When preparing for your stay, it is important to know what kinds of expenses you may expect to incur whilst you are residing in The Netherlands. Being armed with information regarding expenses such as daily expenses, accommodation, course and/or tuition fees, et cetera could prove to be very helpful when planning your personal budget.

Daily expenses

Your daily expenses will include expenses relating to food, public transport, books, clothing and leisure activities. However, you will also need to take into account the costs associated with accommodation and insurance. Experience has shown that students living and studying in The Netherlands for a period of one year spend approximately EUR 700 to EUR 1,000 per month.

Accommodation

Typically, if you have an average student income, e.g. from a scholarship, you will find that approximately one third of your income will go towards paying for your accommodation. An average room in The Netherlands costs approximately EUR 300 to EUR 600 per month. In Eindhoven, Tilburg and Venlo, a student room usually costs approximately EUR € 300 to EUR 400 per month.

It is advisable to check if any facilities will be included in your rental price, as this may have a large impact on your budget. In some cases, facilities such as gas, electricity, television and Internet connections will be included in the rental price, whereas in other cases, you may be expected to pay for such facilities separately.

Food

It is likely that another third of your income will go towards paying for your expenses relating to food. In Eindhoven, Tilburg and Venlo, there are many eetcafés (bistros/pubs) where you can eat cheaply and well. However, the cheapest way to eat will be to do your own cooking.

Some average prices would be EUR 2.00 for a cup of coffee/tea in a café, EUR 3.00 for a cheese sandwich and EUR 10.00 for dinner in a typical student restaurant. Most supermarkets offer a variety of brands, but it is worth comparing supermarket prices to find the cheapest options.

Other expenses

The remaining third of your income will probably go towards expenses relating to leisure, books, travel and other expenses. In The Netherlands, bus tickets cost approximately EUR 1.60 for a single fare in the city. You could consider buying a discount card for train tickets, which would give you a 40% reduction at off-peak times. For further information, please refer to the Dutch railways website, www.ns.nl. Cinema tickets cost approximately EUR 8.50, but most cinemas offer student discounts.

Student discounts

In The Netherlands, many bars, restaurants, museums and cinemas offer student discounts. Generally, some form of proof will be requested, such as your Student Card. You should always check in advance if a student discount is available. 

Specifically introduced for international students, the International Student Identity Card, or ‘ISIC’ provides some useful discounts and offers in relation to travel, shopping, museums and more, worldwide. For further information, please refer to www.isic.org.

Working whilst studying

Foreign students who are interested in pursuing paid employment in addition to their studies may do so, under certain conditions. Depending on your nationality, you may work for a maximum of ten hours per week and if applicable, only if the employer in question has applied for a Work Permit on your behalf. Stick to the rules! The labour inspection is very strict and will check employers regularly. You are also responsible for having a work permit. You are risking your residence permit.