes to say that it is useful to know something about people before communicating with them. Let's not waste paper and just focus on the main topic.MentalityEverybody says that Dutch people are straightforward, but for every country, this means different stuff. When I say Dutch people are straightforward I mean that people can ask you about something that, depending on the country, could be described as rude or mean. For example, “Why do you have such a low voice?” or “You brought a lot of bags from this shop”. You might think “Is it your problem that I have had problems with my voice since childhood or that I have enough money to buy all this stuff?”. A word of advice from me is to not get offended. These people are nice and are never willing to offend you. They are just too curious sometimes. They usually try to help as much as possible, so most probably the next phrase after such direct questions will be “That's a pity! Have you already contacted a doctor about it?” or “All those bags look quite heavy! Should I help you?”. Also, don’t be afraid when an unknown dude will come to you and start a conversation. It is quite normal here. People can just have friendly small talk with strangers. Because of this, they get accustomed to the fact that if a person wants to ask something, they will do so. They are not going to wait for secret signs or say something because they are supposed to. If you have a question or you are curious about something, no matter how silly your question might seem to you, ask! They believe that stupid question does not exist. Even if you are going to a professional lecture about thermodynamics, nobody will look at you strangely if you ask to repeat the main thermodynamics equation involved in the lecture. LanguageMost of the Dutch population can speak English.. If you are stressed about how you are going to survive without being fluent in Dutch and already downloaded Duolingo, then chill. I mean, learning a new language is cool and all and the Dutch people will appreciate you learning their language, but it is perfectly fine if you start a conversation in English; nobody will be surprised, and usually, the conversation will continue in English. Also, it is important that while this rule applies to a lot of Dutch people, the Netherlands population consists of 17.53 million people as of 2021, so there are also exceptions to this rule. There is no better way to find this out though, other than trying to interact with them, so get on with it!

Payment

A lot of international people experience knowledge gaps about payments in the Netherlands as they rely on Maestro cards too much and less on other cards.Maestro, for those who don’t know, is a payment card network processor like Visa and MasterCard, and every Dutch bank will offer you a Maestro debit card. The significance of this card will be evident to you as a lot of places can simply reject any card which is not Maestro as their card machines only accept Maestro cards. This occurs not only in small shops or vendors. Multistore chains can also do this. For example, Albert Heijn, which is one of the biggest offline supermarkets in the Netherlands, will only accept Maestro cards in most of its stores.How do you deal with this?If you did not have a Maestro card prior to entering the Netherlands, the most optimal way is to get a Dutch bank account and apply for a Maestro card. However, you will need a BSN for it, and that can take some weeks to get after you arrive so till then it’s better to be cautious that your card might get rejected in a lot of places.CASHWhile most places use cards, it is always a good idea to have cash on you, especially for the first 1 or 2 weeks of you staying here where you might not have a maestro card yet for emergencies. You can add money to your Dutch account later.VISA/MASTERCARD/AMEXMost places which only accept card payments will accept Visa or Mastercard as a means of international card services you can use in the Netherlands, so keep a card with you and make sure to turn international transactions on. Don't expect to use your AMEX card as a reliable payment method as you won't be able to use it at a lot of places.CREDIT CARDSAnother thing to keep in mind is some places can accept all card networks but they might reject credit cards of any type, so it's better to have a debit card with you rather than a credit one.IDEALOne of the fastest and most reliable online ways of payment in the Netherlands is iDeal. If you have a Dutch bank account, you can pay on any website or app on your phone from your bank app using iDeal.

