Living in the Netherlands

Once you have decided to study at HAN University of Applied Sciences, you will probably want to gather as much information as you can about the area and about the Netherlands in general. This way you will have some idea of what it will be like to live here as a student. The Netherlands, also known as Holland, may be small in size, but its economy and culture definitely are not!

A modern economy

In addition to having a modern economy with a high quality services sector, the Dutch are internationally recognised leaders in water management. The eastern part of the country, where HAN University of Applied Sciences is situated, is an attractive place for multinational companies because of its location between the major port of Rotterdam and the German industrial area.

Science and the arts

The Netherlands is also successful in science and the arts. Illustrious painters from the past, such as Rembrandt and Van Gogh, have made Dutch painting famous. Today Rem Koolhaas is known around the world for his architectural designs. Among our Nobel Prize winners are the well-known brothers Jan and Nicolaas Tinbergen, who contributed to the sciences of economics and biology.

Fun facts about the Netherlands

Did you know that...

  • "The Netherlands" and "Holland" are used to describe the same country?
  • One quarter of the Netherlands is below sea level?
  • The International Court of Justice is at the Peace Palace in The Hague?
  • The Netherlands has approximately 480 inhabitants per square kilometre?
  • With only 0.008% of the world's area, the Netherlands is the world's third largest agricultural exporter?
  • The Netherlands was one of the European Union's founding nations?
  • The Netherlands has at least 15,000 km of bicycle paths?
  • Dutch is also spoken in Belgium, northern France, Suriname, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba?
  • The Netherlands still has about 1,000 traditional working windmills?
  • The Dutch are the tallest people in Europe?
  • Amsterdam is entirely built on piles?
  • The Netherlands always has a coalition government, which makes it a country of compromises?
  • The Netherlands has nearly 1,000 museums, with 42 in Amsterdam alone?
  • Almost every Dutch person has a bicycle and there are twice as many bikes as cars?
  • The Netherlands is the world's eighth largest exporter?
  • People in Holland eat raw herring with onions on top?
  • About 30% of all Dutch babies are born at home?
  • You can see 22 paintings by Rembrandt and 206 by Van Gogh in Amsterdam?
  • The Netherlands has the highest number of part-time workers in the EU (four in ten people)?
  • The Netherlands' highest point is 323 metres high and is therefore called a " mountain"?
  • You'll find a bunch of flowers in almost every Dutch living room?
  • Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, but The Hague is the seat of government?
  • Most Dutch people speak at least one foreign language?
  • One in every three Dutch people belongs to a sport club?
  • After Scandinavians, the Dutch are the world's biggest coffee drinkers?
  • People of 200 nationalities live in Amsterdam?
  • The Netherlands has one of the youngest populations in the EU?
  • When your plane arrives at Schiphol, it lands 4.5 metres below sea level?
  • The Netherlands has the highest cable density in Europe?
  • Amsterdam has 1,281 bridges?
  • When Dutch school children pass their exams, they hang a Dutch flag and a school bag outside their homes?

(source: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs)