About the Netherlands

The Netherlands is home to around 17 million people on a relatively, small area. Yet you see one thing more than people: bicycles (some 20 million). You understand, when studying in the Netherlands, a bike is not only handy to get from point a to b, but also to feel like a local.

Dutch society

The Netherlands is a small yet diverse country. Because of its history it’s a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities. In general this means the Dutch are tolerant and open-minded when it comes to other nationalities. This mostly shows in the way people speak to each other: you are free to speak your mind and voice your opinion, also in college. The Dutch teaching style is interactive and student-centered. Dutch are known for being direct, this might be something to get used to, but also makes it easy to get to know people. Also, 95% of the Dutch speak English, so it’s easy to communicate in daily life.

The Netherlands: a safe and diverse country

The Netherlands is one of the safest countries in the world, according to the Global Peace index and belongs to the top 10 happiest countries in the world. The great thing about the Netherlands is that everyone is allowed to be who they want to be and to be with who they want to be. Furthermore, you will find a lot of different cultures and nationalities. This diversity not only shows in the country, but also at HZ. You will feel immediately welcome in our close-knit international student community.

Dutch higher education

The quality of the Dutch higher education is well-recognized. The Netherlands has two main types of regular, higher education: University of Applied Sciences (hbo) and Research Universities (wo). HZ is a university of applied sciences. We offer programmes that focus on the practical application of arts and sciences. This means getting practical work experience through internships is an important part of your professional study programme.

Zeeland

In the south-west of the Netherlands you find the province of Zeeland where HZ is located. This province is well known for its stunning countryside and coastal villages with amazing beaches. Living in this province, you will find museums, local markets, regional food and music festivals with an instant summer vibe.

Europe at your doorstep

The Netherlands is centrally located in Europe. It is easy to travel to other parts from Europe. Not only to our neighbours Germany and Belgium, but you can also easily take the bus, train or plane to other cities in Europe. For example, Paris is only three hours away.