The first few weeks, if not hours of arriving in Rotterdam for study abroad was the biggest combination of freedom and fear I’ve ever felt. Processing all the mixed emotions was a huge factor of my experience, but it is not all there is to drone on about.
I’ve broken down my experience here into bite size chunks, so you can get a picture for the cultural, academic, social and personal experiences that I had in Rotterdam. Hopefully I can assist any students unsure about if, or where, to go study abroad. Studying abroad was one thousand percent worth it and I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world!
The Netherlands: Culturally cool, climatically? COLD
The Netherlands, ah yes that little country between Germany and Belgium known for its white sandy beaches and coral reefs…Oh wait sorry I’m thinking of Australia my second-choice study abroad country. The Netherlands is not as well known for its sunshine and heatwaves but for what it may lack in terms of dry weather. It makes up for this with its emphasis on learning and sharing culture with others. Study abroad was all about throwing myself into the Dutch ways, embracing things like the biking lifestyle and overcoming any imposter syndrome that came with it.
The first thing I learnt there is that the Dutch are straightforward, and that’s that. You mustn’t take offence to any blunt questions. I will admit it took me a while to not bristle at people’s sharper vocal tones. The desk lady at the Miffy museum in Utrecht asked me “why?” I wanted a ticket. At first, I thought “Oh this is kind of weird it is a museum for kids after all” but no, she simply wanted to know what I liked about Miffy; where I was from; how I came to be in Utrecht that day etcetera. It was not a conversation killer, but an opportunity to share!
The Dutch are simply the questioning type, especially loving the phrase “but why?” Us non-Dutch folk may find this rather grating at times (unless you’re Belgian, they’re even more hardcore). After warming up to this social norm, I started to see they aren’t constantly questioning my sanity, they just desire to learn, and want me to learn too. A core value being an intellectual approach to life. This showed in more fun ways such as their art and music scenes which deserves more depth in a discussion on social life.
Study abroad, encouraged me to visit within the country a lot more than I would in the UK, discovering quaint towns like Leiden and trendy cities like Utrecht all a stone’s throw away via NS trains. But be pragmatic, be Dutch. Don’t be like me and procrastinate on getting the discounted railway season tickets!
Erasmus University Rotterdam
There will be a moment during exchange where you need to address the “study” part of study abroad. EUR library I will never forgive you for being so confusing to navigate. Frankly I spent a lot of time in the awkward ground floor areas of buildings because being on a new campus is overwhelming to figure out. I will admit I did a lot of walking around with google maps on the lowest brightness setting or switching between the weather app and my camera roll because I went to classes so early for fear of getting too lost and ended up sitting awkwardly in places.
Actually, let’s make this positive, I learnt to sit awkwardly in places and make myself feel okay about doing that! I learnt (all over again like fresher’s week) to ask where buildings were! I still find it funny trying to find my way from the main library to one of my seminar classes one time and ending up in the carpark underneath campus instead. Mind you Erasmus University campus is probably a quarter of the size of University of Manchester’s campus! Rotterdam was rebuilt after The Second World War in which Dutch experimental architecture was pushed into the light. This would probably explain the rationale behind having real trees grow out of the ground inside the Langeveld building…
As for academics, EUR is budding with pockets of activity from societies, language courses and sustainability projects that go beyond campus into the local community. I really enjoyed my time with their dance society as a way of planting my feet on familiar ground, but still being encouraged during their taster sessions to try out a new style during my semester abroad. Adjusting to their academic system did take me some time, with much more intimate class sizes, interactive lectures and overall higher expectation to work independently and ask for help when you need it.
Erasmus University Rotterdam, for all its quirky buildings and entrepreneurial flair honours its reputation. Due to English being the Netherland’s official second language, its especially friendly for international students; even more so with Rotterdam being home to 175 nationalities. On top of this it holds a number six ranking in the Netherlands and is 99th worldwide (Times Higher Education). With a focus on research based learning, it’s a great choice for those of us that love to balance both data driven methods and individual creativity. More information on EUR’s research, opportunities for study abroad and international student life can be found here.
