Holland or the Netherlands?
The Dutch are very special. So much so that they recently decided that the official name of the country is the Netherlands. Although we will continue to call people by their adjective Dutch. They are a special people because, among many other things, they have built themselves by taking space from the sea, something that reveals the tenacity of the Dutch.
But let’s get back to business: why study in the Netherlands?
Classes are taught 100% in English and in everyday life it is also a language that the vast majority of Dutch people speak. That said, if you want to learn some Dutch in order to find a job, the government offers you the possibility to do so for free.
Its educational system has wide international recognition and some characteristics that make it quite different from ours: it is an interactive system where the student is valued and where there are three basic pillars: teamwork, participation in class and respect for opinions. Its methodology is based on the principle of learning through problem solving.
Higher education is provided at two types of institutions: the University of Applied Sciences and the University.
The difference between the two is the amount of hours devoted to practical training. Although there are undergraduate programs in which internships are required, they are generally more theoretical in their approach, whereas undergraduate programs at the University of Applied Sciences devote equal time to practical preparation and theoretical instruction.
Higher education has a wide range of programs, so you will have no problem finding the one that best suits your profile:
Foundation, a year of preparation for entering the course you want at the same university.
Bachelor Degree: 4 years of study in conventional areas: engineering, humanities, business.
Top Up: If you have completed 2 or 3 years of undergraduate studies in Spain or completed a higher cycle, you can complete one or two additional years in the Netherlands and obtain the Dutch qualification.
Master’s degree: can last one or two years.
From an economic point of view, studying in Holland has lower living costs than other English-speaking countries. University tuition is around 2,000 euros per year, but there are various payment methods, loans and scholarships that Spanish students can access, and since a few months ago there was a significant discount for the first year.
But it is also common for students to combine study and work and, of course, European students can work under the same conditions as national students.
Perhaps one of the country’s characteristics is its enormous cultural diversity. It is a country that attracts foreigners and, as it is a densely populated territory, it is not easy to find individual accommodation. It is common for students to rent a home among several people. Life is therefore lived in groups and the integration of the newcomer is much easier.
Another of the country’s great advantages is its geographical location. Holland is in the centre of Europe, and taking a train to Brussels is a day trip.
Paris is not far away either, as is Cologne or Düsseldorf in Germany.
In short, it would be necessary to turn the question around:
Why not go to study in the Netherlands?