Bicycles

Yes, basically almost all Dutch citizens use bicycles as their main method of transport. The main reasons for this are:The road quality is perfectRoads are made in a way that different methods of transport rarely cross each other. Usually, bikes have their own lane that differs from other vehicles, such as cars, so it is safe even for small kids to use their bicyclesIf you saw massive hills in the Netherlands, that is equivalent to winning a jackpot, so it is quite chill to use bicycles as you cycle with the same effort everywhereUsually, all the necessary stuff for humans is located in a radius of 5 km, which is easily reachable by pedalingAs a person who hated cycling before coming to the Netherlands, I would say that it is worth using, and believe me, biking in the Netherlands is like smoking tar in Delhi, if you are not super rich, you don't want to do it, but there's no other choice. Buy or rent a bike?In EIndhoven Bike rental is very easy and convenient but renting usually costs around 10-30 euros per month. If you are lucky you could find one for around 50 euros per month. I bought two second-hand bicycles: one for 40 euros, another for 80, so you can see for yourself the efficiency of renting bicycles compared to purchasing one.If you are interested in renting bicycles, a good way to do it is through Swapfiets. They are a bike renting subscription service that offers services through city stores, websites, and an application available for download on the App Store and Google Play. To be honest, even if you are rich enough to not count money, I would not recommend renting. Usually, the quality of vehicles for renting for a decent price is not the best.If you are wondering about places where you can find second-hand goods, then the best choice will be to ask people around you. Another working strategy could be to try to google “kringloop” or “kringloopwinkel” near you. These words can be translated as second-hand shops from Dutch. Do not worry, you will be surprised by the quality-value ratio for goods in these shops. They’re actually quite high.Tips on how to choose a bicycle: Never believe that a back-pedal brake is the best pedal in the world. You will start suffering from the first time you will need to stop at an intersection. If you have the opportunity to have a bicycle with a hand brake, choose this one instead of a back-pedal brake.Listed below are 3 of the most commonly used bikes in the Netherlands.City bikeThe best choice for simple transportation from point A to point B. It has a curved frame that makes it easier for you when you need to stop or get off the bike, and they have up to 3 gears and a back/front “truck” where you can place your goods. This bicycle is the easiest to bike and the best for beginners.SportbikeIf you need to transport yourself with good speed and you are already quite experienced in cycling, then this bike might be the one for you. It has a straight frame and a lot of gears, therefore it can be a lot faster than a city bike depending on the gear and how good you are at pedaling.E-bikeThe best solution for lazy people. This bicycle is a hybrid between a city bike and a scooter. Basically, you pedal and the bicycle increases your power like an Iron Man costume. Also, it has a battery and needs to be recharged every day. Be prepared that this will cost you quite a lot of money. Also to note, these bicycles are usually the first trigger for thieves!Useful tip: Bicycle thieves are quite common throughout the Netherlands, so be sure to buy good locks for your bikes! Don’t ever think “Oh this won’t happen to me, I found a good, secure parking spot. I don’t need locks!” because believe it or not, this happens VERY often. Simply put, locks are not optional but mandatory if you want to keep your bike safe and sound with you.Utilities for bicycles are sold in quite a lot of shops. Out of all of the big supermarkets: only Albert Heijn does not have stuff for bikes. Markets where you are guaranteed to find bike equipment are Action and Lidl.Important tip: Cycling with lights when it is dark out is mandatory. The fee for breaking this rule starts from 200 euros. By the way, if the police stop you and you cannot show them your ID, they will request you to pay 200 more and come with them to court, so be careful!

Public Transport

If the distance to a certain destination is too large to travel by bike, most people travel by train. They are well structured, fast and very accessible. If you have the opportunity to go somewhere by train just do it.In Google Maps they will be mentioned as Intercity or Sprinter. By name, you can understand that the first one goes from city to city, while the second stops on every single stop. For example, stops for Intercity include Schiphol, Amsterdam Centraal, Utrecht Centraal, and Eindhoven Centraal. Stops for Sprinter include: Eindhoven Strijp-S, Eindhoven Centraal, Tilburg, Tilburg Universiteit. Nevertheless, they are the first point of complaint for Dutch people. In some cases, they can be delayed or sometimes even canceled minutes prior to departure, especially if it is snowing or raining a lot. Just an advice: check train schedules carefully before using them. They are also sometimes either early, late, rescheduled or outright canceled, so make sure you prepare for the worst-case scenario. A general excuse for being late to class: NS trains (Please, don’t say to your school professor that we told you that). To buy a ticket you just need to find a big blue and yellow machine that looks similar to an ATM. It's generally inside every station before the barricades, switch the language to English if you do not understand Dutch, and follow the steps on the screen (or as per usual, ask someone).You don't need to buy tickets in advance and be scared that there is only a limited amount of them. I have never gotten into a situation where there are no tickets left. If you cannot figure something