5 Places to Study in the Netherlands BESIDES Amsterdam

The Netherlands is truly a great place to live. It is centrally located in Europe, has a beautiful coastline full of beaches and ample opportunities for water sport fanatics and nature lovers, delicious food (vlaai, poffertjes, stroopwafels - need we say more?), a rich culture and a lot of happy Dutchies.

It is a rather small country compared to other European countries, but most things are very internationally oriented, such as trade and tourism but also the education system as most universities offer English programs. But what does that mean when you're trying to decide where to go in the Netherlands...besides Amsterdam?

Sure, Amsterdam is amazing, but there are tons of other places worth checking out if you want to study abroad in the Netherlands.

There is only one thing that we would like to clear up about our precious country: there is more to it than just Amsterdam! Amsterdam is a great city, but the Netherlands has so much more to offer.

Other cities may be smaller but, because of this, it is easier to really get to know these places, the locals and all of the hidden gems and quirks. The following are the best cities for study abroad in the Netherlands, besides Amsterdam—some might really surprise you, but have proved time and again to happily fill the role of students’ “home away from home!”

5 great cities for international students in the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam

1. Maastricht

Maastricht is located on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, and only 30 minutes from Germany, so you can easily travel to other countries. Since it is a 2000-year-old city, it has a rich culture and beautiful landmark buildings.

It is divided into two parts by the Meuse river which flows right through the city centre, and it is one of the warmest places in the Netherlands. A must-do in Maastricht is climbing the 218 steps of the St. John’s Church to enjoy amazing views of the city from the 70-meter-high viewing platform.

Additionally, if you are not afraid of the dark and going underground, make sure to explore the caves underneath Mount St. Pieter (Sint Pietersberg) and the Casemates. You can also stay above ground, explore fortress St. Pieter and the nature reserve surrounding it, and enjoy the beautiful views of Maastricht from the fortress.

Nothing beats the quaint city streets of Maastricht on sunny days

Every year in the spring, two events take place that are loved by the locals: carnival and the world famous TEFAF Maastricht (The European Fine Art Fair), which attracts art lovers from all over the world.

In December, the city is decorated with thousands of lights that give it a magical feel. During this entire month, you are able to take a ride on a huge ferris wheel, ice skate on a sheltered ice rink and walk around a Christmas market as the yearly event ‘Magisch Maastricht’ takes place on the Vrijthof square.

The city’s university, Maastricht University, is internationally renowned for its innovative educational method (Problem-Based Learning) and has been awarded the fifth place in the Times Higher Education’s 2018 Young University Rankings.

• Pros: Great location, close to several large airports and train stations, easy to travel to other cities and countries, cosy atmosphere, rich culture, internationally renowned university, international student guesthouse near the university, caves, carnival, TEFAF.
• Cons: Most students fall in love with the cosy atmosphere but if you are used to (and love) living in large, bustling cities, Maastricht may be a little too small and cosy for you.
• Local university to check out: Maastricht University

2. Utrecht

Utrecht is great on its own, but it’s also the perfect starting point to travel around the Netherlands.

Need more ideas on where to study abroad in the Netherlands? Utrecht is the most central city in the country. It is located only 30 minutes away from Amsterdam, and due to the dense railway network, every city (and airport) is within reach.

Explore the canals by canoe or canal bike (Amsterdam is not the only city with canals!) and enjoy numerous monumental buildings such as city castle Oudaen, various parks, world-class festivals, and a lively student life. The gorgeous Dom church has the tallest bell tower of the Netherlands, the Dom tower, which offers spectacular views of Utrecht.

• Pros: Central location, close to airports, lovely canals, monumental buildings, parks, world-class festivals, lively student life.
• Cons: If you like a quiet city, this is not the place to be. Even though Utrecht is definitely not as busy and touristy as Amsterdam, there is a lot going on in the city so you might feel the need to escape the bustle at times.
• Local university to check out: Utrecht University

3. Nijmegen

Nijmegen is located in the East of the Netherlands, close to the German border, and is hands-down one of the best cities for study abroad in the Netherlands.

Nijmegen and Maastricht are in a long-lasting debate over which of the two is the oldest city in the Netherlands. Just like Maastricht, Nijmegen is an old city (it celebrated 2,000 years of existence in 2005) with a rich history, a dense student community and a vibrant inner city.

Every year, a world famous four-day walking event (the Nijmeegse Vierdaagse) takes place in and around the city. People from all over the world participate in this event or encourage the participants.

• Pros: Historical city, monumental buildings, cosy atmosphere, dense student community, vibrant inner city, Nijmeegse Vierdaagse.
• Cons: Just like Maastricht, Nijmegen may be too small and quiet if you love large cities where there is always something going on no matter what hour of day or night.
• Local university to check out: Radboud University

The perfect place to go to escape the hustle and bustle of a big city.

