You are about to leave for the Netherlands to study at HZ. This will surely be one of the most exciting and life changing experiences of your life! To assist in your preparations we give you some important practical information.

Practical information

Read carefully what you need to arrange when you decide to study in The Netherlands.

International students who study or work in the Netherlands are legally required to have health insurance. As a foreign student you will need to take out a healthcare insurance and we strongly advise to take out a third-party liability insurance. Also make sure you have a travel insurance.

From the moment you have a part-time job, you are required to take out Dutch basic healthcare insurance. If you intend to do a paid internship in the Netherlands, you might need to take out the Dutch basic healthcare insurance as well (depending on the remuneration you receive). Please click here for more detailed information.

EU-students

As an EU-student, you are not required to take out Dutch public healthcare insurance if you are already insured in your home country. Your insurance company can provide you with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Before you leave your home country, please make sure that everything is sufficiently covered for your study abroad. For example, in addition to your EHIC, you can take out the ICS Start or ICS Start+ from AON Student insurance. This is a reliable company with sufficient coverage.

Non-EU students

Non-EU students need to take out private international healthcare insurance. You can choose to take out in your home country, but we advise you to take out insurance in the Netherlands because foreign insurance companies do not cover liability in the Netherlands. For example, the ICS complete package from AON Student insurance is a reliable company with sufficient coverage.

All foreign students staying in the Netherlands for a period longer than four months have to register with the municipal register (gemeentelijke basisadministratie) of the Dutch town where they are living.

Click here for more information on how to book an appointment.

See chapter 4 from the International Student Survival Guide.

The most convenient way is to travel by train from the airport to Vlissingen or Middelburg. Train schedules and costs for the Netherlands can be found here. Another useful app to use is 9292, it'll show live updates of your route. Sometimes you will need to take a shuttle bus from the airport to the railway station (Eindhoven, Rotterdam). In Brussels and Amsterdam the railway stations are at the airport. There should be screens with information on where to go at all the stations. You can also ask employees if you need extra help with finding the correct train.

Please see the information below on how to get to Middelburg/Vlissingen from the different airports;

  • Eindhoven Airport
    If you arrive at Eindhoven Airport you can take the bus 400 to Eindhoven Central Station. The buses leave about every 15 minutes and it takes about 25 minutes to get to the railway station. From here you can take the train to Middelburg/Vlissingen. You have to switch trains in Tilburg and Roosendaal. You can find a travel planner (English) at www.ns.nl. A train ticket from Eindhoven to Vlissingen (one-way) is €26,90 (€25,90 if you buy it online). The trip by train takes approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes.
  • Rotterdam Airport
    If you arrive at Rotterdam Airport you have to take the bus 33 to Rotterdam Central Station. The buses leave every 10 minutes and it takes about 20 minutes to get to the railway station. From here you can take the direct train to Middelburg/Vlissingen. You can find a travel planner at www.ns.nl. A train ticket from Rotterdam to Vlissingen (one-way) is €24,80 (€23,80 if you buy it online). The trip by train takes approximately 2 hours.
  • Schiphol (Amsterdam Airport)
    If you arrive at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam, the railway station is located below the airport. You can take the Intercity Direct to Rotterdam Central Station (supplement of €2,90 is necessary), so make sure you buy the correct ticket at the ticket office. At Rotterdam CS you have to switch trains to Vlissingen. The other possibility is to take the train to Leiden Central Station and switch trains to Middelburg/Vlissingen. You can find a travel planner at www.ns.nl. The price of a train ticket from Amsterdam to Vlissingen (one-way) is approximately €29,30 (€28,30 if you buy it online. This is without the supplement). The trip by train takes approximately 2-2,5 hours.
  • Brussels Airport
    If you arrive at Brussels International Airport (Zaventem), the railway station is located below the airport. Every hour from 6:11am until 9.11pm a train leaves to Antwerp Central Station where you have to switch trains to Roosendaal (NL). In Roosendaal you have to switch trains to Middelburg/Vlissingen. You can find a travel planner (English) at www.nsinternational.com/en. The price of a train ticket from Brussels to Middelburg/Vlissingen (one-way) is approximately €31,50. The trip by train takes approximately 3 hours.

Attention: Sometimes trains split in two halfway during the trip and go in two different directions, so make sure you are on the right carriage. You can check this on the screen in the carriage, it should say ‘IC naar Vlissingen’.

Note: Vlissingen is the last stop on the track. The station before Vlissingen is called Vlissingen-Souburg. Don’t get off there.