at the station out or if you have other questions, at the station there are people in neon green reflective jackets. They work there and they will help you around. To check the trains there is a special website:https://www.ns.nl/en .There is also an application you can download on your phone, available on App Store and Google Play, that also allows you to buy tickets. It is called NS Travel Planner, and it is quite handy for public transportation. Among purchasing tickets for public transportation, it can also show train schedules and what train lines or tracks might be unavailable due to roadwork. You can also link an OV-chipkaart (more information down below) to this app to keep track of your transactions.Another application you can get is called 9292, and it works similarly to NS Travel Planner in that it can show train schedules, but it can also show bus schedules as well and can combine both schedules in order to create the most optimal route to a location. You can also get tickets through this app.Only some cities like The Hague, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam have a metro in the Netherlands. However, do not be deceived as it is huge, so be prepared. It has around 9 lines. It is quite user-friendly for people who have used an underground metro system before. If you have not, ask your fellow student to come with you, or don't hesitate to ask people nearby. I had used an underground metro before but when I first got to the Amsterdam ones, I got confused and the funniest part is that there is usually no staff nearby who can help you around. For tickets, there are also special ticket machines. They are present at every station and not supported by any workers nearby. So, the same advice also applies here: people around will help you, just ask.Buses are just general buses. If you need to get off the bus you need to press the stop button before your stop, because they do not stop at every stop. Also, screaming out, “Stop before the next intersection” is a no-go here. Buses stop only on predefined stops and only when you are pressing the Stop button. If you are standing at the bus stop and want the bus to stop, make sure to signal the driver that you want to get in, because buses with different routes are not always given their own bus stops, so bus drivers do not know what bus you are expecting to get in to and might expect you to want a different bus instead if you don’t signal them.You can buy a ticket from the chauffeur, but in general, people just get in and pay for the transport on the bus itself. When you get on the bus, you need to check in with your OV-chipkaart (further explanation of what this is is further down the text), credit card or debit card. Cash is not a permissible method of payment on buses. To do this, simply touch a yellow/white machine near the entrance with your card and wait till it beeps and shows a green tick. Before stepping out from the bus you are also required to check out, which is exactly the same procedure as before. The system will calculate the distance you took from the entry point to the checkout point and deduct the amount of money needed from your card afterwards.Trams have a similar system to buses but you will see them only in big cities such as Amsterdam or Rotterdam, just to mention a few. They also have a similar check-in/out system to buses and you need to press the stop button for specific stops too.Payment and OV-chipkaartAn OV-chipkaart is a card used to pay for public transport. There are two types of OV-chipkaarts, and they come in different colors. The first one is an anonymous card, meaning the card is not entitled to a certain individual, and the second is a personalized card, which means they can only be used by a certain individual The first one is purchasable at big stations and shops (such as Albert Heijn). The second card is only available online/.It has your personal information like your name and photo on the card, therefore you need to submit such information when you are making the card. You also create an account with this card where you can see all information regarding the said card, such as usage, payments, etc.What is the difference between them? First, on a personal OV card, you can pay for a subscription which will allow you to pay for your transport at lesser prices. Second, if you lost your card or it got stolen, you can easily block it and request a new one with a personalized card. It is not possible with an anonymous one. It is not tied to anyone, therefore the card can be used by anybody if you happen to lose it.How much does it cost? Both of them cost 7.5 euros.How can I buy a personal OV-chipkaart? Through the OV-chipkaart website itself, which is:https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/persoonlijke-ov-chipkaartSimply go to the website and follow the instructions on it. The website will ask for your name and contact information and also a picture of your face, so prepare all necessary information before buying a personal OV-chipkaart.Can I travel without this card? Yes, you do, but it's usually cheaper and more convenient to use the OV-chipkaart rather than a credit card.Ticket overview:Traveling by train using OV-chipkaart is cheaper. If you buy tickets in the ticket machine, you pay an additional 1 euro per trip for printing costs. Buying tickets online will prevent this fee from being added to your payment.With buses, it is more complicated, but in general, there is a one-hour ticket, a ticket to the exact destination, and a combi- ticket for bus, tram, and metro for one hour. What is better differs from situation to situation, so I personally recommend just using the check-in system.!!!!An important tip for children under 19!!! If you are under 19 you can use a special train ticket for minors, which costs 7,95 euro and is available for use for the whole day. However, you are allowed to travel with it only during non-peak hours.

