The Netherlands has a unique cultural identity, and it's central location serves as an easy hub from which to explore the rest of Europe. In addition to the Netherlands' traditional windmills, canals, bicycles and tulips, you'll find a dynamic economy, state-of-the-art technology, rich cultural treasures and a lively contemporary social scene. Marvel at timeless artwork at the Rembrandt House and the Van Gogh Museum, or hop on a bike and explore a country dedicated to making the most of its open streets.

Languages Spoken:

Dutch

Education System

HIGHER EDUCATION OVERVIEW

The Netherlands has three streams of higher education that exist alongside each other:

Universities
The Netherlands has 14 universities; in principle these institutions train students to be scientists and scholars, although many programs also have a professional component.
Applied sciences (Hogeschoolen)
The study programs offered by universities of professional education are above all career-oriented. The country has more than 50 such higher education institutions.
Institutes for International Education
15 institutes for international education offer post-graduate courses in a wide range of fields. The courses are conducted in English and have been designed with foreign students in mind.

The Netherlands implemented the two-tier system of bachelor's and master's programs in the 2002-2003 academic year. The new bachelor's degree requires three years of study. The primary language of instruction during the bachelor's degree is Dutch. Master's degrees take an additional one to two years of postgraduate study. Most (postgraduate) masters are taught in English.

Courses, Academic Year and Grading Systems

The Dutch academic year runs from early September to mid-July, and is divided into semesters or trimesters.

Course scheduling varies from university to university and even varies within departments. Some institutions schedule their courses on the modular system, in which a student takes one course at a time for a period of four to five weeks. Other institutions have systems in which a student takes two or more courses each trimester.

STUDYING IN THE NETHERLANDS

Course work
During the semester, students are expected to participate actively in any course they take. This means preparing for lectures and seminars, doing the necessary homework and carrying out the appropriate assignments. The Dutch style of higher education entrusts students with a high degree of individual responsibility, encouraging them to develop an independent and critical way of thinking.

Registration

Registration generally occurs when you arrive on campus; check with your host coordinator to see if you need to do anything ahead of your arrival.

Assessment
Courses may be assessed by means of papers, or written or oral exams. An oral exam usually lasts 30 minutes to one hour. Written exams normally last two to three hours. During a written exam, students have to answer open, multiple choice and essay type questions.

Grading system
Passing grades range from six (pass) to 10 (outstanding).The grade 10 is not usually given, so in practice the grading scale runs from one through nine. The grading practices tend to be a bit more difficult than other places, with a grade of six considered a satisfactory mark. Eights and nines are generally considered outstanding.

Credit system
The workload of the various program items is expressed in European Credits (ECTS); one ECTS equals 28 hours of study. The study program for every academic year consists of 60 ECTS (1,680 hours).

University Life
The Netherlands is a small, densely populated country and ISEP member institutions are located in urban areas. Given such a cosmopolitan environment, university life can differ significantly from the campus-style environment of U.S. institutions.

Dutch universities are fully integrated into the city of which they are a part. Students generally rent apartments and commute to classroom buildings by bike, bus or train. Students are responsible for paying rent, including a housing deposit, and cooking their own meals. You will need to seek out a social life, since activities are not centered around the campus.

Transcripts

Your transcript will be mailed to ISEP Central from where it will be forwarded to the ISEP coordinator at your home university if there are no outstanding financial issues with your host university.

Visa and Residency

Please note that students should ALWAYS check the website of the embassy/consulate with jurisdiction over their place of residence first, as the information in this handbook regarding visa application instructions is subject to change without warning.

RESIDENCE PERMIT

Type of visa for Semester or Full Year: Residence Permit + MVV (provisional residence permit) if applicable

Visa fee: € 192

Expected processing time: 4-5 weeks

When to apply: after you receive your acceptance letter and any admission documents from your host university

APPLYING FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT

In the Netherlands, higher education institutions apply for your residence permit on your behalf. Students from certain countries will need to also apply for an MVV, or provisional residence permit. You can use the IND page for exemptions from the requirement for an MVV to determine if this applies to you.

A residence permit looks like a credit card and proves that you are residing legally in the Netherlands. You are obliged to obtain a residence permit if you are a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country or Switzerland and you would like to stay in the Netherlands for a period of more than three months. A residence permit will generally be issued for a period of one year. Depending on the purpose of your stay, the validity may be for a longer or shorter period of time. In order to apply for a residence permit, your host institution will (with your help) fill out an application form that you have to sign. The institution will send it to the IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service), and you will collect it there after arrival.