4. Leeuwarden

Just like Maastricht, Leeuwarden feels relatively small. However, there is a lot to do and see here, making it a top choice when deciding where to go in the Netherlands besides Amsterdam.

The inner city has lovely canals and due to the old, monumental buildings, there is a very warm and historical atmosphere. As Leeuwarden is located in the North of the Netherlands, the Wadden Sea (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Wadden Islands are nearby and definitely worth a visit. It is also close to another beautiful historic university city, namely Groningen.

[Everything You Need to Know Before Studying Abroad in the Netherlands]

If you love nature and being outdoors, Leeuwarden is definitely the right place for you because it is located in the province of Friesland, which is home to breathtaking nature reserves such as De Grutte Wielen and De Alde Feanen. 

Fun fact: Friesland is officially bilingual as the Frisians have their own language: Frisian. When you are in Friesland, you will see that cities and villages often have two names: one in Frisian and one in Dutch. Although most Frisians speak both Frisian and Dutch, it is really appreciated if you learn some words in Frisian.

• Pros: Small, cosy city, lovely canals, monumental buildings, historical atmosphere, close to the Wadden Sea and Wadden Islands, close to historic city Groningen, breathtaking nature reserves.
• Cons: It can take a couple of hours to travel to other cities and it can be a lot colder than in other parts of the Netherlands.
• Local university to check out: NHL Stenden

Nature lovers rejoice: there are plenty of walks and nature reserves for you to enjoy in and around Leeuwarden.

5. Leiden

Another one of the best cities for study abroad in the Netherlands, Leiden is known for its rich history and historic city centre with 28 kilometers of canals, bridges (the most prominent ones are the Visbrug and the Koornbrug), city gates, windmills, the oldest existing university observatory in the world (Oude Sterrewacht) and two Gothic churches (the Hooglandse Kerk and the Pieterskerk).

You will also find the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands, and one of the oldest in the world, in Leiden (Hortus Botanicus). Furthermore, the city’s university (Leiden University), which was founded in 1575, is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is located in a mix of historic and modern buildings.

Although Amsterdam is associated with Dutch Master Rembrandt van Rijn, Leiden is the city where he was born on July 15, 1606 and where he spent his childhood. You can follow in his footsteps and see, among others, the house where he was born and where he went to school.

Another thing that you should definitely do when you are studying abroad in Leiden is visit the burrow (Burcht van Leiden) which offers great views of the city and is one of the oldest existing examples of a burrow in the Netherlands. Because there are almost 2800 monumental buildings in Leiden, you could say that the city centre is one big monumental centre.

• Pros: Central location (close to Schiphol, The Hague, Rotterdam, Amsterdam), charming canals, beautiful bridges, windmills, monumental buildings, rich history, close to the sea.
• Cons: A lot of tourists go to Leiden to escape the crowdedness of Amsterdam which has led to a significant increase of tourism in the city. Since Leiden is not as big as Amsterdam, it may feel too crowded at times.
• Local university to check out: Leiden University

[Browse ALL Cities for Study Abroad in the Netherlands]

Don’t overlook the smaller Dutch cities—There’s more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam

Leiden is full of Instagrammable spots like this one!

As you know now, there are so many amazing cities to choose from when deciding where to go in the Netherlands besides Amsterdam. They may be smaller, but they are not as touristy and they have so much to offer, from breathtaking nature reserves to lovely canals, monumental buildings and world famous events.

Maastricht, and so many other cities, are top choices for the best cities to study abroad in the Netherlands. They are gateways to Europe, and within short distance from cities like London, Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Berlin. 

Crossing borders and discovering other countries and cultures has never been easier. Together with Maastricht’s rich history, beautiful old architecture, characteristic cobblestone streets and internationally renowned bilingual university, you are guaranteed a unique and unforgettable study abroad experience.

All of the highlighted cities are perfect to study abroad in the Netherlands, and we are sure that they would quickly feel like home. If you choose another city for your study abroad, you should definitely schedule visits to these cities so that you can discover all of their quirks and hidden gems, and experience all the beauty, history and excitement yourself!

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Written with help from Suzanne Wagterveld. The Center for European Studies (CES) at Maastricht University prides itself on providing the best possible European study abroad experiences inside and outside the classroom. In 1989, CES began as a pioneer in bringing foreign students to the Maastricht University and has been organizing comprehensive, English language study abroad programs for international students ever since. They offer assistance with everything from academic advising to Dutch student life. With CES, students are never just numbers.