Studying in the Netherlands

Mention the Netherlands or Holland and many people will think of clogs and windmills. The Dutch do not mind, but if truth be told, the Netherlands is traditionally a country of commerce and transport.

To give you an idea of just how large the Dutch logistics sector is, consider the following. The earth is home to 6.4 billion people, making the Dutch population of 16 million seem miniscule by comparison. These 16 million are only 0.267 percent of the world’s population, and yet the Netherlands is still the world’s eighth largest exporting country.

The Netherlands has been called “The Gateway to Europe”, and with good reason. With 1.48 million tons of goods shipped in 2005, Schiphol Airport was the third largest cargo airport in Europe. The Port of Rotterdam handled 348 million tons of goods, making it Europe’s largest port by far, as well as the most modern. The brand new railway line for transporting freight to Germany also makes Rotterdam the gateway to Central Europe. None of this should come as a surprise; the Dutch have been in shipping and transoprting for the last four hundred years.( www.hollandtrading.com)

“Netherlands are continental Europe’s primary power in higher education”
Higher education in Holland enjoys a worldwide reputation for its high quality. This is achieved through a national system of regulation and quality assurance. The Times: “Netherlands are continental Europe’s primary power in higher education”. In Holland there is reason for satisfaction. According to the annual Times Higher Education Suplement ranking, “a total of 28 nations have at least one institution in the 200. Virtually every university in Australia is in the rankings, with 12 representatives, while the Netherlands, with 11, emerges as continental. Europe’s principal power in higher education”, the Times says.

Holland has also received international acclaim for its ground-breaking Problem-Based Learning system, which trains students to analyze and solve practical problems independently through emphasis on self-study and self-discipline.

Value for money

Education in Holland is not free, but tuition fees are reasonable. The latest Worldwide Cost of Living Survey shows that the cost of living in Holland is modest compared with cities like New York, London, Paris and Beijing.

1,300 programmes in English

Holland was the first non-English-speaking country to offer courses taught in English. The Dutch higher education institutions together offer about 1,300 international study programmes and courses which are taught entirely in English. This makes Holland the front-runner in continental Europe.

Source: EVD, NUFFIC