The Netherlands:
For many people the name “Holland” or “ The Netherlands” conjures up images of tulips, cheese, wooden shoes, windmills and football. These associations are not exactly wrong; tulip bulbs and cheese are indeed two important Dutch export products, and occasionally you will still see a windmill that has been preserved.
The Netherlands today is one of the world’s most prosperous countries thanks to: advanced industries and agriculture, role in world trade, and large reserves of natural gas. A highly developed system of social welfare ensures that everyone living in the Netherlands shares in this prosperity.
The formal name of the country is “ The Netherlands.” “ Holland” is in fact the name of the western part of the country. This name is often used to refer to The Netherlands as a whole.
The Netherlands is that part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that is situated in Europe. It is flanked to the north and west by the North Sea, to the east by Germany and to the south by Belgium. The furthest distance from north to south is 300 kilometres, and from west to east 200 kilometres. With an area of 41,526 square kilometres, the Netherlands is slightly larger than Belgium, while Germany is nearly nine times the size.
The landscape is mainly flat with hilly areas in the south and east. The name ‘the Netherlands’ refers to the low-lying nature of the country (‘nether’ means low). The highest point is is the Vaalserberg hill in the southeast – where the Dutch, German and Belgian borders meet – which is 321 metres above sea level. Many areas in the north and west, constituting more than 25% of the total area of the country, are below sea level. The lowest point – near Rotterdam – is some 6.7 metres below sea level.
Climate:
“Someone once peered up at the Dutch sky and glumly summarized it as follows: “Just look at that. It always looks as if it has just rained, is about to rain or is raining.” Unfortunately, this is rather true. Those who are already suffering from culture shock will find that the dreary Dutch skies do not do much to uplift the spirit. To the contrary. They reflect it. Holland has a “sea-climate”, meaning that the relatively constant temperature of the water moderates any seasonal changes and the climate might try to induce on the temperature. Holland depends on an Easterly wind (Siberia) for its good, cold, blue-skied winters and a southerly wind (Spain) for a nice, dry, sunny summer. But rest assured, these days do occur – and actually quite a few per season.
One of the great things about the Dutch, however, is their attitude towards the sun. They love it! Once the sun breaks out in the summer, they take days off, leave the office early and spend lengthy lunch breaks outside – soaking up the sun. Gone are the traffic jams, the “moody blues” and life behind closed doors. Café terraces are well populated, street-life is lively and gardens are filled with the blue smoke of barbecues. This is when you start noticing the inordinate amount of vacation days the Dutch actually have!
The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate, thanks to the proximity of the sea and the warm North Atlantic Gulf Stream. The temperature therefore does not fluctuates between around 16˚C in the summer and 3˚C in the winter on the coast and 17˚C in the summer and 2˚C in the winter inland. This is not to say that extremes of temperatures never occur. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the Netherlands was minus 27.8˚C and the highest 38.6˚C. Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed over the year, although spring is usually dryer than autumn. About 760 mm of rain falls each year.
Variations in climate between the regions are small. The distance of more than 300 kilometres from north to south does have some influence of on temperature, and the influence of the sea decreases towards the east. The average number of summer days (maximum temperature reaching at least 25˚C) varies from below five on the Frisian Islands in the north to around 25 in the south.
Economy:
The industry in The Netherlands is well developed with various kinds of heavy engineering, production of petrochemicals and plastics, synthetic fibres and steel. Also included is a wide range of established light industries such as the manufacturing of electronic goods. In addition, Holland has also developed a strong base in the new technological industries of computing, telecommunications and biotechnology.
Most of The Netherlands’ trade takes place within the EU. Its largest single trading partner is Germany, followed by Belgium and Luxembourg, France and the UK. The Netherlands is founding member of the Benelux Economic Union and of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as an investor.
Language:
Dutch, a Germanic language, is spoken everywhere in the country.
The Netherlands is internationally oriented. Many Dutch people speak at least 2 foreign languages with nearly everyone understanding and speaking English.