Jobs in The Netherlands

Before we start talking about working as a student, I would like to point out that it's also possible to come to the Netherlands for just work. There are a bunch of options you can try and you can find everything about that in this link: https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/work-in-the-netherlandsI can imagine that as a student, you want to work, primarily to cover the living cost or the stupidly high rent price here or just to earn some extra cash to burn. Whatever your reason is, Holland can offer you a bunch of opportunities to work while pursuing your studies here. Before going into the opportunities for part-time work you can choose as a student, I would like to state the fact that we have very limited knowledge about skilled work or coming to the Netherlands to work, as this website is based on student life. For studentsIn Eindhoven, English-speaking jobs are easy to find, You can just take a stroll around the center or any marketplace and you might see multiple hiring posters. Even if they don't advertise their job spots, you can try applying through the store websites. There are also job-hunting websites you can scour, such as Indeed, which you can access through this link:https://nl.indeed.com/?from=gnav-homepage The most common and convenient options for you would be restaurants, multinational fast food chains (KFC, McDonald's), Europe-based food chains (Chidoz), supermarkets (Jumbo, Albert Heijn), and retail stores. Other than store jobs, you can also work as a food or grocery delivery person from Thuisbezorgd, UberEats, Flink, and many more. If you are not one for consistent shifts, you can work as a freelancer from agencies like Workpool and Garcon. By the way, working Ukrainians under Temporary protection have no hour restrictions and have valid working insurance (but it is recommended to ask the insurance company about your insurance number before starting work and check the validity of insurance from your employer for the type of work you will be doing).Well now, I am going to divide this into 2 parts: one for Non-EU students and the other for EU, as there is 1 very essential and different rule for non-Europeans that affects a lot of thingsNon-EUThe main thing differentiating EU and non-EU students' opportunities is the work permit, called TMV here. As soon as you collect your residence permit, you will see a message on the back stating that you can't work without an additional document ‘TMV’, so let's look into what this is. TMV is required for non-European students to work part-time in the Netherlands. There are 2 types of permits. One allows you 16 hours of work per week during your academic year and the second one allows you to work full-time over the summer break. Your employer is the one who applies for the work permit, which can take up to five weeks to arrive. EUIf you are willing to work part-time and you are fluent in English, finding a job should not be hard for you. This is especially true if you are finding a job in Eindhoven, where a language barrier barely exists and the majority of the population speak English. Most probably, you don't need to acquire knowledge of the Dutch language from your side.Useful Tip #1Firstly, whatever you are reading here, make sure to confirm it with somebody in person, because even the same permit can differ from situation to situation. So, the best option will be to go to the university and ask them about your work possibilities. As long as they were responsible for making your residence permit, they should also be able to tell you more about work permits. Also, make sure to clarify all doubts with your employee and read your contract carefully (saying from experience). Most of the jobs in the Netherlands are hourly paid and with temporary contracts. The minimum wage for an 18 year old worker is 997.50 euros per month, and this will increase as you grow older, increasing up to the age of 21.Useful Tip #2If you are worried about managing your study with your work, most employers offer different types of contracts such as a zero-hour or twelve-hour contract, which basically bind you to work a certain set of hours per week. You can still work more if you are allowed (ask your employer for confirmation), but if you want some flexibility with the work, you need to make sure you have some time for school as well then look for an employer offering a zero-hour contract or ask for one. With a zero-hour contract you are not bound to work every week but you can just plan whenever you are ready.HORECA (Hotel/restaurants/catering)If you wish to work in catering for example as a waiter, kitchen help, or bartender, there are a lot of options. You can realistically ask any restaurant/bar if they are hiring or not. The only response to expect other than yes or no for non-Europeans will be about the work permit. Some employers might not be ready to go through the effort of applying for your work permit or waiting up to five weeks for just a part-time employee, so keep that in mind.Usually, these types of jobs have decent pay, and depending on the strictness of the owner, the work environment should be on the scale of fair to enjoyable. This should be considered a good option even for non-Europeans because you can negotiate with the owner about your work permit situation.RIDERWell, this is one of the jobs with high demand for employees right now. If you apply around winter, most probably they will let you in. For example with companies such as Thuisbezorgd, it doesn't matter if you are European or not. They will happily apply for your work permit. The pay is lesser compared to other jobs. Well, the salary is comparatively low but you can still earn a bit more than just your hourly rate with PA allowance and tips, but it's still not a high-paying job. Therefore, if you wanna earn as much money as possible, then this might not be the best option but rather a safe and reliable one. You will get the number of hours you want almost every week. It takes a special talent to get fired from Uber Eats or Thuisbezorgd.FREELANCERThis is something to consider for students looking for the highest hourly rates, but to understand why, let's check the scene and options for freelancing in Eindhoven. There are multiple agencies that you can reach out to and get enrolled as a freelancer. You need a self-employed work permit but the agency will help you with the process and they will let you know all the prerequisites for being a freelancer before you start.Being a freelancer is flexible and highly rewarding. You would have a single few hours shift at a random restaurant or shop. If required, they will brief you about the work before the start of the shift and expect you to give your best at the job. They will have the luxury to fill in feedback about you after every job and do keep in mind that negative feedback can affect your future in similar jobs.These jobs usually pay around 16 to 20 euros (excl. taxes).Side note for non-Europeans: If you are hired by an employer, you are only allowed to work for a maximum of 16 hours per week. However, if you are a freelancer you do not have any limit on that as long as you file your taxes.As a freelancer, you are expected to file BTW taxes every quarter. Your agency should help you with that.If they don't, here's a doc file that should help you: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-wxrFGcu9OiH35zSboCsvi4zNU_dvm8PSIJVSfhJfNo/edit WORK AT YOUR UNIVERSITYMost of the universities allow students to work for them. Once in a while, they will organize a “job market” where everyone can give their CV and wait for a reply. It is a cool opportunity because you are technically working at the same place where you study and the salaries are quite good. The only problem is that in most cases, the number of hours that you are working is small, so if you want to work to cover your living expenses it is not going to be enough. However, you already will work on your CV in advance, which is a good skill to have for the future.Important note!!!:As it goes, the Netherlands has its own rules of taxes, and if you want to work here, most likely you will need to deal with taxes. As such, there are plenty of tax calculators for the Netherlands that you can use to calculate the amount of taxes you might pay depending on your salary, such as this one linked here:https://thetax.nl/?income=60000&startFrom=Year&selectedYear=2023&older=false&allowance=false&socialSecurity=true&hoursAmount=40&ruling=falseUseful TipThese are my personal recommendations on how to get a job at university. First of all, they are not looking for the best person, they are looking for a person who will be able to learn fast and be friendly to other students with whom he/she is working with. So, do what you like to do, and don't be afraid to show your strengths or curiosity at the university. Sometimes, an enthusiastic person is better than a professional, so remember that. Also, in this case, the community can help you a lot. Get to know as many people as you can, be friendly, and maybe in the future they will help you to find your future job.

