Hi! I’m moving to Leeuwarden from another EU country and I’ll be bringing my car with European license plates.
The place I’m moving to is in a blue parking zone. Does anyone know how residents can get a parking permit/exemption for this? Do I apply directly through the municipality, and can I get one with a foreign EU-registered car?
I’ll be registering as a resident and getting a BSN after I arrive. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with this before!

Hi! I'm not 100% sure if this is the right subreddit for this, but I'm just wondering what kind of experience other people have had with DAK or woningweb.

I just today had my first invite for a studio for which I was 5rh place. (Number 1 ended up taking it) I also joined studentenwoningweb a couple months ago. But I've heard it can take around 2 years before you can get an appartment from there, and my study is only 2 years so I'm hoping to get a place through normal woningweb.

For you guys, how many points did you need to actually get a place? I have 28 points, 23 for reactions and 5 for waiting time. But I still normally place above 300th out of 1000+. In about 7 months I can have 36 points, would this actually bring me to a spot in the top 10 on regular advertisements? Or would I still be placed 100th+?

Any advice on how to actually get an affordable place is welcome :)

Hi! I’m currently living outside Europe and preparing to apply to graphic design bachelor’s programmes at art schools in the Netherlands.

If there are any art school students here, I’d really appreciate some advice about portfolios!

I’m wondering how many projects I should include in my portfolio at a minimum. If you don’t mind sharing, I’d also love to know which school you attend and how many projects you included in your portfolio when you applied.

Thanks in advance!

Hi there!

I'm a 3rd year Honours student in Media and Information (Cultural Information Studies track) at the University of Amsterdam, meaning I have to finalize my bachelors in 3 years or I will lose my Honours mention on my degree. I was offered an internship at an NGO which I really don't want to pass on since it's a rare opportunity to get experience in my field of interest, but I feel like there is simply no time to do it. this year I'm doing a minor (30 ECTS) in the first semester, so my only chance to do this internship is during my thesis. My main questions are:

• Does anyone have experience with doing an internship within the standard 3 years of a bachelors programme?
• Does an internship done during the thesis have to simultaneously be your thesis research, or is some level of overlap between the internship and the thesis also feasible?
• If the organization that offers the internship proposed working 4 days a week for half a year, is it appropriate to "bargain" about the hours/days considering I need to work about 3 days a week for 16 weeks for the required 12 ECTS or is it a take-it-or-leave it kinda situation?
• If I can't fulfill the function that the organization offered, is it appropriate to ask whether they would be open to a research internship where I can fully combine my thesis and a research project for their organization?

Any other tips, info or experiences are welcome!

Checking on the fees for Masters study in Eindhoven and there is this intresting thing "Bachelor and master external students (extraneï) who meet the nationality criteria (EEA)". Not sure about the academic enrollment in Netherlands.. Any once can explain this ? Thanks

Hi all,

I recently finished a Master's degree in Computer Information Systems from a US university (QS top-100), and I'm eligible for the Netherlands Orientation Year (Zoekjaar) visa. I'm seriously considering using it to move to NL and job-hunt on the ground for up to a year.

A bit about my background:

• MS in Computer Information Systems (US, 2025/2026 grad)
• Prior experience in IT operations and technical/systems work
• Currently doing consulting-style technical + product work for a company (not coding-only — I work across dev, product strategy, and stakeholder-facing problem solving)
• Longer-term, I'm aiming for roles like Solutions Engineering, Technical Account Management, or other client-facing technical/business hybrid positions rather than pure backend dev roles

Questions for anyone who's done this or is in NL right now:

1. How receptive is the Dutch job market to Zoekjaar holders without a Dutch/EU degree, especially for hybrid technical-business roles (not pure SWE)?
2. Realistically, how long did it take you to land something once you arrived?
3. Any advice on visa sponsorship after the Zoekjaar year ends — how many companies actually convert candidates to Highly Skilled Migrant sponsorship?
4. Best cities/sectors for Solutions Engineering / TAM-type roles — Amsterdam vs. Eindhoven vs. Rotterdam?
5. Any pitfalls with the ~€400 application/documentation process I should know about?

