Netherlands – Charlie
Student: Charlie
Course: Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of International Studies
Program: Trimester Exchange T1 2024
What was the city you lived in like?
Nijmegen is a lively and progressive student town which also happens to be the oldest known town in the whole of the The Netherlands (2000 years). It is situated one and a half hours from Amsterdam and about 12km from the German border. Nijmegen is unique in that there are actually some hills southeast of the CBD! With most people in Nijmegen being English speakers, the cultural shock is minimal, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t important and rich differences. The walkable and easy to navigate city centre as well as the universities open green spaces were a nice change to Australian cities.
How did you spend your weekends?
After usually successfully completing my required study during the week, each weekend was a great opportunity to discover a new city or head to a nearby festival or event. The most notable example of this was a weekend trip to Maastricht to watch and cycle the course of the Amstel Gold World Tour cycling race. Being roadside and swept up in the town’s incredible fanaticism for cycling was immense. As a fan of cinema, the Netherlands Cineville program also gives you a great excuse for a day trip to another city to see a retro or cult classic screening showing exclusively in one city. The Netherlands’ public transport system and incredible pedestrian infrastructure make it incredibly easy to explore the whole country as well as Germany, Belgium, and France.
How did you decide which study abroad opportunity to do?
Being on the continent as opposed to the United Kingdom was a big priority for me, as a keen cyclist and history buff, I knew my interests outside of study would be well accommodated. I highly recommend pushing outside your comfort zone and studying somewhere without an English predominance. The Netherlands was a great place to be situated to easily venture to France, Germany, and Belgium with little hassle. Having never been to Europe and wanting to study international law (specifically international criminal law), I saw it only fitting to be studying in the birthplace of international justice.
What's your one piece of advice for a student who is preparing to study abroad? How should they prepare?
I totally understand the need to meet as many students as possible and put yourself out there and make friends, but it is equally important to find pastimes and sports to enjoy yourself. My own social battery wasn’t impervious to those first 3 weeks of pandemonium trying to take everything in. Buying a road bike and having a solitary outlet in which to explore the country and exercise was my outlet. Being aware of your exhaustion: social, physical, and emotional is something to be cognisant of. Being comfortable to take care of yourself especially when there are overwhelming amounts of things to do is a valuable skill.