Shops

Knowing what and where to buy is one of the essential aspects of living in a city and you will be surprised how the shops here have rules that differ from what you might be used to. For example, ‘non-essential’ shops like clothing brand outlets, cosmetic shops, etc. close at 6 pm, so after 6 pm the only places that are open are restaurants, supermarkets, and of course bars. Of course, this ‘rule’ doesn't apply to every shop, but similar types of stores mostly follow the same timings. So, let’s look over an overview of some types of stores that you should know about.SupermarketsThe biggest names in supermarkets in the Netherlands are Jumbo and Albert Heijn (AH). Both of these supermarket chains try to be as convenient for everyone, so you can find them in almost every neighborhood and it should not be a huge task to find a Jumbo or AH within ten minutes of walking distance from wherever you live in the ‘city’. Supermarkets are usually open till 10 pm on most days except for Sundays when they close at 8 pm.Both Jumbo and AH are similar in the types of products they sell, although there are some notable differences in other aspects. Here are some details and differences:Price - Oftentimes, there are price disparities in both supermarkets. In general, however, Jumbo is cheaper than Albert Heijn, so take note of that when choosing which supermarket to go to. However, Lidl will be significantly cheaper than both AH and Jumbo but their stock and variety are kind of limited so sometimes you will find yourself going to Jumbo because you can't find one particular thing at LidlPayment - Both of them have self-checkout counters where you can scan your cart, pay, and get out without human interaction. It’s usually a faster approach than going through the queue for the cashier, but don't worry if you are not used to the self-checkout. They also have cashiers.Both accept cash (cashier) and card (self-checkout and cashier) payments. The difference is that Jumbo accepts Visa and MasterCard payments along with Maestro. Still, AH only accepts Maestro cards (there are exceptions to this in some AH stores, some do accept other forms of card payment, and this information can be accessed through their site). Alcohol - Although you can buy beer, wine, or ciders in the general part of the supermarket, in both of them, when it comes to hard liquors like spirits and anything with more than 20% alcoholic content they are usually displayed in a different store on the same building and you usually have to go through an age check before entering the store. Jumbo has the license to sell hard liquor, so you will find this different room in every Jumbo (other than Jumbo Go). Albert Heijn partners with Gall & Gall to sell liquor, so in some Albert Heijns you can find a small Gall & Gall section but it's not in every AH. The legal age for alcohol consumption is 18 years old, like in most European countries.Of course, These two are not the only markets you can go to, but they are the most convenient and are also the cheapest options. Other than Jumbo and AH, there is also Lidl and Aldi. They are less common, but in some cases, they are even cheaper than Jumbo.  You can also explore online grocery options like Picnic, Getir, Flink, and more. Online groceries are obviously more expensive than offline but they are fast. You can get your groceries delivered to your doorstep in around 10-40 minutes, depending on distance of course.In addition, there are also regional stores and supermarkets with exported goods. Understandably, they are slightly more expensive, but you can find regional stuff that you might not be able to find in Jumbo or Albert Heijn. The best thing that you can do is to ask your fellow students about it or go through the articles back where we listed some regional stores. By the way, some AH and Jumbos have some regional goods. Of course, most of them are produced in Europe and are not the same quality that you are accustomed to back home, but it is something that these shops can offer for international students.Restaurants (classy)/Grand cafesGrand cafes usually provide a cozy environment for your group outings. Offering a huge variety of drinks and food, you can just go there with your friends, have some drinks, eat some snacks and then leave after dinner. Basically, if you do not want to roam around stratum going to bars but instead want to talk over drinks, this can be a nice option. They usually close late (~1/2 am) but you should check on Google for more specific timings about any particular grand cafe or restaurant. However, as broke students, we should admit that going to restaurants usually divides the number on our bank cards by half. Just a friendly reminder to be responsible with your money.Shopping MallTwo of the biggest shopping malls in Eindhoven are Piazza and WoensXL which are not closed units but rather open areas making use of the little daylight we get here. Due to this while you might be walking to a university suddenly you find yourself inside of a mall.Piazza, situated near the Eindhoven train station offers a variety of shops from clothing brands like Zara to sports stores and Decathlon. You can shop by walking through the mall and checking the shops there. You can also get donuts at Dunkin Donuts.WoensXL shopping center is a bit far from the city center but offers a number of shops that are more affordable.If you prefer a more creative and artistic side of clothing, There is an Urban shopper shopping center in Strijp-s with vintage clothing, Hairdressers, inspiring books, graffiti paintings, handmade bags, upcycled silk kimonos, Art-Deco handmade accessories, and unique jewelry.For a more fashion and lifestyle-focused shopping mall, the Shopping center Heuvel is located in the city center with top brands and also underground parking space.Fast food chainsDon't worry, you won't lose your obesity. Eindhoven has McDonald's here along with KFC, Burger King, Five Guys, Domino’s, and almost every famous fast food chain there is (International or Dutch). Most of the places have self-ordering panels so you do not have to worry about the cashier judging that you are eating a 4-person meal alone or how many cards you try for the payment.Usually, the fast food stores are located in either the Centrum or in the Winklecentrum Wonsel (The north city center) and they are usually open till 10 p.m. However, on the weekends, the Centrum stores can be open till midnight and they are available on online ordering platforms like Thuisbezorgd or UberEats.Usually, these multi-store chains accept Visa and Mastercard payments along with Maestro, so you won't have to worry about getting a Dutch account before treating yourself to a Papa John’s Pizza (they have them here too by the way).  SmokingSmoking is very socially accepted in the Netherlands, but you can’t find everything you need in one place, so let's talk about what to expect when you go out shopping for your smoke stackCigarettes/Tabacco- You can buy cigarettes from almost every supermarket. Almost every Jumbo and AH sells cigarettes. They are not allowed to display them, so try to look for separate counters (outside of the general buying area) and ask them which one you want. Night Shops are also very reliable options post 10 p.m., when everything is closed. Also, cigs are the only thing that night shops do not sell at higher prices than supermarkets, so cigarettes will be the same price at almost every kind of shop.You can’t buy slim or menthol cigarettes here in the Netherlands. Some of the brands available here that you can try are Pall Mall(€8), Camel(€9), and Marlboro(€9.5). As you can see, cigarettes are way more expensive than in Asian or Eastern European countries, so it's better to just not smoke here.Weed - Yes, It’s legal here. The official name for weed shops is “Coffeeshops”. You have to be 18 or over, and you need to show your ID card at the entrance at most coffee shops. You can get up to 5 grams of weed at once, and most of the coffee shops also offer edibles and pre-rolls. Coffeeshops also sell rolling papers and tips but don’t expect them to have much variety. Some shops can offer sitting spaces and they also usually offer drinks like cola, coffee, tea, etc.Rolling Supplies- Rolling papers and tips are kind of easy to find. Almost every shop that can sell smoking stuff can have them too, but they don’t have much in terms of variety. If you want to really get some quality and variety, Smart Houses got your back. Everything rolling and smoking-related, papers, active tips, pipes, bongs, CBD oil, Grinder, weed seeds, and mushrooms are available at Smart Houses. ShowroomsMost of the outlets are in Centrum, and they are the first to be closed every day. They close at 6 pm on weekdays and 5 pm on weekends. Most of them accept visa payments. TIP - Almost every store has really good offers around Christmas, so I would suggest going around Centrum during that time to check out the sales. Also, try to download their apps. Usually, there are a lot of discounts.Late-NightsMost probably you will be in need of something to eat at 2 am or just wanna buy something after the supermarket hours. The Turks will be your saviors, as your most convenient choice will be a shawarma place, as after 12 am they are the only food shop open. Most fast food places like KFC or McDonald's close at 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. The main Turkish street in Eindhoven is called Kruisstratt.A shawarma place will offer some solid dinner options at reasonable prices and the stratum ones even have cheap small snack options, so it can be a nice ending to your night-outs.The closing times for weekends are usually around 1-2 am, and for weekends it can go till 3 am for walk-in only. Of course, these are the general timing for these stores. For exact timings, google the place.Now, late-night shopping is not exclusively food-related. Maybe you want something urgent at night and can't wait till morning. For example, toilet paper, or maybe a girl invited you over at 11 p.m. and you need some wine and condoms?Don’t worry because night shops will be your savior. You can just search night shops and Google will show you the closest one. They are mini supermarkets which are open till 2 am. They put more taxes on the goods so the prices for everything will be more compared to Jumbo or AH for everything other than cigarettes because they are already overtaxed by the Dutch government.Important note: Black Friday sales exist here too! For those uninformed, Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving, and many shops and websites give out great discounts for the entire week of that Friday! So, prepare accordingly!