The Dutch tend to be well informed about world affairs, which becomes evident when looking at the wide news coverage offered by the Dutch media. Books and periodicals from other countries are used extensively in higher education and a growing number of courses and study programs are taught in English. Be aware though, unlike China, most of the road signs and shops do not have a bilingual display (English and Dutch). This is where Holland is still missing out quite a lot and this will most certainly give you some difficulties in the beginning. A lot of the official documents you receive are in Dutch so you will to consult with your teachers, or friends to help you find out whether it is important or not.
The Dutch Language
Why should you learn Dutch?
Maybe you think; I’m only going to be in Holland for a few years, and everyone understands me in school – why should I make the effort of learning a language I am not going to need the rest of my life? This is a very practical approach. If you were to voice it out loud to a Dutchman, he probably would not disagree.
Three Good Reasons to Learn Dutch
· In the beginning, a Dutchman thinks it is perfectly fine if you speak English. They will answer in English too. It would appear that his own language is not so important to him. But appearances can be deceiving. If, after a year, your Dutch is still non-existent or barely so, they will start to get irritated. They will think you are not doing your best and will hold this against you – either explicitly or implicitly.
· You remain an outsider. Whenever the Dutch want to, they can shut you out, simply by switching to Dutch. Even if this is not intentional, you could be missing a few interesting points. Personal things, fine details, those little things that could contribute to an understanding. Also this can lead to a certain degree of isolation.
· Your intellectual capacity might be estimated to be at the level of your language capacity. The better your Dutch the smarter you are thought to be.
Customs, Traditions and Attitudes:
One of the first things foreigners living in The Netherlands will notice, is the fact that the Dutch have a great respect for privacy. A consequence of this is that you are expected to introduce yourself: it is up to you (the stranger) to make the Dutch person aware of the sort of contact you want. After that, your Dutch acquaintance will introduce you to other people.
You will also notice that Dutch people use their agendas a lot. Do not be surprised if you have to arrange a date for next week or even later.
All Dutch people expect to be treated as equals. Whenever a Dutch person feels that he/she is treated in an arrogant way, he will express this by saying so or by shrugging his shoulders with indifference. His intention is not to be impolite, but to put the mutual relations in their proper perspective or clarify them. The Dutch have a very direct manner of speaking, especially when expressing their opinions. They avoid superlative and tend to be negative.
Compliments are rarely given or they can hardly be recognised as such. The Dutch like to criticise all kinds of things. This may sometimes seem fretful; however, to the Dutch this is often a sign of interest.
- Meeting people for the first time. Dutch people usually wait to be introduced. They hold out their hands to shake, make eye contact, say their names, and listen to the name of the other person.
- When people know each other. During social occasions people who already know each other shake hands if they have not seen each other for a while. Kisses on the cheek are exchanged between family and friends. Ordinarily men don’t kiss other men, women kiss and are kissed by everyone. Kisses are given in series of three: left, right, left.
- Answering the telephone. Dutch people answer the telephone by immediately identifying themselves. They say something like “U spreekt met Anita van Schie” (Anita van Schie speaking). It is not considered polite if you pick up the phone and say “hello” without introducing yourself.
Holidays:
Fixed Dates:
1 Jan: New Year’s Day
30 Apr: Queen’s Birthday
5 Dec: Saint Nicholas’ Eve
25 Dec: Christmas Day
26 Dec: Boxing Day
Variable Dates:
Good Friday
Easter Sunday and Monday
Ascension Day
White Sunday and Monday
The highlight of the Dutch festival year is the national celebration of the Queen’s birthday on April 30th. This so-called Koninginnedag is a national holiday and is especially celebrated in Amsterdam. There you will find the biggest free market with street music, cabaret and dance.
The Dutch Media:
Newspaper and Magazines:
Many Dutch people have a subscription to a newspaper, which is delivered daily (except on Sundays) by paperboys or girls. There are weekly political and literary periodicals offering background information, comments and opinions on current affairs. There is great variety of Dutch and English language periodicals on sale at newsagents. Most public libraries have newspapers and periodicals in their reading areas.
Radio and Television:
The Netherlands’ unique broadcasting system is a combination of public and private enterprise. It is partly funded by the government, from direct taxes paid by viewers and listeners, from fees for membership in broadcasting organisations and by commercial sponsors.