Use this tool to determine which procedure applies to you:

- Students from EU/EEA member countries do not need an entry visa or residence permit.

- Students who require an MVV: This entry visa is known as a provisional residence permit, abbreviated in Dutch to 'MVV' (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf, MVV). Your host institution may seek advice from the IND concerning your application for an MVV. If the advice of the Dutch Immigration Service (IND) is favorable, you then have to apply for the actual MVV yourself at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your home country, or the country in which you legally reside. The Dutch embassy or consulate will then issue you with the MVV in the form of a sticker placed in your passport. It is extremely important that you have this visa before traveling to the Netherlands! You can also apply for an MVV without the help of your host institution. However, this procedure takes longer and is more expensive.

- Students who do not require an MVV can enter the Netherlands with a valid passport and will work with their host institution on the residence application as indicated above.

All students will need to comply with the following regulations after arrival:

You are required to report to the local Aliens Police within 3 days of arrival
You need to register with the local municipality as an inhabitant of the municipality within five days of your arrival
You need to register at your host institution when you arrive, not only for getting your class schedules, but also to comply with immigration procedures. The host institution will want to see proof that you have reported to the Aliens Police, the municipality and, if applicable, will apply on your behalf for a residence permit which form you need to sign.

IMPORTANT NOTES

- The Netherlands is a member of the Schengen area. Students should review the important regulations that dictate travel and visas within the Schengen area.

- if you enter the Netherlands on a short-stay visa, you won't be able to obtain a residence permit.

RESOURCES

- Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)

- Dutch Embassies and Consulates Abroad

- Visa Fees from IND

- Submit an Application (IND) - tool for determining which application you'll need to submit

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Updated August 2023

Culture

CULTURE

Historically, Holland has always been an outward looking nation. Its coastal geography and advanced skills in ship building ensured that Dutch navigators featured strongly in international exploration, colonization and trade. This gave the country a leading role in international affairs disproportionate to its size. The result was a cosmopolitan outlook and an entrepreneurial attitude that endure to this day.

The people also developed a taste for the exotic and a willingness to accept aspects of foreign culture while maintaining their own unique identity. Holland remains a nation of prolific travelers with many people taking two or more foreign holidays a year.

Social factors

The Dutch love to eat out and they enjoy visiting bars and cafes; cinemas are also popular. They are keen on sport and fitness, music, social clubs and organized events.

Their sense of humor tends to be of the less subtle variety; the Dutch are not noted for their sense of irony. Many visitors find the Dutch rude because of their direct nature and unwillingness to form queues. In fact, they have a highly ritualized system of social etiquette which takes time and effort to learn. Dutch people routinely wish each other a pleasant day, afternoon, evening, weekend and the like; these greetings carry a lot more sincerity than the American ‘have a nice day.’ Dutch value their privacy and personal space; some foreign nationals may find it surprising that the Dutch will often stand so far away from the person they are speaking to. They also tend to be quite formal in their communications, and first names are not normally used except between close friends.

Outward displays of wealth amongst Dutch people are not common and there is an emphasis within Dutch culture on financial equality that is reflected within wage and tax structures within the country. When either dinning out or drinking at a bar each person will nearly always pay their own part hence the internationally used expression ‘going Dutch’.

Tolerance

Holland is known worldwide for its tolerant attitude and the aspects of this most visible to outsiders are the open attitude to sex and the widespread availability of soft drugs.

Immigrants from former colonies have largely integrated well and found acceptance. Other ‘guest workers’, are tolerated rather than accepted and an undercurrent of racism has always existed in certain quarters. Anti-immigrant sentiments have unfortunately become more accepted in recent years.

Most people in Holland speak English and like to use it but long-term residents, particularly non-English speakers, are expected to learn Dutch and adapt to the Dutch way of life.

Religion

In the 20th century, major religions began to decline in Holland. Most of the Dutch Jews did not survive the Holocaust, and in the 1960s and 1970s Protestantism and Catholicism began to decline. Islam is the major exception, which grew considerably as the result of immigration. Linked with the decline of religion is the Dutch adoption of liberal social policies towards abortion, euthanasia, prostitution and same-sex marriage.

Daily Life

CULTURE

Historically, Holland has always been an outward looking nation. Its coastal geography and advanced skills in ship building ensured that Dutch navigators featured strongly in international exploration, colonization and trade. This gave the country a leading role in international affairs disproportionate to its size. The result was a cosmopolitan outlook and an entrepreneurial attitude that endure to this day.