Social Life

Yey, guys! We are already here! That means that you are coming to Eindhoven or are already there. Also, this means you are interested in what you can do in this city. So, let's get into it!Student associationsStudent associations are organizations that are interested in doing something together, ranging in sports all the way up to psychological workshops. It's usually a lot of fun! Imagine this: you like to draw, but you don't have like-minded individuals such as yourself and no money. Here, you can spend time with people who enjoy the same things you do. And yes, all of them are sponsored by the government, so the prices will be less than doing it on your own. We actually have a separate article for some student associations here too (yet to be uploaded), but for now, here is a list of them (but do make sure to check that article when it's out too, because we go into way deeper detail for each association there!): https://www.tue.nl/en/our-university/communityhttps://fontys.edu/Fontys-Helps-1/Useful-links/Study-associations.htmDon’t worry that these websites refer to TU/e universities. If you are from Fontys, you are more than welcome to join TU/e organizations and vice versa. At the beginning of the school year universities usually organize introduction events where you can go for a fee and get to know associations while also meeting new people.PartiesHow can a student city thrive without parties? They are everywhere. In Eindhoven, there is even a special street with only bars called Stratumseind. There is a tradition in Eindhoven that the main “party” day throughout the week is Thursday. Don’t ask why, just know that if you want to see crowded bars and lots of people, go party on Thursday. Also, it is quite normal here to go to parties every week, so don't think that you will look like an alcoholic or a party animal for going to them so often. SportThe Netherlands’ politics towards sports is more than positive. The price for them is a lot cheaper than doing sport by yourself. Unfortunately, for some reason, Eindhoven doesn't have a lot of sports grounds, though universities usually provide their own gym. TU/e has their sports center that costs only around 100 euro per year and is accessible to Fontys students too.University activitiesThe associations provide a lot of social activities, especially at the beginning of the new school year. I highly recommend participating in those, because it really helps build connections with different students. Check the posters around you and listen to word of mouth. You do not want to miss these events. Also, just a friendly reminder that you are the sole person responsible for your life! So if you want to go out and have fun, throw a party! If you feel that you want to meet new people just go out and broaden your community.

What to See in Eindhoven

This article is for people who want to get accustomed to this city a little bit. To be honest, during our first year in university, we were complaining about how there is nothing to do in this God-forsaken place in the Netherlands. However, in preparing this article I found myself thinking “Stop, stop! Are you sure Google is actually showing me a map of Eindhoven?!”. So as you can assume, there are places here that even we didn’t know were here either. For now, we explain what it is we have found so far, but in the future, we will improve this article with more interesting places.Let's start our journey at the universities in Eindhoven, starting off with the TU/e campus, which is home to several TU/e buildings and one of the buildings of Fontys in Eindhoven, which is the engineering building. To start, there are two main places to hunt for food and one bar with possible food. There is a Subway and a Spar near the Luna building and inside the building there is a bar called Hubble in the TU/e campus. There is also a Turkish pizza place in the sports center. I cannot say that the prices in any of these places are, in general, the best, but people say that the price for a beer in Hubble is the best around the city. In general, these places are the usual meeting points for students during breaks so you will probably visit them a lot. If you are wondering what Luna is, it is a building where accommodations are rented to some students. Also, it has places for some of the student organizations and is also where Hubble is, so this is the main meeting place around the campus.We also have a library on the TU/e campus. Of course, I don’t believe that you are going to read books here unless to impress some cute girl who, like you, pretends to read books. Whatever… This is quite a nice place to study. There are a lot of students who are working, so it will be easier to motivate yourself to work. Technically, it is the TU/e library, and students from Fontys are not allowed to be there. However, it is only technically, and nobody cares who you are unless you decide to burn some books, etc. TU/e also has a building called Innovation (yes, that is the name of the building). It is a free workshop for your inventions. You just go upstairs, leave your student card there and use any labs that are located here. However they are open only from 10 to 17:30, so if that is enough time for you, you can give it a try.Also located here is a Student Sport Center and a couple of sports grounds. Another place located here is a beautiful river where you can sit and enjoy your student years during breaks.Aside from TU/e and Fontys, there is also the Design Academy of Eindhoven that you can visit.If you want to stray away from campuses, you can go towards the city center (or as it is called in Dutch, centrum). Firstly, slightly away from the tall buildings in the center, there is the Central Station. The main thing to know about this place (other than that it is Eindhoven’s main train station) is that there is the main bus station there. You can get anywhere around the city from there. Also, to get through the station you need to have a ticket or an OV-chipkaart, and around five minutes to walk from one end to the other. You need to do this if you want to access the bus station located on the other side of the station (if you are to enter from the Centrum side of the station, at least). If you don't possess these items you need to go around the station and spend 10 minutes of your time walking, which doesn’t make any sense.Right next to the station is the city center. The first place that you’ll probably see is Piazza - this is the best place to shop as it is the biggest mall in Eindhoven. Also, you will see this cool glass building. It’s a good place to live, but it costs quite a lot of money compared to other options. Not recommended for broke students.On the other side of the station, you will see a tall building colored beige. This is the Student Hotel or Student Hub, whatever you would prefer to call it. This is a place where a lot of students found their accommodations.The road from Piazza to the St. Catharina church is the ‘high street’. The majority of shops, especially flex shops, are located on this street called Rechtestraat. St. Catharina church is quite a nice place and technically the center of the city. Then, almost like poetry, if you go forward a little bit from the church, you will appear on Stratumseind - the bar street. If you want to go visit some sightseeing places, I can recommend some museums. Van Abbemuseum is a museum of modern art. It has a cool atmosphere both inside and outside the museum. It is built like a labyrinth inside. The main part that I like about such kinds of places is that you can actually enjoy it with friends. Either making fun of everything that you see or being high in order to understand the meaning of the arts present, there are a lot of things you can do with your friends here.Philips Museum - the most “flexing” museum in Eindhoven. I personally don't really like it: a lot of text, not a lot of exhibitions. But still, a general overview of the guys who built this city is pretty informative.DAF MuseumIf you are a car enthusiast, then you can’t miss this museum in Eindhoven. The biggest and best automotive museum in Eindhoven, DAF has a huge history, and they unfold it in the museum. They also present not just DAF history. This place showcases history as a whole. There is one room in the museum that showcases human history printed on the walls in chronological order. Not to worry though. It is not just a boomer place to learn about history, you will get to see some cool engines, trucks, lifesize models of trucks you can sit inside with your friends, and different types of cars like military, vintage, F1, rally racing cars, and many more. There is one model of a rally race car with racing seats and a wheel that you can sit inside to experience what it would feel like to be inside a racing car.Overall, this place offers a very pleasant and informative experience for car enthusiasts and regular muggles, so if you have around two to four hours to spare I would strongly recommend giving this museum a visit.So, I hope this small overview will help you get to know the main places of this city. It is not everything that we wanted to tell you, but it is just a toolkit for you to survive and start exploring by yourself. How bad can feedback from students about this city be? It is still quite a nice place to live. So, explore! This study year we will help you by posting upcoming events and places that you can visit. Visit places and events somewhere around the beginning of October and see what you can do there. See you soon!!!

