Welcome to Holland | International Student Financial Guide (2024)

Student finance

Before studying, working and living in the Netherlands, diving into your finances is essential. Find out more about the average living costs, tuition fees and research scholarships, grants and important benefits & allowances you can apply for. If necessary, the Dutch government provides student loans. Another option to earn some extra money is to take a job on the side. Finally, students can obtain a ‘student travel product’ in the Netherlands, which allows them to travel for free during the week or at weekends.

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Student insurance

If you temporarily live and study in the Netherlands, you don’t have to take out Dutch healthcare insurance. You can keep your home insurance (or take out private healthcare insurance if desired). This changes if you also decide to work, do a paid internship or do voluntary work receiving an allowance. In that case, Dutch healthcare insurance is compulsory. You will receive a letter from the CAK (Central Administration Office) stating that you are uninsured. I’ll explain how to respond to this letter in this article. Furthermore, you will find detailed information on Dutch healthcare insurance, the different policies and the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Last, other important insurance such as home, liability, travel, and mobile or outdoor insurance will be highlighted.

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Benefits & Allowances

To support lower-income groups, such as students, the Dutch government established different benefits & allowances. These allowances are called ’toeslagen’ and are issued by the Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst). The ‘zorgtoeslag’, or Dutch healthcare allowance, is an allowance for Dutch healthcare insurance payments. Whether you qualify for a healthcare allowance depends on your income and capital. In addition to healthcare allowance, you might qualify for rent benefit. This allowance contributes to the payment of your monthly rent. In this section, you can read all the requirements to successfully apply for rent benefits and additional information on Dutch tax benefits.

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Student housing

Finding a space to live in the Netherlands can be quite a search. Housing in the Netherlands, especially in the major student cities, is scarce. So, it is essential to start looking for a space to live in an early stage of your preparations. Depending on your budget and personal preferences, you can look for a student house, apartment or university accommodation. There are different ways to look for a space to live: by using websites and social media, housing corporations or through your university or student association. You can read all about it in this section and information about temporary accommodation, housing rights, and home insurance.

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Student visa & permits

Do I need a student visa to study in the Netherlands? And do I need a residence permit as well? How do I apply for these documents? You might have different questions regarding student visas & permits. To help you get started and determine what you need to do, you can visit our page with in-depth information on student visas and residence permits.

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Student work

During your studies in the Netherlands, you might want to earn some extra money working a job on the side. Or are you doing an internship, working as a self-employed entrepreneur or au pair or thinking about doing voluntary work? You might wonder in what situations you need a work permit. The general rule is that all non-European students need a work permit and face working hours limitations. You can find all the detailed information on our page student work.

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