Uilenstede, located in Amstelveen, stands as one of the largest student campuses in Europe, with more than 3500 rooms primarily designated for VU Amsterdam students. Not only the largest campus but also the greenest, with plenty of green spaces to relax, socialize or host barbecues.
VU Amsterdam is easily accessible from Uilenstede by bike (7 minutes) but also by tram. Tram lines 5 and 25 drop you in front of the university. Tram 25 also takes you to Zuid station and with tram 5 you can go to the Rijksmuseum or Vondelpark. The city centre is also accessible by bike, it will take you around 30 minutes to bike to Dam Square.
Rooms are spacious, equipped with a good heating system and enough furniture to store all your clothes. Although Kitchens are fully equipped it´s worth noticing that certain residences, like mine (102), lack an oven or a freezer. What I love the most about my room is having a private balcony where a table, some chairs and my beloved plants easily fit. Beware too that Schiphol Airport occasionally uses the Buitenveldertbaan runway, causing aircraft noise from time to time.
Photo: Uilenstede Sportcentrum VU
Things to do in Uilenstede
In Uilenstede you can benefit from a multicultural environment since there are students from many different nationalities worldwide. You can really feel the student vibe while living here and enjoy lots of different activities and events.
For instance, you can maintain your fitness at the VU sports centrum, enjoy some quality time with friends at the Il Café or have a good time in Theatre De Landing, the cultural spot of Uilenstede. Parties also occur, especially during summer and spring.
At Uilenstede you can also find a small supermarket, Porto Pescara (an Italian restaurant), a bike repair shop, Amstelveen Snacks, Upper East (a restaurant), or even SubLub (a diving equipment shop). There are plenty of supermarkets close by (AH, Jumbo, Dirk), useful shops (Kruidvat) and numerous bike repair shops.
Photo: Uilenstede main square
But by far, what I love the most about Uilenstede is the greenery of Amstelveen, my favourite spots close to the campus are the Amsterdamse Bos, Amstel riverbank (where the Riekermolen and De Zwaan are), Amstel Park, Middelpolder and De Braak. I also recommend biking to the postcardy village of Oudekerk aan de Amstel.
Price and final remarks
I got the opportunity to secure accommodation in Uilenstede through the VU Amsterdam accommodation platform, monthly prices of a room differ from one building to another, for example, I am paying around 400€ per month for a shared apartment in 102 with 1 roommate. To sum up, living in Uilenstede is a unique opportunity that will definitely help you to make the most of your student life in Amsterdam, go for it and enjoy it!
With love from Uilenstede,
Paco Pérez