Places to Visit

Eindhoven is a city bustling with places to visit and have fun/be productive at, and here's a list of places we find are good for students to have a visit to!Places to StudyEindhoven is a busy city and dutch people yap a lot, which means it can be difficult to find places to study when exams begin! Whether you prefer a quiet space or a bustling cafe, there’s always an option![The following is in order of quietest to loudest (If you dont have good headphones)]Eindhoven LibraryFilled with books and quiet spaces to sit if you don't sit near gossip groups, the Eindhoven Library is for anyone and everyone who needs to sit down and get some good research done. It’s a lovely and calm place to both relax and hit the books!Address: Emmasingel 22, 5611 AZ EindhovenWalking Distance from TU/e Campus: 1.9 kmOpening Hours:Monday - Friday: 10 am - 7pmSaturday: 10 am - 5 pmSunday: 1 - 5 pmWebsite: http://www.bibliotheekeindhoven.nl/Nearby EntertainmentOf course, university isn’t all studying. Enjoying local entertainment with friends or simply relaxing is important. A healthy balance between university and good times can make all the difference! Here are a few places in Eindhoven Centrum which you can enjoy!Movie Night!There are several places to see movies in Eindhoven. Depending on your preferences or choice of movie, you have options!The closest comercial theaters are the Pathe theater, and the Vue theater. Both offer student-price tickets at (13.5 [check price]) Euro. Of course, both theaters sell popcorn, snacks, and drinkPathe has a very open and welcoming entrance area, where if you are early to your movie of  choice, you can relax before the doors open but they also wont allow you to enter the movie if you are more than 15 minutes later (you can buy another tickets from your tickets if you are late tho). but if you are on time, it’s not particularly necessary to sit down and wait for your movie. Otherwise, the  theaters are very similar and it is only up to preference on which you choose.Should you want to see less mainstream movies, or simply walk less, the TU/e campus has its own movie theater! In the building called the Zwaarte Doos, there is a theater on the first floor, which is accessible via stairs and elevator from the ground floor behind the restaurant area. Both popular and unique movies are shown here, but mainstream movies are limited and generally are shown a few weeks after release.Additionally, if you don’t know Dutch, be sure to check your movie in advance. If a movie title has (OV) attached to its name this means that the movie will be shown in its original version including the language it was filmed in. Not all theaters will put the (OV) in the title, so be sure to look carefully at the language before booking!Address: Dommelstraat 27, 5611 CJ EindhovenWalking Distance from TU/e Campus: 1.5 kmOpening Hours: Check the website for the movie schedules!Website: https://www.pathe.nl/bioscoop/eindhovenMuziekcentrumIs music your thing, but big parties aren’t? Then the Muziekcentrum in Eindhoven Centrum is definitely for you! With many styles of music offered, from classical to electronic, the Muziekcentrum has it all! It’s a perfect place to enjoy musical journeys, no matter whether you’re with friends or going solo!Address: Heuvel 140, 5611 DK EindhovenDistance from TU/e Campus: 1.9km Opening Hours: Search for the event you wanna go to from their website and that should tell you a time!Website: Muziekgebouw Eindhoven Price Range: $$$Good Food, Good Beer, Good TimesIf you wanna survive in Eindhoven as a university student, you need beer! In some cases, it’s cheaper than water, and is practically a staple for many local students. In fact, on the TU/e campus, there are thirteen bars in total so students don’t have to stress over their lives without some fun! Chances are something to drink is never far away. If you want to find the best places to hang out with friends or enjoy a festive atmosphere, then this is for you!StratumBars, bars, bars! Stratumseind, locally known as Stratum, is a collection of bars all on one street. In fact, it’s the longest street of bars in the Netherlands, so there’s many choices to pick from! Many are home to bright lights, whores to pick, fog machines, dancing, loud music, strippers, and beer.However, prices between bars are relatively similar due to the sheer volume of them, so the best way to find your favorite is to simply go out and explore!Address: Stratumseind, 5611 EVWalking Distance from TU/e Campus: 2 kmOpening Hours: All bars are open till 4 am on Thursday - Sunday, other days some bars might be closed and the rest are usually open till 10 -12 pmPrice Range: Depends on the bar, but tap beer should be around 4 - 6 euros and shots should be 3.5 euros on average! Alcohol-Free AlternativesIf you prefer to avoid alcohol, whether you’re under the drinking age or simply want to drink something else, there’s plenty of restaurants in Eindhoven to try where alcohol isn’tfront-and-center.Gourmet Food MarketNot sure what you want? Wish you could have a bit of everything? The Gourmet Food Market has it all! From classic Dutch bitterballen to Vietnamise pho, everything is available! Order food from any mixture of indoor food stands by siting at a table and using a QR code to access the ordering website. Make your choice, pay, and it will be served directly to you!Address: Smalle Haven 2-14, 5611 EJ EindhovenWalking Distance from TU/e Campus: 2kmOpening Hours: Noon - 5 pmMonday ClosedWebsite: https://www.downtowngourmetmarket.com/ Price Range (if applicable): $$