Most households in The Netherlands are linked to the cable network, which means they can also receive about 20 foreign television channels (e.g. BBC, CNN, and MTV) and many radio programmes. Besides the national television channels, there are several commercial channels transmitting Dutch language programmes via cable or satellite. All foreign programmes that are broadcasted in the Netherlands have Dutch subtitles.
Useful Links:
Information about Holland
http://www.lonelyplanet.c......tions/europe/netherlands/ (funkiest site about the Netherlands)
http://www.sievers.nl/visitnederland/ (some good picture of the country)
http://www.visitholland.com (some information – informative but dry)
http://www.goholland.com (some information about Holland)
Chinese CHEER student’s in Holland
http://www.iamlooker.com (in Chinese - covering a lot of information about living in Holland)
http://www.gogodutch.com (in Chinese - covering a lot of information about living in Holland)
Life As A Student:
Here we will cover:
§ Means of transport
§ Employment
§ Health and insurance
§ Changing money
§ Banks
§ Post offices
§ Telephone
§ Laundry and dry cleaning
§ Garbage collection
§ Neighbourhood
§ Safety
§ Shopping and average prices
§ Learning style
§ Accommodation
Means of Transport:
Geography and Infrastructure:
The Netherlands has an excellent and high quality infrastructure, not the least of which is the public transport system. There are trains, buses, trams and metros running frequently throughout the country. All traffic modules operate according to a timetable that is consistently on time.
Public transport:
Public transport in The Netherlands is the most convenient means of transportation. Trains, buses and trams run throughout the country. Almost any place or town in the Netherlands can be reached by a combination of trams, buses or train.
Trains:
When you travel by train, you can choose from three different sorts of trains:
Stoptrein: stops at all stations on the route
Sneltrein: stops at main stations
Intercity-trein: only reaches a few major cities
On yellow timetables found throughout the stations the type of train is mentioned above and is indicated next to the station of your destination.
The price of a train ticket depends on the kilometres that you travel (e.g. Schipol Airport—Den Haag: 7,50 , Den Haag—Amsterdam: 10,20)
Regular train tickets can be obtained at every station from the domestic ticket counter, or from any ticket machine. Keep in mind that your ticket can be controlled on the platform as well as in the trains either before departure or after your arrival.
A discount card will help you a lot in saving money.
(Taking your bike on the train: It is possible to do so, but you have to buy a separate ticket for your bike and you have to use a carriage with a bicycle sign on it!)
Strip Card and The Zone System:
All the cities and places are divided into zones, so when you use public transport you travel through these zones and the price depends on how many zones you cross. Strip cards work as follows: at most bus stops and on the timetables you can see how many zones your journey takes and so you have to use one strip for each zone and an extra for the journey itself.
If you stamped your strip card once for a particular zone(s), it is possible for you, within a certain period of time, to travel within this zone or in these zones freely, changing as many times as you wish. The time you have depends on the number of zones you use.
1-3 zones: 2-4 strips 1 hour
4-6 zones: 5-7 strips 1.5 hour
7-9 zones: 8-10 strips 2 hours
If you run out of these time limits, then you have to stamp new strips as done normally. A month card or a year card is also available.
Bicycles:
Cycling is the cheapest and most popular form of transport in The Netherlands. Cycle paths run all over the country and often there are separate lanes for bikes in cities.
Remember, if you are cycling at night your bike must have a front and rear light and a rear reflector. If you do not have a light, or if it does not work, you could be fined NLG 50. Also note that cyclists are expected to signal any change of direction by hand. It is best to buy an inexpensive looking second hand bike. Reasonable price is between 50-100 and please do not forget to buy a good lock.
Employment:
Foreign students who are inhabitants of a non-EU member state must obtain a work permit if they want to work in addition to their studies here. Your employer should provide you with a work permit. If you are looking for a job you will need a social-fiscal number (“sofi-nummer”), which you can get at the tax office. This procedure is quite easy. You just have to prove that you are registered at the Town Hall, and then you can get it.
It is allowed for foreign students to work 10 hours a week, and more in holidays.
Health and Insurance:
Every student needs to buy a one-year student insurance policy.
