Groetjes uit Nederland!
I am a 26-year-old final-year business student from Tampere. Since January I have been in The Hague, in the Netherlands doing my exchange studies. The Netherlands has been a lovely place to be and live. Here you can sense a truly multicultural atmosphere in everything, and in the streets, you see and hear many different cultures every day. In this text, I will tell you about some things through my own experiences. Welcome onboard!
Studying in the Netherlands is somewhat different compared to Finland. Studying is a bit more academic, and the education system is also a bit tougher compared to the Finnish one. The teachers do not have many opportunities to apply the course of study, but all tests and assignments must be completed on precisely defined days. The level of the teachers has been very high in my own courses and their professionalism and professional pride also shine through. It has also been great to see how well everyone has treated the exchange students and help has been always available when needed. The school also offers a wide range of courses, where everyone will surely find something they like. In general, the biggest difference in the work culture compared to Finland is that in the Netherlands, in many workplaces, the working hours are 09:00-17:00. In the streets, you can clearly see how the city comes to life after a couple of hours of the one that I have been used to it. Many international companies also have an office in the Netherlands, from where they often manage the affairs of companies operating in the Nordic countries, so even from that point of view, the Netherlands is a good option if you want an international career.
The Netherlands is also a great place to practice various sports. It almost goes without saying that this country is made for cycling. Without a doubt, the best way to get to know The Netherlands and its diverse culture is to do it by bike. With cycle routes practically covering the entire country, it’s very easy. You also don’t have to worry about the highlands here, so even with a single-speed bike you can comfortably maintain your speed and let the scenery change at the same time. In general, the Dutch are active people, and they spend a lot of time outdoors. When it’s a beautiful summer day, you can really notice how the streets are filled with people.
The central location of the Netherlands also makes it easy to get to know neighboring countries. The trips to Germany, Belgium, and France have undoubtedly been one of the highlights of this trip. In addition to school, my everyday life has been guided here by several trips within the Netherlands with other exchange students. In addition to that, a considerable amount of time has been spent in the gym. It’s been interesting to practically build everyday routines from scratch, and I think it will give me a lot more capacity when thinking about future adventures. I can warmly recommend The Hague and the Netherlands in general to anyone who is thinking of going on exchange but does not yet know where they would like to go.
Greetings from far away
Jesse
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