Moving to a new country can feel scary, you do not know what to expect, and you search for information online, but this still does not grab the essence of the Netherlands. Trust me, I have been there, that is why I am writing this to help you understand a bit better how this country works.
I am Lucia and I come from Spain, I grew up in Jerez de la Frontera, a city one hour away from Sevilla. I moved here when I was 18 years old. I came here because I wanted to study in a University of Applied Sciences because Spanish universities were to focus on research in my opinion. I did some research and decided a University of Applied Sciences was the perfect balance for me between theory and practice, so I came to the Netherlands. I moved here 5 years ago, and these are the things I wish I knew before arriving to the Netherlands.
Dutch food
Dutch food is... interesting. It doesn't really have a huge traditional cuisine, and around here, "seasoning" often just means adding salt and pepper while you're cooking. Don't get me wrong though, they definitely have some delicious food. Stroopwafels, poffertjes (mini pancakes), pannenkoeken (thin pancakes) ... okay, maybe you've noticed I have a bit of a sweet tooth. But there are also some great savory options like bitterballen, Dutch snacks in general, Gouda cheese, patat (fries with way too many sauce options), and honestly, I think stamppot can be pretty good, even if some people disagree. See? Plenty of nice things.
I have to admit, the list of Dutch foods I personally love is not the longest one, but the ones that make the list are definitely worth trying.
Of course, Dutch people will still try to convince you that things like haring are amazing. Haring is a raw herring that's traditionally eaten with onions and pickles. It might not be everyone's favorite, but it is definitely a classic Dutch experience. Then there's drop, a very Dutch type of licorice. People either absolutely love it or wonder why anyone thought it was a good idea. There really doesn't seem to be an in-between.
Weather
The weather here is a bit crazy. It can be sunny, rain, snow, hail... All in one day. The Netherlands has four seasons. Spring is usually mild and full of flowers. Summer is often warm, with temperatures around 20 to 30°C, but in recent years it has been getting hotter because of climate change. In fact, the Netherlands recorded its highest temperature ever, over 40.7°C, in June 2026. Autumn is known for colourful leaves, rain, and wind. Winter is usually cold, but the snow ca be really beautiful.
One thing is certain: if you live in the Netherlands, it's always a good idea to bring a rain jacket or an umbrella because the weather can change very quickly! Once a met with a friend, it was very nice weather around 25 degrees, and of course, you cannot trust the Dutch weather, so what happened? It started raining and pouring. We were in the city center, and our only option was to go inside of a cafe to wait until it stopped raining. I did not have any kind of jacket with me, so I got very wet in a very short period of time. Now I never go out without a jacket, even if it is sunny. Dutch people would say "je bent niet van suiker gemaakt," which translates to "you are not made of sugar," meaning you won't melt in the rain. Well... I still prefer staying dry. My advice? Download the Buienradar app. It won't stop the rain, but it will help you know when you're about to get surprised by it.
Bikes
Bikes are a big part of life here. Almost everyone has one, and it is the main way to get around. You see bikes everywhere, in the city, at school, and even in the rain. There are more bikes than people in the Netherlands, which is quite impressive. It is also very common for people to have more than one bike: for example, a simple bike for going to places like bars or parties, and a "good" bike that they take better care of. The bike paths are very well organised, so it feels safe and easy to cycle most of the time.
I didn’t know how to bike before I came here, but I learned the road signs and with a lot of practice I was able to ride my bike in a week. For new students arriving in the Netherlands, it can feel a bit intense at first because there are so many cyclists and they move fast, but you get used to it quickly. Soon it just becomes normal life.
These are some of the things I wish I knew before arriving in the Netherlands. Of course, once you are here, you will slowly get used to all these things. However, it is nice to know about them in advance so you can prepare yourself and have a little less of a culture shock.
So, if I had to give some tips to incoming students: try as much Dutch food as possible (let yourself be the one who decides if Dutch food is good or not), always bring a rain jacket, learn how to ride a bike and actually use it, and don't carry too much cash because you probably won't need it.
