Thankfully, life isn’t all bureaucracy and administration. Here are some tips to life in the Netherlands that make it a little better.
Finding a bike
Having a bike is a pretty good way to get around Amsterdam, however, sourcing a good bike that doesn’t break every couple of months or get pilfered off the street can be a bit of a mission. A good source for second-hand bikes is the Rietveld/Sandberg FB page(opens in a new tab), where at least the person you are buying it from isn’t a complete stranger. Be careful of buying it secondhand from a bike-shop/online marketplace, as often these bikes break super quickly. Another option is Swapfiets(opens in a new tab) - it is modelled on subscription capitalism but it does provide you with a decent bike with the promise of a replacement/repair without additional costs. Just make sure to never forget your keys in the bike ‘cause it will get stolen and then you will have to pay a hefty replacement fee. Bikes being stolen is a reoccuring issue here, so it is advised to always double lock to a fence/pole as that greatly reduces the risk of theft.
Unfortunately public transport is really expensive in the Netherlands, and non-EU students are not eligible for the free public transport available to Dutch students. A way to see the Netherlands for a slightly reduced fee is to get an OV-chipkaart(opens in a new tab) with a NS-Flex(opens in a new tab) subscription.
There are a number of organisations, unions and resources for students in the Netherlands.
The LSVb(opens in a new tab): the advocacy organization for all students in the Netherlands! They are dedicated to better and affordable education, better and affordable housing, more involvement for students and good study counselling and guidance.