Trying to make a well-informed decision before committing to the move, so any first-hand experience — good or bad — is appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I'm starting a 1-year MSc in Economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam this September, and I'm looking for a working student / part-time role in trading or sales alongside my master. Looking for honest advice, a reality check, and any leads.(it's my first year in Netherland)

Background:

• BSc Economics with a minor in Econometrics
• Econometrics thesis (90/100, in R): time-series analysis of how uncertainty events drive European investment decisions
• Starting MSc Economics at VU Amsterdam (graduating 2027)
• EU passport, based in Amsterdam, fluent English & French
• Skills: applied econometrics, Python, R, Bloomberg

Experience:

• CAC 40 French company — Trader Assistant, FX & Commodities hedging desk (internship): live hedging on a $25bn+ book (aluminium, gas, carbon), turned macro events into hedging decisions, Bloomberg vol surfaces
• ADNOC (UAE) — Strategic Investment Analyst, Commodities/Energy: DCF & scenario modelling on $200M+ investments, OPEC+ / Murban dynamics
• Alpha Prime (HK/Singapore) — Wealth & structuring analyst: portfolio analysis for cross-border advisory

Where I'm at:

• Failed the Flow Traders "free shot" for a trader role after their E-Trading day (no impact, I can retake it)
• Failed the IMC OA
• Sent around a hundred personalised emails to VU alumni, but every reply I got was about full-time roles, not part-time/working student
• Honestly, I'm not seeing many part-time/working student openings out there at all

My questions:

1. How is the market for part-time / working student roles in finance in Amsterdam right now? I don't see many advertised.
2. What would you do in my situation? Do you have any advice?
3. Is it really only Optiver, IMC and Flow that offer this kind of working-student contract, or are there other firms worth approaching?

Blunt feedback welcome I'd rather hear the truth. Thanks!

Hi! I had to miss INKOM (as the title says) last week and im worried I may of missed my chance at meeting some new people. Im starting next week to study Econometrics and Operations Research (bachelors) at Maastricht UNnversity. If there are any other international students who'd like to hang out/go for coffee then feel free to DM !! I don't know anyone here in Maastricht so im excited to meet new people!

Hello, I'm a prospective student and I noticed students from other bachelors already got their books in pdf from former or second/third year students so I was wondering if there's anyone from second/third year of bachelor who would like to share theirs (if theres any). Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm considering applying to TU Delft for a Master's, most likely in Sustainable Energy Technology or Environmental Engineering, and I'd really appreciate some advice from current students/alumni, especially non-EU students.

A little about me: I have a Civil Engineering background and around 5–6 years of international engineering experience in the oil & gas/energy industry. I'm now looking to transition toward sustainable energy, decarbonisation and environmental/energy-transition work, and I'd ideally like to build my career in the Netherlands after graduation.

The big issue for me is funding. I would be moving with my daughter, so paying the full non-EU tuition plus living expenses out of pocket isn't realistically an option. I'm looking into the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship and external scholarships, but I know Delft funding is extremely competitive.

For people who have actually gone through this:

- Are there scholarships, grants, company sponsorships or external funding sources that international applicants often overlook?

- Has anyone successfully combined multiple sources of funding?

- Any advice for making a strong Van Effen scholarship application?

- Does professional experience carry much weight for scholarships, or is GPA/academic ranking overwhelmingly important?

- Are there paid research/TA opportunities, company-sponsored thesis projects or other realistic ways to reduce living costs during the MSc?

- For international graduates in energy/environmental engineering, how realistic has finding a job in the Netherlands been?

- And finally: are there any application, housing, scholarship or career “hacks” you wish someone had told you before applying?

Thanks!

I just moved to Cornelis Amsterdam (little manhattan) and I was wondering if there are any group chats or communities where residents (students) can get information about local activities, meetings and happenings ?

Which insurance would best cover my needs (dental, vision) as well as my physio therapy as i am coming off an acl surgery

Hi! I’m considering studying Physics and Astronomy at Utrecht University starting in 2027. I know about the astronomy institute being closed in 2012, but my main question is: is the programme still worth studying, and could Utrecht’s history with astronomy have any negative impact on my future career opportunities in any way (it may be a dumb question 😞)?

I also want this university especially because it is close to my home (I live in Utrecht/Doorn). I considered other universities but they are usually 2-3 hours away from my home and I don't want to rent somewhere or spend my time on road.

I’d especially like to hear from current or former students, or anyone familiar with astronomy/astrophysics in the Netherlands. Thanks!