Day to night: Dutch social life
One section is not nearly enough to describe the experience I had socially both in Rotterdam. The university supported incoming exchange students really well with connecting us together via meet-ups to help us settle into the city during study abroad. I definitely made friends for life both through societies, nightlife and in my accommodation. The place I lived was close to campus but also close enough to the city with strong transport links (and having a bike helps!) Rotterdam accommodates the night owl and the early birds equally as a surefire way to foster connections depending on your lifestyle. I fell back into my first year ways of enacting a sense of spontaneity that had been buried by my routine comfortability having been in Manchester for a long time.
Study abroad uprooted the pattern of Wednesday socials and weekend Spoons trips into something that was far more adventurous. Travelling with new friends to local cities via trains allowed me to connect with the people and environment around me as there was always something stimulating to discover.
Rotterdam provided me with the key thing of life: balance. Ranging from causal strolls through the local arboretums and galleries to long nights of dancing and chatting over drinks in my favourite club MONO. Social life became refreshing again as I was constantly learning about new people and also being around people that wanted to learn about me too!
Dutch nightlife; there is truly nothing like it. An honourable mention to Kings Day, their biggest national holiday where the whole country erupts into street parties, DJ booths on every corner and a sea of orange clothing floods the streets and canal boats for one day and night to celebrate their Monarch. It’s a day of Dutch life in a nutshell, that stands to be one of my best memories of how the Dutch value a good time, high energy and coming together.
Electronic music is ingrained into Dutch culture from Techno to Drum and Bass. If thats not for you, find the speakeasy-like jazz bars tucked away into the dimly lit backstreets of Rotterdam and Amsterdam. There is something for everyone but if I had to recommend any venue to visit as a prequel to Dutch partying, it would have to be 160K located just 500m from Rotterdam Central Station. It’s the perfect blend of arcade games, beer, pizza, experimental music and people watching in their garden that was always a go to start to a night of laughs.
Personal revelations
Study abroad was a wake up call for me to take more control of my degree. I got to experience learning in a way that was reflexive and personalised under EUR’s Communications and Media faculty. Although it was difficult, I actually found I thrived in both in my confidence and the grades to show for it. So yes, I managed to put the “study” back into study abroad, and you can too!
I reignited my own spontaneity that I will bring into my last year of university. Something so simple as baking brownies with new flatmates and playing cards reminded me university is all about choice and making it up as you go is part of the fun. Being alone in a new city doesn’t stop being scary, there’s always uncertainties. I can be totally honest and say when I first got my bike it was far too big for me and I cried on the phone to my Dad begging to come home after the first week. Sticking it out showed me I was capable of overcoming struggles I hadn’t anticipated. Platform Ugg boots to the rescue!
There were rough patches but, learning to trust the new people in my new life was a huge part of getting through it. I was never truly alone, but it is okay to feel that way. We all looked out for each other because we were all in the same boat. Regardless of those that had come across the pond from the UK, or those that had flown miles from the USA or Australia. Bittersweet feelings of wondering when you will see them again, whether its already making plans to meet up halfway in a year’s time or accepting maybe you won’t at all. The positives and the negatives and just the okay parts all rolled into one shaped the individual growth I had in only six months. I can confidently say it’s the people you share it with during the time that make it invaluable.
If I have managed to convince you to take that leap abroad – which I hope I have – this advice piece on how to prepare for a year abroad can help you discover what goes into making the most of your experience in your new home.
FAQs on Studying Abroad in Rotterdam
Studying abroad in Rotterdam offers a modern, international student experience. The city is diverse, English is widely spoken, and universities like Erasmus University have strong global reputations, making it easy to adapt and thrive academically and socially.
Rotterdam is cheaper than Amsterdam but still more expensive than many UK cities. Students can save money by cycling instead of using public transport, shopping at local markets, and taking advantage of student housing options provided by the university.
Student life in Rotterdam is vibrant, with plenty of international societies, cultural events, and nightlife. The city is famous for its modern architecture, riverside cafés, and clubs, as well as its easy access to other European destinations by train.
Cycling is the most popular and affordable way for students to travel. The city also has excellent trams, buses, and metro services. Many students buy a second-hand bike for everyday use since the city is designed to be very cycle-friendly.
It’s important to arrange housing early, as student accommodation is competitive. Budgeting is essential since food and nightlife can be pricey. Students should also register with the municipality, open a Dutch bank account if needed, and be prepared for cycling in all weather conditions.