In The Netherlands one should consult the general practitioner before consulting a specialist. In case of medical emergency one can go to the casualty department (“eerste hulp”) of any hospital at any time. All hospitals in The Netherlands are equally qualified and provide service accordingly.
Emergency telephone number: 112 for ambulance, police, fire station.
Insurance for liability, accident, theft and household effects: we advise all students to check whether their insurance covers theft and loss of belongings, household effects (concerning your apartment: fire, explosion, theft, storm, vandalism after breaking and entering) and liability (injury or industrial damage to third parties).
Changing Money:
Money can be changed at banks, larger post offices and at the exchange agency GWK (located in or near the railway station).
Banks:
There are many banks to choose from, the large ones are ABN-AMRO, Postbank, ING and Rabobank. However banks tend not to accept students who study in The Netherlands for less than 12 months. Your best bet would be the Postbank.
You go to the post office and ask for a “giro” application form. Fill it in and send it out. It will take about 14 days to be processed.
To open an account here you will need to show your passport as a proof of your ID. A few weeks after you initiate your account you will receive a bankcard. This card can be used to withdraw money from your account at anytime using a cash dispenser in or outside the bank. It can also be used in shops, restaurants etc.
Bank business hours:
Monday: 13:00-16:00
Tue-Fri: 9:00-16:00
Sat and Sun: closed
Post Offices:
Post offices have red signs marked PTT Post. They offer a broad range of services and they usually also have Postbank branches. Post boxes are red and usually have 2 slots: one for local mail and one for all other destinations. To send mails inside The Netherlands is NLG 0.80, and to China is NLG.1.60.
Working hours:
Mon-Fri: 9:00-18:00(Thursday: till 21:00)
Sat: 9:00-16:00
Sun: closed
Telephones:
Telephone-boxes in the street are colored light green, and accept telephone or credit cards. The cards can be bought at post offices, railway stations and Primafoon. They come in 5, 10, and 25 Euro denominations.
Mobile is popular in Holland: BEN, Telfort, KPN, Vodafone and Orange are the companies running this business.
E.g.: payment every month: EUR 20
minutes for free every month: 150
service period: 1 year
then you can get phone for free: Look for special offers in the shops.
There are all kinds of telephone cards for you to call China.
E.g. Asia Card: Dial the free number. Then you get 60 min. by paying 13 Euro.
Laundry and Dry Cleaning:
If you do not have a washing machine or dryer in your room, it is possible to clean your clothes at one of the many laundry shops. You can also find a laundry room somewhere in the dormitory. Average cost is Eur. 3-5 per time.
Garbage Collection:
There is a main difference from China and The Netherlands. The cleaning service company comes to collect the garbage 1-2 a week instead of everyday. And you have to put your rubbish at the right place for collection. Otherwise, you will make friends with mice and your neighbour will not appreciate it.
Neighbourhood:
It is really nice if you have a nice audio set with you. Music can help you relax, but some of us like to turn the volume up loud to enjoy the “real” music. However, please consider your neighbour because maybe he/she is sleeping or studying…we have to think about others or you will be welcomed by the police.
Safety:
Walking alone at night and making a call on the street is not safe for Chinese students. Every student should notice this and avoid being robbed. Never place cash and/or valuable goods in your rooms. It is possible to rent a safe at a bank.
Shopping:
In the centre most shops are open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00-18:00 and Saturdays from 9:00-17:00. On Mondays most shops open at 13:00. There is late-night shopping every Thursday until 21:00.
There are some supermarket chains to be found in the city. As in other cities the prices, choice and service differ from shop to shop.
You can also find some Chinese supermarket in the Chinatown in most cities
(supermarket are closed on Sundays).
Average Prices: (in EURO)
Milk: 0,50
Bread: white sliced bread: 1,00
Meat: a chicken breast will cost something around 2,10; a beefsteak will cost about the same.
Potatoes: about 1,00 for 2 Kg.
Fruit: (apple/orange) 1,00 per Kg.
