Cost of Living in Netherlands: Travel and Accomodations for International for Students

Netherlands is yet another study abroad destination in Europe which is known for its quality of and listed among the 100 Best Student Cities by QS. With such a lifestyle, the cost of living in Netherlands is extensively high and is nearly 210% more than India. Hence, internationals must budget their expenses in the Netherlands while studying. The best option to cover the cost of living in Netherlands is to apply for scholarships such as Holland Scholarships or Learn for Impact Scholarships. The Holland Scholarship covers educational expenses of around 5,000 to 15,000 EUR(4.41 to 13.24 lakhs INR). On the other hand, LEARN for Impact Scholarship may help you cover total expenses ranging from 10,000 to 22,000 EUR (8.82 lakhs to 19.42 lakhs INR).

Cost of Living in Netherlands: Travel Guide

The one way flight ticket from India to Netherlands ranges between 54,000 to 70,000 EUR (47.67 lakhs INR to 61.79 lakhs INR). Majority of the international flights to the Netherlands arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Get your Netherlands student visa checked and complete all formalities required for immigration. Head towards your respective accommodation destination by taking an extensive network of public transports in Netherlands.

Netherlands Travel Restrictions

Luckily India is not listed among the high risk countries and anyone from India is free to travel to the Netherlands or any other country. However, there are certain points that international students must be aware of while traveling to Netherlands:

• Carry a long stay visa or mvv(authorisation for temporary stay).
• Students coming to the Netherlands for a stay of longer than 3 months, do not require a long-stay visa and have a sponsor letter from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
• Carry a valid residence permit for the Netherlands.

If you are unable to meet the above requirements, then get a type D visa sticker on your passport to remain eligible for traveling to the Netherlands. Things that international students must take care of while traveling to the Netherlands:

Cost of Transportation in Netherlands

The Netherlands is known for housing one of the world’s best public transport systems. Though, majority of international students may prefer public transport, it will be cost to know the travel cost for other transportation systems in Netherlands:

• Bikes: Majority of the Dutch population prefers to travel by bike with all major cities having separate bike lanes. A new bike in the Netherlands may cost somewhere between 250 to 500 EUR (22,000 to 44,000 INR), so it is best advised to purchase a second hand bike that may range from 50 to 150 EUR (4,400 to 13,200 INR). A Bikewith a per day rent of 10 to 40 EUR (880 to 3,500 INR) are also available.
• Train: There are two types of trains operated throughout the Netherlands i.e Intercity and Sprinter. The Sprinter is generally a slow train while the Intercity is fast. The ticket price depends on the destination with a single ticket costing 4 to 5 EUR (350 to 440 INR). It would be beneficial to purchase a 40% discount card if traveling outside rush hours.
• Bus: The single ticket for a bus in the Netherlands generally costs 2 EUR (176 INR).
• Tram: Other than buses, international students can consider traveling through a tram which usually costs around 3 to 13 EUR (265 to 1,146 INR).
• Metro: Metro Lines operates in cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam average charges of 1 to 3 EUR (88 to 265 INR).
• Taxi: Taxi is one of the most convenient ways to travel around the cities in Netherlands. The rate for taxis in Netherlands is 7.5 EUR (661 INR).
• Ferries: Traveling by ferry is one of the best ways to reduce overall living expenses in Netherlands. The ferries are generally preferred by cyclists that operate from one port to another port with average ticket price of 1 to 2 EUR (88 to 176 INR).

The locals in the Netherlands usually prefer OV chip cards for managing transportation costs. It is of two types i.e personal OV chipcard and anonymous OV chipcard. The card has a validity of up to 5 years and both cards cost 7.5 EUR (661 INR). However, it would be better to get a personal OV card if you are planning a long stay in Netherlands , especially students. Personal cards have a lot of benefit from getting passes to availing discounts. Moreover, it is quite easy to get top up online instead of visiting a physical ticket machine. While using the train, it is advisable to maintain a minimum balance of 20 EUR (1,764 INR) in a personal OV card.

To know more about the transportation in major cities of the Netherlands, visit the official website of the public transport operators.

What to Do Upon Arrival in Netherlands

After getting all formalities done for accommodation in Netherlands, there several things needed to be done. First one is to get yourself registered as a resident in the Personal Records Database of the city council. It is necessary for all international students who are planning a stay of more than 4 months. By doing so, international students will be able to obtain their Citizen Service Number which is mandatory for opening a bank account, getting health insurance or securing a job in Netherlands. Mentioned below are the documents that one must carry to complete his registration:

• Passport, and its copy
• Copy of rental contract
• Student card, admission letter or proof of registration at a university

You may apply for a DigiD, after you get the BSN. A DigiD can be used to log in to government websites like DUO, Belastingdienst or municipality services.

The most important step is to open a bank account. This is required to manage your funding to study in the Netherlands. You can visit the nearest bank with the following documents:

• Your passport
• Student card or other proof of enrollment
• Tax Identification Number
• BSN
• Declaration of consent

You must fill in the application form meant for international students.

Cost of Living in Netherlands: Accommodation Costs

Majority of the Universities in Netherlands do not offer on campus accommodation, hence students will be responsible for their own accommodations in Netherlands. However, there are universities partnered with various housing providers or companies offering accommodations at reasonable prices. Students may either go for this or visit the university’s official website for assistance regarding off campus accommodations. The room rent for a single person living in the Netherlands is 550 to 600 EUR (48,500 to 52,900 INR). Depending on the city, you can budget accommodation on the costs tabulated below:

Students living off campus either prefer an apartment on sharing or a house. Those planning to rent trough companies SSH Students housing or DUWO, may expect these facilities:

• Bed
• Chair
• Shelf
• Curtains
• Floor coverings
• Washing area

The housing mostly includes the cost of electricity, water, and internet bill. Also, students will mostly get a shared living room, kitchen as well as shared bathroom. International students should start looking for accommodations three months prior to their arrival in Netherlands to avoid further delay in arrangements. Avoid choosing an accommodation that is far from the university campus and offers unnecessary amenities as it will increase your living expenses in Netherlands.

Cost of Living in Netherlands: Top Student Cities

Students spend between 1,500 to 2,000 EUR (1.32 lakhs to 1.76 lakhs INR) to meet monthly expenses in Netherlands, though the living expenses in Netherlands may vary for each city.

The cost of living in Amsterdam is the highest compared to other cities in the Netherlands. Those looking for accommodations at low cost, should consider living in Groningen as it is the cheapest city in Netherlands. However, due to high demand, the accommodations in Groningen are limited, especially in the main city and countryside.

A student can budget is cost of living through the mention monthly expenses in netherlands:

• Food and groceries - 150 to 170 EUR (13,200 to 15,000 INR)
• Utilities - 120 to 180 EUR (10,500 to 15,800 INR)
• Mobile phone, internet and television - 20 to 50 EUR (1,763 to 4,400 INR)

A student ID is quite handy in Netherlands to get easy discounts on utilities and other expenses like museums, cinema tickets, food at restaurants, bars, etc. Other than this, the student may utilize their university ID card or International Student Identity Card or Dutch CJP discount card for discounts. The living expenses in Netherlands can also be managed by getting internships or part=time jobs.