Process of Moving to Amsterdam

Have you ever thought about how your life would be in a different country, with a different culture and language? I did too, and this is how I ended up in Amsterdam as an International Student! Although the process was scary at first, the excitement takes over once everything is set in place and you can enjoy your time here without the worries you had before coming to Amsterdam. So, I would love to present to you my experience of moving to Amsterdam from abroad to share interesting stories and tips!

Housing:

Before coming to Amsterdam, I was the most worried about housing as everyone I know warned me about the battle for student housing in Amsterdam, and how difficult it was to find a decent place. I remember frantically looking at room listings on Facebook, but finding none that suited my taste! I found so many rooms with multiple roommates, a shared kitchen and a shared bathroom, which I was not comfortable with. I would say that there are a lot of rooms for people that are okay with rooms with these attributes, but it was just tough luck in my case.

However, I found my current room through my university's platform, in which there are endless rooms with many options! I found one that suited my interest and applied right away.

If you ever find yourself in a situation like this, I would suggest that you decide which room you want before the listing opens and apply for it once the system is open! This was how I got my room right now, and I heard many people struggled with applying for the room they wished for because they were late! Although keep in mind that these rooms prioritize first-year students, so be prepared to search for housing well in advance of your second year.

On the other hand, if you are not able to find a room through your university, I suggest looking through the websites https://www.funda.nl/ and https://www.kamernet.nl/, but remember! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Transportation:

The next important topic is definitely transportation! As you may have known, Amsterdam is the perfect city for biking with its special bike roads and regulations, which are enough to get you anywhere with a bike safely! Buying a bike in Amsterdam can be pricey depending on your taste and needs. And just a heads-up—bike theft is pretty common here (speaking from experience)! That is why investing in a sturdy bike that is not too expensive but can get you around would be a wise choice for a first bike. I would also suggest investing in locks instead of the bike itself so that your bike is safe at all times!

If you are not so big on bikes and would like to take public transportation on a daily basis or on cold rainy days, especially in autumn and winter, there are few important things to note. When I first came to Amsterdam, I did not know some bank cards did not work for public transportation! This led me to purchase tickets online through GVB’s app, which got me around, yes, but was not financially sustainable. In order to use public transportation long-term, you would need an OV-Chipkaart, which you can obtain by requesting one to your address through their website! I highly recommend checking their website for subscriptions that fit your situation as they tend to be more financially friendly.

Visa Process:

This process is different for everyone, but it was a process that I was really curious about. The questions of “How am I going to get a residency permit?”, “Will I be able to work during this period?”, “How long will my residency permit be?” lingered in my head until I realized that these were all silly questions that I was worrying about for nothing, because universities handle this process very well and with clear explanations of each step. I could say that I have had no problems at all with this process because of my university’s attention to detail, their care for informing you and their patience! Therefore, do not worry! Just ask all questions you may have to ease up your mind, do what you are kindly asked of and leave the rest to your university!

Language:

I can almost hear you thinking, “They speak Dutch in Amsterdam, how am I going to manage?”, fear not! Although the national language of The Netherlands is Dutch, a lot of residents here speak English! I believe that if one is thinking of residing in a foreign country, they should learn the language of that country out of respect and to be able to live comfortably. Learning Dutch is crucial if you are thinking of applying for jobs and living in The Netherlands, as most important letters from the government are in Dutch and you are able to find a wider range of jobs if you know Dutch. Learning a few basic Dutch terms for transportation and grocery shopping can really make day-to-day life easier as well. However, not knowing Dutch is not the end of the world! I personally haven't started learning Dutch and I can live my life very comfortably in Amsterdam.

Overall Student Life:

Overall, I am personally very happy with my choice of studying in Amsterdam as I believe that there are a lot of things to do and see. I am able to live comfortably with knowing English, and there are a lot of social, academic, and professional opportunities for a student in The Netherlands, especially in Amsterdam. With all things considered, I wish everyone who is thinking of applying to university here in Amsterdam, or in The Netherlands, a very smooth and nice process, exciting times await you!

With Love,

Eda Cetinkaya