Lea Varini – 22, Italian
Master’s in Law and Politics of International Security
After finishing her bachelor’s in Bologna, Lea Varini was looking for a bigger city to do a master’s. Upon hearing positive reviews about the city and the Netherlands’ reputation in her field, Varini found her new home in Amsterdam. Here, she lives with her sister and temporarily shares a bed with her. This is not the living situation she envisioned, so she is looking for a room of her own. “But people just don’t respond when I apply for a vacant room”, she says. After contacting countless potential leads, “only four or five respond”, and once at the viewing, “you’re one of fifty others” trying to secure a room.
Many rooms are also reserved for Dutch students, which makes it difficult to feel welcome in the city. But as someone from Venice, Varini understands Amsterdam’s struggles with international crowds. Not speaking Dutch sometimes earns judgmental looks, so she focuses on connecting with other international students. The large Italian community was a happy surprise: they bond over food and cooking, bringing a slice of Italian “warmth” to the city.
Still, Varini is settling in. Having visited Amsterdam before, she is already familiar with the city centre. Rather than sticking to tourist spots, she and her sister explore local bars and cafés in the Osdorp area, discovering the quieter, hidden corners of their new home and making the city feel like theirs.
Tam Cao – 24, Vietnamese
Master’s in Climate Finance
While she had heard warnings about the Netherlands’ more hostile stance against international students, Cao’s focus was on pursuing her master’s in Amsterdam, and thanks to the university’s housing support, her move to the city has been a positive experience.
Convinced the Netherlands is the best place to study sustainability, Tam Cao moved here after graduating from the University of Texas and working in Vietnam. Besides struggling with arranging her BSN (personal identification number) – and only because she didn’t attend the Practical Matters Days organised by VU – the move has been smooth. The university has been extremely accommodating, finding her a room at Uilenstede and offering help with other integration matters.
In Uilenstede, Cao shares her floor with other international students. They like using the shared kitchen to study and eat together, making it easier to feel at home; “it already feels like a family”. While mainly surrounded by other international students, Cao has been putting in a lot of effort to learn Dutch. She started learning Dutch two months ago; “it’s important to learn the local language to really understand the culture,” she says.
Nora Due Kular – 20, British
Bachelor’s in Literature and Society
Growing up in multiple countries, Nora Due Kular is no stranger to moving to a new city. After high school in Gothenburg, Sweden, she took two gap years to work in London and visit family in Oslo. Now, she joins her best friend, who already worked in Amsterdam as an au pair, to study Literature and Society. Together, they live close to Vondelpark.
Compared to London, Amsterdam is very compact, allowing for bike rides to explore the entire city. Living with her best friend, whose boyfriend is Dutch, has made it easy to discover what the city has to offer. She only misses the abundance of nature that Gothenburg has, where she was close to both the sea and the forest.
The biggest surprise so far? “That I have to pay to go to the toilet in clubs.” For Kular, part of the going-out experience is “being in the bathroom with the girls.” Despite this slight culture shock, however, it has not stopped her and her friends from finding the best clubs in Amsterdam.
Her friends are mostly international. “The Dutch, like the Swedes, mainly have their friends from childhood”, making it difficult to get to know them. Her experience in international environments has taught her to navigate different cultural norms. For instance, understanding that the close-knit nature of Dutch friend circles isn’t a sign of unfriendliness.
Antonio Pascarella – 22, Italian
Master’s in Computer Science
During just a few visits to the city, Antonio Pascarella “fell in love with Amsterdam”. So, after completing his bachelor’s in Computer Engineering in Naples, Pascarella left to pursue his master’s in Computer Science. It is a joint programme between VU and the University of Amsterdam, allowing Antonio to not only discover the VU campus but also UvA’s Science Park in Amsterdam-Oost.
At Science Park, Pascarella hopes to work at Bit, an AI consultancy that develops software, hardware, and AI-driven tools for companies. Since Bit exclusively recruits students, it is an excellent opportunity not only for gaining valuable work experience but also for integrating into the student community.
Integrating into Dutch culture will take a bit more time. Pascarella met many fellow Italians during his master’s Introduction Day, both his professors are Italian too. However, the sunny first weeks of his arrival allowed for plenty of exploration. He has already taken a boat through the canals, found a favourite neighbourhood (the Jordaan), and lain in the Vondelpark grass. So far, Pascarella feels like the city fits him well, and plans to extend his master’s by a year to enjoy Amsterdam.
Benz Abas – 30, Surinamese
MBA in Strategy and Organisation
For Florida International University alumnus Benz Abas, VU’s “exemplary reviews” and strong alumni network were what drew him to Amsterdam. VU has made settling in much easier than they did in the US, making his transition “convenient and efficient”. Housing was also sorted by VU; Abas lives in Uilenstede, which he calls much more pleasant, compared to US dorm life. Living with other internationals also gives him a sense of comfort, knowing that if anyone needs help with something, they’ll help one another. His key tip for other international students? “Get out of your comfort zone! Finding a support network will make the homesickness and university stress less overwhelming.”
Abas is also keen to feel at home in Amsterdam and explore Dutch culture. Right after checking into his room, Abas visited Eetsalon Van Dobben to enjoy the iconic kalfskroketten (breaded and fried veal ragout balls). He has also already explored city classics like the Rijksmuseum, flea market IJ-Hallen and the shopping area Negen Straatjes, as well as local activities like een terrasje pakken (‘grab a terrace’, i.e. sit on a terrace) and visiting markets. The only thing missing for him? Real Surinamese Madame Jeanette peppers. “They just aren’t strong enough here; you should want to cry from a pepper!”
Binyamin Friedman – 21, American
Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Mathematics
As an exchange student from Brandeis University, located just outside of Boston, Binyamin Friedman has a very different international student experience from the rest. Here for only the first semester, he’s focused not just on studying, but also on the European experience. Organised by the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), Friedman has access to trips and activities designed to help him make the most of his time.
IES also arranged his housing at SocialHub City. Together with the other IES American exchange students, Friedman lives in a spacious room there. Here, he has his own bathroom and a queen-sized bed, two luxuries he does not have back home. “Many students here don’t either”, he notes.
The bike-centric culture of Amsterdam has inspired him to rent a Swapfiets (a bike subscription), and in true Dutch fashion, he biked through pouring rain to the Muiderslot castle outside of Amsterdam. Though about an hour each way, it made him “feel like a local”.
Looking ahead, Friedman is excited to “start from scratch” and enjoy his independence in a new country. “People are really friendly here”, he says, and to get more involved, Friedman hopes to join student groups or clubs, especially ones for bouldering and climbing, to meet people and make the most of his semester.