Updated on June 4th, 2023

A small and one of the most densely populated countries in Europe, we know the Netherlands for a flat landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills, and cycling routes. Most of the population speaks and understands English, so it is very comfortable to live and travel in the country if you understand English. Whether you’re planning to live in the Netherlands or just visiting or going there for higher studies, English skills are certainly going to help you. As per the EF English Proficiency Index, the Dutch are top of the class in English, narrowly beating Denmark and Sweden. Between 90 and 93% of the population can speak English as a second language.

The Netherlands versus Holland:

People mostly get confused about whether to call it Netherland or ‘Holland’. The Dutch government officially dropped the nickname Holland in January 2020. Making it clearer; the Netherlands comprises 12 provinces, whereas Holland is the area made of two provinces, North Holland and South Holland. These two provinces contributed the most to the economy of the country. People took Holland as the name of the country, which is finally dropped in 2020.

World’s leading exporter of flowers and beers

The Netherlands is famous for its colourful tulip fields. It is the world’s leading exporter of flowers, most of which are tulips. Around two billion tulips leave the country each year and travel to different destinations around the globe. Another thing after flowers is beer. The country is also famous for many Dutch brews, which include many well-known brands such as Heineken, Amstel, and Grolsch. The Netherlands is the second biggest beer exporter in the world, after Mexico.

Social and city life in the Netherlands

The Netherlands also has one of the most active social scenes and nightlife, making it a student-centric, enjoyable city. The county is ranked 6th as the happiest place in the world. So people love to visit and stay in this beautiful country. Almost everyone in the Netherlands owns a bike, not only as a leisure activity but also as a means of transportation to work. The Netherlands has an excellent public transport infrastructure. The country is small, and the transportation is quick, allowing you to live in one city and work in another.

A great destination for international students

Now coming to our major topic, we can easily say that the Netherlands is a great destination for international students. The Netherlands continues to attract more foreign students. In the Netherlands, where there are over 2,000 education programs in English offered by 77 different higher education institutions. You can choose between plenty of Bachelors’s and Master’s Degrees in different institutions. Studying in the Netherlands is the best decision for your career.

Students may work during the study

International students can work while studying in the Netherlands. However, there are restrictions: you may work a maximum of 16 hours a week. International students may do seasonal work full-time (but only in June, July, and August). Students can avail of only one option.

Stay back option after study

The Netherlands, as a study-abroad destination, offers unique opportunities to international students. The post-study work also called the Search/ Orientation Year is one of the important reasons. If you have completed a bachelor’s or master’s or Post Graduate course of a minimum 12 months or you are a Ph.D. graduate, you are eligible for one-year post-study work. This cannot be extended. If, however, you pursue another course (as per the requirements mentioned above) then the validity of this residence permit is renewed. For example, if you undertake a research program, then even if you have had one orientation year, you can apply for another on completion of the research program.

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