Coffee at bar: 1,50 per cup
A film ticket: 8,00
Shampoo: 1,60 – 5,00 per 300 ml
Discman: 100-200 Eur
Airline Ticket (return) to Beijing: 600-900
Shanghai: 800-1100
Average expense per person in a Chinese restaurant: 15-20
Learning Style:
In the Dutch teaching system there are more contact hours per week than in the average polytechnic or university system in many other countries. This focus on contact hours is offset to a certain extent by putting less emphasis on tutorials and coursework outside of class. However, students are expected to spend a considerable amount of time on self-study using the library and the Country Documentation modules are quite substantial.
The majority of lectures are conducted in classrooms rather than lecture halls. In doing so students have more opportunity to communicate with their lecturers because the contact is less formal. Once enrolled for a course module a student is expected to attend all classes.
For case study related classes (which require active student involvement as well presentations, submission of course work etc.) attendance is obligatory.
Modules may include course work assessment, such as essays or presentations, some include midterm exams, but final examinations by far carry a higher percentage than course work assessment. Students should attempt to spread the workload, thus avoiding an accumulation of work towards the end of the semester. An independent approach from the student and a certain degree of self-discipline will be assets to complete the courses successfully.
Accommodation:
Most of the schools have their own accommodation office. Students are always assured with furnished rooms. The rent varies from EUR 1500 to 2000 per semester. Usually gas and electricity are included.
You can also find your room by the help of friends or searching in the newspaper (like VIA VIA)
THE DAYS BEFORE YOU GO:
Preparation should consist of two parts:
The preparation of the luggage and the preparation in your mind.
Culture Shock
Once you have started your life in the Netherlands you will be faced with a society that is different in almost every way to the one you grew up in and take for granted. It is helpful if you realise that your adjustment to this different state of affairs takes time, and in that time, you will go through a number of phases. In the next few paragraphs you will find some more information on this phenomenon called ‘culture shock’.
When adjusting to life in a new country, we refer to a strange phenomenon called ‘culture shock’. If you If you’ve ever had an electric shock, you know what a ‘surprise’ that is to your system! In the same way, what you ‘see’ may not correspond with what you ‘know’ and what you experience may not correspond with what you are ‘feeling’ at the time. When you do not understand what you are seeing, or the language you are hearing, this can be very confusing. You might feel like your mental ‘wires are crossed’ and that you are receiving mixed signals from your senses.
What you know to be true may not be valid in your new situation. Things look different from what you are used to, the sound of the language may be incomprehensible gibberish, and the smells may be penetrating or sweet or even disgusting. There may be a lot of disturbing noises, making it difficult to concentrate. The foods you know (and love!) may not be readily available (if at all) and many new foods may smell odd and taste even stranger!
In all this confusion of your senses, you also have your emotions at work, and you may be feeling overwhelmed by all the new input, surprised or shocked, delighted or distressed, frustrated that everything takes longer to do or impatient with yourself that you don’t understand many things. You may also be experiencing some ‘homesickness’ and sadness in missing loved ones and familiar places and comforting things from ‘home’.
Dealing with transition
Finding your way through all of your physical, mental and emotional changes is part of the challenge of living abroad and coping with culture shock. Each person’s experience is unique.
Being aware of the stages your adjustment will go through can help you in realising that ‘this too shall pass’ …. In time. Though culture shock can emotionally be painful, you will learn to manage the stress, cope with many frustrations and learn to appreciate a varied and culturally enriching life in your new country.
Geert Hofstede (1991) has analysed these phases in his book on the analysis of cultures. The amount of time you spend in the foreign country seems to be irrelevant; in fact, if you stay for 8 weeks for example, then the four phases of culture shock will probably spread themselves over those 8 weeks. Similarly if you go for half a year, then you will also experience the four states of mind during that period. In order for you to prepare for what is going to happen, it is a good idea to be aware of these four stages.
Geert Hofstede spends some time illustrating the fact that our mental software is built up of values that we have acquired early in our lives and in such a natural way that we are hardly conscious of them. Our values are the basis of more superficial manifestations of culture and Hofstede calls these: rituals, symbols and heroes. When you are in the foreign country, you will probably take the trouble to learn some of the new symbols of your new environment (words to use, how to greet, when to bring presents) but is unlikely that you will be able to recognise the underlying values. It is as if you have returned to the mental state of a four-year-old, having to learn all the basic things over again. This can lead to feelings of distress, helplessness and even hostility. You may even feel physically ill for a while. The stages of culture shock, which not everyone will experience to the same degree of intensity, are based on the actual descriptions of expatriates.
