Studying a Masters in Amsterdam. Help me move in like a pro.
May 12, 2010 11:59 AM Subscribe
Do you have any advice, tricks, tips or anecdotes for someone going to study a Masters degree in Amsterdam, whether advice and tricks about living in Amsterdam or advice concerning studying a masters degree?
If all goes to plan, in September I will be going to the University of Amsterdam to study a Masters in European Identity and Integration.
I am from the UK, and will be completing my undergraduate degree in the next couple of months, then plan to work solid through the summer to save enough money to help me afford this. I will be getting some repayable financial support from my parents.
I would love to hear any stories or advice from people regarding living in Amsterdam, as I have visited and spent about six weeks in the city in total previously, so I have some sort of feel for how it works, but no real knowledge about it as a place to live. Any sort of advice related to the city is welcome, from living habits and tricks to tips on where to go, what to do, how to maximise my experience, basically anything!
Thanks very much!
If all goes to plan, in September I will be going to the University of Amsterdam to study a Masters in European Identity and Integration.
I am from the UK, and will be completing my undergraduate degree in the next couple of months, then plan to work solid through the summer to save enough money to help me afford this. I will be getting some repayable financial support from my parents.
I would love to hear any stories or advice from people regarding living in Amsterdam, as I have visited and spent about six weeks in the city in total previously, so I have some sort of feel for how it works, but no real knowledge about it as a place to live. Any sort of advice related to the city is welcome, from living habits and tricks to tips on where to go, what to do, how to maximise my experience, basically anything!
Thanks very much!
Best answer: When you do find a place to live, be sure to educate yourself on your rights as a tenant by visiting your local Wijksteunpunt Wonen (PDF).
It's getting really hard to find anti-squat places, but possibly still worth looking into; Google 'anti-kraak' and see what you can find.
If your Masters programme is going to last any longer than a year, I recommend that you make the effort to learn as much Dutch as you can as quickly as you can. If you're a native English speaker then it really isn't that hard to get a good reading knowledge in a fairly short period of time (especially if you already know any German). Speaking the language is more tricky, due to the fact that Amsterdammers mostly speak pretty good English and don't like to listen to anyone butchering their language, but if you can read the news, read signs, etc, then you're already way ahead of the pack. Don't listen to anyone who tells you not to bother (you'll notice that it's always Dutch people who tell you not to bother "because everyone here speaks English"; what they don't think about is that there's a big difference between having a conversation with someone who speaks English and sitting on your own trying to understand written information in a foreign language).
I'm afraid I do not know whether or not students are eligible, or how long you might need to be resident in NL before being eligible, but once you are here be sure to ask your university about applying for zorgtoeslag (health insurance subsidy) and huurtoeslag (rent subsidy). If you are on a low income you may well be able to receive these government subsidies, which are administered via the tax department, so why not? At least find out about it!
Again, your uni will probably give you the full rundown on this, but it's worth mentioning: be sure to register with a doctor before you get sick. It's not the sort of thing you would think of when you're getting settled in, but if you do something like hurt your back or come down with a horrible sinus problem that just won't seem to go away, you want to have your medical support system in place already so that you can just make an appointment and go, rather than having to ask around for recommendations, fill out enrolment forms etc, when you're feeling horrible.
Getting random here: In October/November, when the evenings start closing in, the police do major controls of cyclists and you'll get a fine if you don't have proper lights on your bike. They do this *every year*, so don't get caught out unless you basically want to throw money away (plus, of course, it lessens the chance of someone driving or riding into you, so that's a bonus!)
And to be super-random: Don't swear at (in English or otherwise) or otherwise diss the police (not that you would!) If you insult the police or the Queen, you can be arrested and/or fined if they're not in the mood to deal with you, even if the insult is something a five-year-old might come up with. So keep that in mind.
posted by different at 2:38 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's getting really hard to find anti-squat places, but possibly still worth looking into; Google 'anti-kraak' and see what you can find.
If your Masters programme is going to last any longer than a year, I recommend that you make the effort to learn as much Dutch as you can as quickly as you can. If you're a native English speaker then it really isn't that hard to get a good reading knowledge in a fairly short period of time (especially if you already know any German). Speaking the language is more tricky, due to the fact that Amsterdammers mostly speak pretty good English and don't like to listen to anyone butchering their language, but if you can read the news, read signs, etc, then you're already way ahead of the pack. Don't listen to anyone who tells you not to bother (you'll notice that it's always Dutch people who tell you not to bother "because everyone here speaks English"; what they don't think about is that there's a big difference between having a conversation with someone who speaks English and sitting on your own trying to understand written information in a foreign language).
I'm afraid I do not know whether or not students are eligible, or how long you might need to be resident in NL before being eligible, but once you are here be sure to ask your university about applying for zorgtoeslag (health insurance subsidy) and huurtoeslag (rent subsidy). If you are on a low income you may well be able to receive these government subsidies, which are administered via the tax department, so why not? At least find out about it!
Again, your uni will probably give you the full rundown on this, but it's worth mentioning: be sure to register with a doctor before you get sick. It's not the sort of thing you would think of when you're getting settled in, but if you do something like hurt your back or come down with a horrible sinus problem that just won't seem to go away, you want to have your medical support system in place already so that you can just make an appointment and go, rather than having to ask around for recommendations, fill out enrolment forms etc, when you're feeling horrible.
Getting random here: In October/November, when the evenings start closing in, the police do major controls of cyclists and you'll get a fine if you don't have proper lights on your bike. They do this *every year*, so don't get caught out unless you basically want to throw money away (plus, of course, it lessens the chance of someone driving or riding into you, so that's a bonus!)
And to be super-random: Don't swear at (in English or otherwise) or otherwise diss the police (not that you would!) If you insult the police or the Queen, you can be arrested and/or fined if they're not in the mood to deal with you, even if the insult is something a five-year-old might come up with. So keep that in mind.
posted by different at 2:38 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Read Undutchables. I've lived all over the world, and this was literally the place I found to be the most incomprehensible. (I got my Master's there as well.)
posted by wondershrew with a helping of potato salad at 7:09 PM on May 12, 2010
posted by wondershrew with a helping of potato salad at 7:09 PM on May 12, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
1. The Amsterdam housing market is a bear. Totally.
2. The Amsterdam housing market on a student budget is impossible. Especially in September. Plan ahead and see if you can (through the university, also check the Vrije Universiteit, family, remote acquaintances, any other leads you can think of) land yourself a place in advance. You may have to pay a few months extra rent. It's worth it.
3. Squatting ("kraken") -- live in someone else's building as they're not using it anyway -- used to be legal and a legit housing option for those in the right mind, semi-organized, with small nonprofit agencies pointing you towards empty houses/offices. Things have changed a lot while I lived there. Not sure what the current situation is -- the scene became a lot more international, attracting loads of party people who'd heard you could live in Amsterdam w/o paying rent, and w/o worrying about the neighbours. It also depends on your view of using other people's property w/o their consent.
4. Amsterdam is an ABSOLUTE MARVEL OF A CITY TO LIVE IN. Particularly in the areas just outside the city center. Do try hard hard hard to find something in the city. Don't settle for Diemen, Amstelveen, Badhoevedorp, Weesp, etc if you can help it. Even if there is a decent train connection.
5. Noord can be an OK place to live. Semi-affordable, a 24/7 ferry service to the city center, and you're out of town in 10 mins by bike.
6. Amsterdam is so small you can get around everywhere by bike. Which is way cool. Until they steal your bike. Which will happen. Buy a wreck, but buy a legit wreck, don't buy it from the guy that just stole yours.
posted by gijsvs at 12:59 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]