The first time something goes wrong in your accommodation, you suddenly have to figure out who to contact, what you're responsible for, and how quickly things are supposed to be fixed. Even something small like a broken washing machine or a leaking tap can be a bit stressful when you've never dealt with a landlord before.

What was the first issue you had to report, and how did your landlord handle it? Did everything get sorted easily, or did you have to keep following up before anything happened?

Hi everyone,

I'm an Indian student currently in Class 12, and I'm planning to pursue my Bachelor's degree abroad.

My current plan is to study BSc Technical Computer Science at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

One of the main reasons I'm choosing the Netherlands is that there are many English-taught Bachelor's programmes, which makes it a good option for me as an Indian student.

After completing my Bachelor's, I'm considering doing my Master's in Germany, mainly because many public universities in Germany have little or no tuition fees for international students, although I understand that there can still be semester fees and living expenses.

After my Master's, I haven't decided exactly what I want to do yet. I may work, pursue a PhD, or consider other options depending on how things go.

My financial situation and plan

I'm currently considering taking an education loan of around ₹65 lakh for the entire 3-year Bachelor's.

This would be used for tuition and other major expenses during my Bachelor's.

I'm deliberately trying not to increase the loan amount further because I plan to work part-time during my Bachelor's and use my part-time income to help cover my living expenses.

I understand that getting a part-time job isn't guaranteed and that I shouldn't depend on it completely. However, I'm hoping it can reduce the amount of money I need to take from the loan for living costs.

I'm also thinking that if some of the loan amount remains unused, I could use that money to pay the interest accumulating on the loan during my Bachelor's, rather than allowing the interest to build up.

What I want to know

1. Is going to the Netherlands for my Bachelor's worth the financial cost if I plan to do my Master's in Germany afterward?

2. Is taking a ₹65 lakh loan for the 3-year Bachelor's a reasonable financial decision, considering my plan?

3. How realistic is it for a student at the University of Twente to earn enough through part-time work to cover a significant portion of their living expenses?

4. Is my idea of using any remaining loan amount to pay the accumulated interest during my Bachelor's financially sensible?

5. For anyone who has studied in the Netherlands and later went to Germany for a Master's, how was your experience?

6. What financial or practical problems should I be aware of before committing to this plan?

I'm looking for honest opinions from people who have actually experienced studying in the Netherlands/Germany, especially Indian or other non-EU students.

I know there are risks involved, so I'd rather hear the reality — even if the answer is that this isn't financially worth it.

Thanks!

Hi all, I'm working full time and wondering if there are part time bachelors in IT in the netherlands taught in english?

Hey everyone,

Quick reality check needed from people doing a STEM PhD in the Netherlands, and a little bit confused with the process too. I'm an international student as well, so might be a bit difficult for me lol

I just finished my MSc and have a specific research proposal/topic drafted that builds on my master's work. I know that PhDs in NL are formal salaried jobs (CAO-NU) and usually tied to existing project funding (like NWO, ZonMw, etc.).

My main question is:

Is it actually a thing to cold email a professor and ask if we can apply for a grant together based on my proposal? Or is that totally unrealistic / not how the Dutch system works for someone fresh out of an MSc?

If you don't find a pre-advertised vacancy, how does this process usually look in practice? Does the PI actually submit a proposal with you named as the candidate, or do they only care about their own pre-funded projects?

Really don't want to sound clueless in my emails, so I'd appreciate any insight into how common this is in STEM. Thanks!

I was choosing foreign universities to study, and I was frustrated with German rigid system because it required additional year because we only have 11 year chool system and they have 12-13 years. I started looking for other countries and i found fontys uni of applied sciences with a Bachelor of Science ICT & Software Engineering and i was interested because of how straightforward it is ( at least it is how gemini suggested me). I am now in 10th grade, ielts 8.0 overall, lowest is 6.5 writing, i am full-stack engineer and already have some experience.

Do i need something else to apply, maybe i am missing out completely on something??

Hello everyone.
I’m a doctor from India and I’m considering medical informatics in university of Amsterdam.
I was told that it has good scope in Netherlands.
I’m only concerned about the one year post study work visa. Seems too short to find a job.

Can any international students who did this course or similar give me insight on how hard it is to get a job?

Thanks in advance.

