Erasmus in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, world-famous for its UNESCO-listed canal ring, Dutch Golden Age architecture and a resolutely multicultural atmosphere. On the university side, you can choose between the University of Amsterdam (UvA), Vrije Universiteit (VU), the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA) for professional tracks, and Amsterdam University College (AUC) for an English-taught liberal arts degree.

It is a remarkably English-friendly Erasmus destination: most university programmes are taught in English and nearly every Dutch person speaks fluent English, which makes integration smooth even without a word of Dutch. The vibe is open, tolerant and international — you meet students from everywhere, and the centre is packed with cafés, museums, markets and events year-round.

The climate is damp and often grey, so bring a solid waterproof jacket. More importantly, Amsterdam is VERY expensive, ranking in Europe's top 5 for student housing. Plan your budget carefully well before departure to avoid nasty surprises.

The Netherlands is going through a structural housing crisis: an estimated 26,500 student rooms are missing in 2025, and Amsterdam concentrates the worst of that shortage. If you're heading to UvA or VU on Erasmus, your first move after nomination must be to apply for DUWO Reserved Accommodation: spots are prioritised for Erasmus students but very limited, first come first served.

Key platforms: HousingAnywhere, Kamernet, Erasmus Play, Spotahome, Pararius and Funda. Expect to pay €700 to €1000/month for a shared room, sometimes more in the centre. Neighbourhoods: Oost is central, lively and runs along the Amstel; Noord has been booming for years (free ferry from Centraal); De Pijp is trendy and student-heavy; Bos en Lommer to the west is more affordable; Diemen and Amstelveen in the suburbs are cheaper and well connected by metro and tram.

Watch out for scams: NEVER pay a deposit without viewing the place in person (or via video call with a trusted contact on site). Fake landlords are everywhere on Facebook groups and even some platforms. If a deal looks too good to be true, it is.

The urban network is run by GVB and covers trams, metro, buses and ferries. Get an anonymous OV-Chipkaart (€7.50) topped up on demand, or grab the monthly adult pass at around €99. Note: the Studenten OV (free transport) is reserved for Dutch students on DUO loans — international Erasmus students don't qualify.

The bike is king in Amsterdam — by far the best investment (€80-150 second hand). Cycle paths everywhere, fast daily commute, full freedom. Downside: bike theft is rampant, so invest in a sturdy U-lock (ideally two locks).

For train trips across the Netherlands, use NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen): off-peak discounts with the Dal Voordeel pass. And if you arrive at a station without your bike, OV-Fiets lets you rent one nationwide for a few euros a day.

ESN Amsterdam runs all the international parties, trips and Erasmus activities. But the real key to living the city is the bike: YOU CANNOT LIVE IN AMSTERDAM WITHOUT A BIKE. Grab a second-hand one (~€80) on Facebook Marketplace or Erasmus groups, and learn fast to park it properly at official racks — otherwise it ends up impounded.

For downtime: picnics at Vondelpark or Westerpark, cosy afternoons in brown cafés (Café De Klos, Café Welling), discovering coffeeshops (cannabis is legal but soft drugs only), and the touristy-but-unavoidable Red Light District. Museums are pricey (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh: €20+), but the Museumkaart (~€75/year) pays for itself after 3-4 visits and grants access to hundreds of museums nationwide.

For weekends, use the NS network: Utrecht, The Hague, Rotterdam are around 30 min by train. Brussels and Paris are reachable by Thalys/Eurostar for long weekends.

Your first admin task on arrival is requesting your BSN (Burgerservicenummer) at the city hall (gemeente). This number is essential to open a Dutch bank account, sign a formal lease or work. Book your appointment weeks in advance — slots vanish fast in Amsterdam.

For healthcare: EU citizens can rely on their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for the exchange period. Non-EU students must take out private Dutch health insurance (around €100/month). For banking, ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank offer student accounts; otherwise N26 or Revolut work, but many Dutch landlords and employers prefer a local NL IBAN for direct debits.

Non-EU students must apply for a student visa via the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service), usually sponsored by the host university. Start the process several months ahead.

Dutch is the official language, but Amsterdam is extremely English-friendly: most of the administration, services, restaurants and shops operate seamlessly in English. It's one of the most accessible cities in Europe for non-Dutch speakers.

UvA and VU offer hundreds of English-taught programmes, both bachelor and master, making Erasmus possible without any Dutch base. That said, picking up a few basics (Hallo, Dank je wel, Alsjeblieft) is a real social plus — locals genuinely appreciate the effort.

For structured classes: UvA Talen, Direct Dutch Institute, the UvA Language Centre, or language tandems organised via ESN. Plenty of apps (Duolingo, Babbel) also offer Dutch.