The people also developed a taste for the exotic and a willingness to accept aspects of foreign culture while maintaining their own unique identity. Holland remains a nation of prolific travelers with many people taking two or more foreign holidays a year.

Social factors

The Dutch love to eat out and they enjoy visiting bars and cafes; cinemas are also popular. They are keen on sport and fitness, music, social clubs and organized events.

Their sense of humor tends to be of the less subtle variety; the Dutch are not noted for their sense of irony. Many visitors find the Dutch rude because of their direct nature and unwillingness to form queues. In fact, they have a highly ritualized system of social etiquette which takes time and effort to learn. Dutch people routinely wish each other a pleasant day, afternoon, evening, weekend and the like; these greetings carry a lot more sincerity than the American ‘have a nice day.’ Dutch value their privacy and personal space; some foreign nationals may find it surprising that the Dutch will often stand so far away from the person they are speaking to. They also tend to be quite formal in their communications, and first names are not normally used except between close friends.

Outward displays of wealth amongst Dutch people are not common and there is an emphasis within Dutch culture on financial equality that is reflected within wage and tax structures within the country. When either dinning out or drinking at a bar each person will nearly always pay their own part hence the internationally used expression ‘going Dutch’.

Tolerance

Holland is known worldwide for its tolerant attitude and the aspects of this most visible to outsiders are the open attitude to sex and the widespread availability of soft drugs.

Immigrants from former colonies have largely integrated well and found acceptance. Other ‘guest workers’, are tolerated rather than accepted and an undercurrent of racism has always existed in certain quarters. Anti-immigrant sentiments have unfortunately become more accepted in recent years.

Most people in Holland speak English and like to use it but long-term residents, particularly non-English speakers, are expected to learn Dutch and adapt to the Dutch way of life.

Religion

In the 20th century, major religions began to decline in Holland. Most of the Dutch Jews did not survive the Holocaust, and in the 1960s and 1970s Protestantism and Catholicism began to decline. Islam is the major exception, which grew considerably as the result of immigration. Linked with the decline of religion is the Dutch adoption of liberal social policies towards abortion, euthanasia, prostitution and same-sex marriage.

Health and Safety

Prescription Medications: If you’re planning to bring your prescription or over-the-counter medicine on your trip, you need to make sure your medicine is travel-ready. More information can be found here, and please contact your Student Services Coordinator and ISEP Coordinator with any additional questions.

General Health Guidelines: Your health and safety is our number one priority. Please read and reference our Guides and Tips section for general information regarding health and safety abroad.

Detailed information about the Netherlands can be found here. Please pay special attention to the Safety and Security, Local Laws and Special Circumstances and Health sections.

Note: Information sourced on this page is provided by the U.S. Department of State. Non-U.S. nationals should disregard the Embassies and Consulates and Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements sections.

Currency

MONEY MATTERS

The currency used in the Netherlands is the euro (€ or EUR). Coins worth five, ten, twenty and fifty cents and one and two euros are in circulation. Notes come in denominations of €5,€10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. Most shops do not accept notes of €100 or above. The one and two cent coins are now officially no longer in use, and change is usually rounded up or down to the nearest five cents.

Cash

Most everyday payments are settled in cash, although an increasing number of retailers accept electronic debit cards with PIN codes.

ATMs

If you have a Cirrus/Maestro, Visa/Plus or EuroCard/MasterCard debit or credit card with a four-digit PIN, you should be able to withdraw money from your home bank account at any of the numerous cash dispensers. Ask your own bank about the availability of this service, its conditions and costs.

Credit cards

Credit cards are becoming more popular, although they are not as widely accepted as in some countries. For example, few supermarkets, small shops or cafés accept them. When shopping or going out, always make sure you have enough euros on you or a bank card so that you can draw money from a cash dispenser. Personal checks are not used in the Netherlands and traveler’s checks are not accepted for retail purchases (you can only cash them in at banks). Large payments such as rent are generally made by bank transfer.

Cost of living

Although the cost of living in the Netherlands has reportedly increased steadily in recent years, it remains lower than in many other European countries, and the Netherlands was recently reported as being one of the two cheapest countries in Europe to buy groceries, along with Germany (ACNielson, 2006). This is largely due to the market dominance of discount supermarket chains.

Restaurant and hotel bills normally include Value Added Tax and a service charge, so it is unnecessary to tip, although it is common practice to leave a small tip for good service. In the case of waiters and taxi drivers, a tip of around 10% of the bill is customary.