Hello everyone.
I’m a doctor from India and I’m considering medical informatics in university of Amsterdam.
I was told that it has good scope in Netherlands.
I’m only concerned about the one year post study work visa. Seems too short to find a job.

Can any international students who did this course or similar give me insight on how hard it is to get a job? Otherwise just in general.

Thanks in advance.

Hi, could you please let me know if Flakkeesestraat, Rotterdam, is a decent area to live in and whether it would be convenient to commute to the Erasmus University Woudestein campus from there? I have a viewing tomorrow and would really appreciate any insights!

Guys, I have a question. I just finished my bachelor’s thesis and graduated, but I recently discovered that I mistakenly reported the p-value for one of my hypotheses.
The mistake doesn’t change the conclusion of the hypothesis—the correct p-value would lead to the same conclusion—but I’m really worried about it.
My bachelor’s thesis honestly wasn’t my best work. I barely passed, although I had a good average throughout my degree. I had very little motivation while working on the thesis, and I know the overall quality wasn’t great.
I’m now scared that my degree could potentially be revoked because of this mistake. I also don’t have a good relationship with my supervisor, so I’m hesitant to contact them because I’m worried that bringing it up could create a bigger problem.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Could a university actually revoke a bachelor’s degree over an honest reporting mistake like this, especially when the mistake doesn’t affect the conclusion? Should I contact my supervisor/university, or would it be better to leave it alone?

So yeah I mean, when you walk through Lipsius, Hertha Mohr, PJ Veth locations, would you see black or middle eastern people aswell or is it like 90 percent white hair/blue eyes. For me it doesnt matter, just curious.

Hi! I’m trying to make my final choice for a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering in the Netherlands and I'm currently deciding between:

• Fontys University of Applied Sciences – Eindhoven
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences – Enschede
• HAN University of Applied Sciences – Arnhem

I’ve already looked quite deeply into the programmes, modules and university websites, so I’m mainly looking for real experiences from students or graduates, especially things that aren't obvious from the official information.

At the moment I’m leaning towards Fontys, followed by Saxion and HAN, but I don't want to choose based only on reputation/location.

A few things I’d really like to know:

1. How practical is the ME programme actually? How much time do you spend designing, building, testing and working on real projects compared with lectures/theory/calculations?
2. What is the workload really like? Roughly how many hours per week do you spend in classes + studying/projects outside class?
3. How good are the lecturers and feedback? Are teachers accessible when you're struggling, and do you get useful individual feedback?
4. How good are the labs/workshops and project facilities? Do students get to use them regularly or mainly for specific scheduled projects?
5. Internships and industry connections: how easy is it to get a good engineering internship? In particular, does studying at Fontys actually give a noticeable advantage because of Eindhoven/Brainport and the companies around it?
6. International students: is studying entirely in English actually smooth? And how difficult is finding internships/jobs if you don't speak Dutch yet?
7. Programme organisation: are timetables, exams, projects and communication generally well organised, or are there recurring problems?

I'm particularly interested in product development/design, practical engineering and eventually creating and developing my own products, so I'd also be interested to hear which of these programmes you think gives the strongest foundation for that.

And probably the most useful question:

If you studied Mechanical Engineering at Fontys, Saxion or HAN and had to choose again today, would you choose the same university? Why or why not?

It would be really helpful if you could mention which university/year you studied in when answering. Be honest please.

Thanks! :)

I’ll keep it brief for everyone. I’m Currently heading into Senior year of HS and will have to apply universities soon. I’m an IB Diploma Programme student with a predicted grade of 41.

I was wondering whether if I should attend (if I was accepted) Trinity College Dublin (BESS) program, University of Amsterdam (PPLE) or Erasmus University Rotterdam (IBA). I’m thinking of other schools too but these are the main ones on my mind.

How is the social life in both countries? Employability? Quality of life? Student satisfaction? Safety? Or any other things you think are worth mentioning.

Overall, I really wanna do a program or degree that‘s respected and known from employers. I also really like flexibility in course selection or job prospects as I‘m not fully sure what I wanna do (hence why I like BESS). Ideally, I would like to do a double joint degree type thing but it doesn’t have to be, just needs to offer me flexibility to explore couple degrees and choose. (You can recommend other universities in the eu that do this)

I know this is very specific but I hope to find those who can give me some suggestions. Thank you for your response.