Known as a city that likes to party – Amsterdam could be the ideal city for your Erasmus+ mobility, and if you’re looking to improve your English skills, it’s widely spoken across the country, so you’ll be able to practice to your heart’s content! German is also another language that’s widely used and understood so if you’re studying German or you live in Germany and long to travel to Amsterdam in the Netherlands – you’ll get by just fine.
An Erasmus+ work or study placement abroad is a must-do for students in the EU. This European-led initiative continues to deliver success, for educational institutions, ,businesses and most importantly, for the students and learners it caters to.
Boost Your Employability
If you want to improve your future employability, develop further in your chosen field of study and spend some time away from home, living, studying and/or working abroad – then Erasmus+ is the ideal scheme. It’s also affordable too because there are Erasmus+ grants just waiting to be snapped up! Speak to your school or university careers advisor to find out more about Erasmus+ and once you’ve begun your research, start to think about where you want to travel to.
A City Built on Canals
One of our most popular destinations has to be Amsterdam. This vibrant city isn’t just easy to get around, but it boasts some of the most beautiful sights in Europe. The city is built on canals, so you’ll enjoy crossing the many bridges and perhaps take a canal cruise to see the city from the water. Of course, traveling to Amsterdam during the Springtime brings a spectacular backdrop of tulips – after all, Amsterdam is famous for its heavenly tulips that dot the parks and brighten the railings alongside the canal bridges.
There’s so much to do in Amsterdam. The city never seems to sleep and there are bars aplenty in the centre of the city, especially the Red-Light district along with restaurants and of course, clubs where you’ll find students congregating every night of the week. If you like clubbing, the best areas in Amsterdam to enjoy nightlife are Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein.
Try the Apple Pie
Do stop for apple pie in Amsterdam, one of the country’s favourite dishes and we’d recommend Café Winkel 43 for the most incredible apple pie served with luscious whipped cream. Other must-try dishes include meatballs (bitterballen), served with Dutch mustard and broodje haring (herring). If you’re not a fan of Dutch cuisine, don’t worry, Amsterdam is full of restaurants serving all different types of food.
Amsterdam has an abundance of culture too. There’s Anne Frank house, the actual house where Anne Frank hid during the second world war to escape from Nazi capture. The house is right in the centre of the city, alongside the Prinsengracht canal. You should also visit the Van Gogh museum to see some of the famed artist’s prized artworks.
What About the Cost of Living?
Amsterdam isn’t cheap when it comes to the cost of living. You should expect to spend approximately EUROS 650 per calendar month to include your accommodation. However, your accommodation will be your biggest expense, but it is cushioned by your grant. Having said that, your social life in Amsterdam won’t be too expensive as there are plenty of student discounts, cheap bars and no doubt, there’ll be quite a few parties to go to thanks to the new friends you’ll make in this city. We’d recommend sharing your student accommodation and that will help bring the cost down by a couple of hundred Euros. You also don’t have to worry too much about public transport as it’s easy to get around Amsterdam by bike. Most people do, so you’ll save money on trains, trams and buses if you hire or buy a bike for the duration of your stay.
Mixed Weather Conditions
The weather in Amsterdam can be mixed. It does warm up in the summertime, but it’s never guaranteed as hot – although you will get some very warm days during June to August. In the winter, it tends to get very cold so bring the right clothes depending on the time of year you carry out your Erasmus+ mobility. However, don’t worry too much as there are plenty of fantastic shops, boutiques and stores in the centre so you’ll always be able to stock up!
Final Words on an Erasmus+ Stay in Amsterdam
Truly one of the best cities in the world – Amsterdam is jam-packed with things to do, places to explore, delicious food to eat and it’s renowned for being a young, fun city. If you’re looking for somewhere exciting, that’s always busy and has brilliant night-life, then look no further than Amsterdam! Get in touch with our team here to find out more about Erasmus+ in Amsterdam.