The stages
Phase 1
This is a short period of euphoria, called the honeymoon, which has got to do with the excitement and glamour of travelling and seeing new lands
Phase 2
Now real life starts in the new environment and this can cause a state of shock. You will probably feel quite negative and reject it in favour of your own at home that feels so much more comfortable to you.
Phase 3
This is the acculturation phase when the visitor has slowly learned to function under the new conditions, has adopted some of the local values, is becoming more self-confident and becomes integrated into the new social network.
Phase 4
This is the stable state of mind that is eventually reached. Feelings may be negative or positive depending on the extent of the adjustment the visitor has been able to make to the new environment.
It is also useful to bear in mind that the host environment will also go through different stages in his dealings with you. Again, they will be curious and excited at the beginning but gradually, when you have settled in, you will be judged according to their values and this may turn out to be unfavourable for you. As time goes by, however, the host environment will gradually realise that different people should be judged by different standards. He will be aware of and accept the differences.
Luggage: from the above information, you can get a general idea of studying in Holland, and what you need to take and not to take.
Cool summers, mild winters. This is typical of the marine climate you would predict for the Netherlands after looking at a map and seeing its position at the edge of the North Sea. But on a day-to-day basis, Dutch weather can be unpredictable. A day that starts out sunny can end with rain and wind or vice versa, so wise people learn to dress in layers which they can add or shed as the day changes.
In the winter (December – February), there are not many days below freezing, and snow seldom accumulates. The winter cold is penetrating, however, because it is often wet and windy, so you will need a warm winter coat and at least one woollen sweater. Further, wollen socks, gloves, head cover, scarves, and other small items of warm clothing are a must.
In the summer months, June to August, there will be a few fairly hot days (above 25C / 77F is considered a heat wave). You will want to wear summer clothes, but is still a good idea to have a lightweight, waterproof jacket or coat handy. In the months between, the temperature will vary between about 5C and 15C.
Dutch fashions: Most Dutch people are not very fashion-conscious; they dress for comfort more than for looks or for status. Tastes also tend to be individual rather than based on peer-pressure, and casual rather than elegant. In other words, you can wear whatever you like and feel comfortable. Even for concerts, the theatre, and dance parties, most people wear informal clothes.
For some activities at school (guest lectures and presentations) students are expected to wear formal business attire. You may want to bring a suit or set of smart clothes with you for such occasions.
Mind: what we have to say is that studying abroad is a hard work. You have to do all the things by yourself, deal with all the problems by yourself. You need to be much stronger and more independent.
THE DAY YOU GO:
Check the following things:
§ You are only allowed to take 25 kg on most airlines worth of luggage and 7 kg on the plane.
§ Your passport
§ Your letter from the school
§ Your ticket
§ The money
§ Some medicine
Arrival in the Netherlands: At Schiphol Airport
You should have on hand:
· Passport, with visa or permit if necessary
· Letter of acceptance from the host institution
· Document of financial backing
· Your return ticket
· A jacket or coat
· Money (exchange some money in your own country)
· Directions for travelling to your destination
Upon arrival at Schiphol airport you must clear Immigrations and Customs (in that order). When you arrive in the customs hall, try to get a luggage trolley (you will need it to take your luggage to the train platform). It is important that you identify and claim your own luggage from the conveyor belt.
Changing money in the Customs Hall
It is possible to change your foreign currency in the Customs Hall. Look for signs. ABN AMRO is one of the banks offering such a service
Leaving Customs
There will be two signs identifying two passenger exits from the Customs Hall. They read “GOODS TO DECLARE” and “ NOTHING TO DECLARE”. Most students have nothing to declare. If you are not sure, please seek the help of a customs official.
Be ware of pickpockets
Please take care of your belongings at the airport and on your way to Leeuwarden. Unfortunately, people who look like tourists happen to be victims of pickpockets quite often |
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