Student life in the Netherlands
What is it like to live and study in the Netherlands? At Saxion, you’ll live in the east of the country, where historic city centres, green landscapes and welcoming student communities offer a different perspective on Dutch life. Explore what makes this region unique and why it's a place where international students can build their future.
🇳🇱 7 reasons to live in the Netherlands
You can communicate easily in English in everyday life, while meeting people from all over the world. Around 95% of people in the Netherlands speak English. Dutch will be needed for you once you start living here.
Getting around is straightforward, whether you travel by bike, train or bus. The Netherlands has an extensive cycling network and a dense railway network connecting cities and towns.
Yes, the Netherlands is one of Europe's most densely populated countries. But cities are surrounded by parks, forests, dunes, beaches, wetlands and countryside. You can go from a busy city centre to nature without travelling for hours.
The Netherlands has a strong reputation for innovation, from high-tech and semiconductors to AI, sustainable technology, water management and healthcare. Saxion has campuses in the Twente region, home to a strong high-tech ecosystem where education, research and businesses work closely together.
In Twente, innovation is happening in fields such as robotics, photonics, nanotechnology, AI, medical technology and advanced manufacturing. Kennispark Twente in Enschede alone is home to more than 480 companies, alongside students, researchers and knowledge institutions.
For students, this means you’re not just studying technology or innovation in the classroom. You’re surrounded by the companies, researchers and startups developing the technologies of tomorrow. Saxion itself is part of this ecosystem.
Living in the Netherlands puts you right in the middle of Europe. Belgium, Germany, France and other European destinations are easily reachable by train, bus or plane.
Practical education is an important part of the Dutch education system because it connects what you learn in class to the skills and knowledge you’ll need in your future career. Instead of only learning theory, students often work on real-life projects, solve practical challenges and collaborate with companies and other organisations.
At a university of applied sciences like Saxion, this approach is especially central. You learn by doing: working in project teams, developing solutions for real clients, completing internships and applying your knowledge to situations you may encounter in your future profession.
Dutch higher education has a strong connection with the professional world. At Saxion, students gain practical experience through projects, internships and collaborations with companies, helping them build professional skills and a network before they graduate. This means you can graduate with more than a diploma: you can already have relevant work experience, professional contacts and a better understanding of the Dutch workplace.
📍 Experience our cities
Saxion’s campuses in Apeldoorn, Deventer and Enschede are located in the east of the country, where life has a different rhythm, but is just as lively and connected. You’ll find historic city centres, vibrant student communities, green spaces and plenty to do, without the crowds and high prices often associated with the big cities. And with the Netherlands’ excellent public transport network, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and other major cities are never as far away as they might seem. Studying in the east means you get to experience a side of the Netherlands that many visitors never see.
🏢 Have a look at Saxion's facilities
3 cities, 3 campuses. Discover our classrooms, workspaces, libraries, labs, canteen, and so much more!