So Mathilde, how did you end up in the Netherlands? 

I came to Tilburg University as part of my master’s degree in Children’s Literature, Media, and Culture. This study collaborates with several universities in Europe, and one of the semesters was spent in Tilburg.

What was preparing for your exchange like? How did you feel about it? 

To be completely honest, I didn’t have a lot of expectations before arrival. I had been travelling quite a bit and living abroad as part of my Erasmus master’s so I had already had the big “exchange experience”. My semester in Tilburg was a mandatory part of my studies, and though I didn’t know much about the city, I hadn’t looked much into it before arrival.

Were there any challenges or expectations, during preparation or upon arrival?

Actually, everything went quite smoothly. 🙂

What was your first impression when you got here? And did it change later on, or got it confirmed?

As I mentioned, I didn’t have huge expectations before coming here. I had heard a little from previous exchange students and also had seen pictures of the city and university, which had not impressed me much – sorry.  But I was actually pleasantly surprised on arrival! The city was cozier than I expected: with a few nice museums and a lot of cute coffee places, shops and green spaces, and the university had some really nice buildings and study spaces, plus a great sports center.

Nice, so after somewhat low first impressions, the city actually went on to positively surprise you! About student housing, this is quite a hot topic, because we have an accommodation crisis going on, and many international students have suffered because of it. What about you: How did you experience getting a student place to live? And what kind of place was it?

I was lucky to have accommodation provided by the university, so I was living with some friends in a lovely shared house.

How did you come across the Host group in Tilburg? 

I think I just googled around a bit to see if I could find any Christian international student associations in the city, and then I found the Host web page and social media.

What was your experience with Host? What value could they add to your journey?

I experienced the Host group as a warm hug in the cold Dutch Autumn. Everyone was nice and welcoming from the very beginning. I joined a bible study group quite early on, and I found it enriching to share faith with a group of strong women from all around the world. Host also provided me with the opportunity to get to know some Dutchies and learn more about Dutch culture.

Ahw, that’s so nice! What about Dutchies and their culture; what were the people like? 

The people I met were very kind and welcoming. 

So what were the highlights of your exchange here in the Netherlands?

It’s difficult to narrow down, but these are a few of my highlights! I really enjoyed travelling around the country by train on the weekends, visiting cities such as Gouda, Leiden, the Hague, Maastricht and Amsterdam. I also enjoyed my cozy study sessions at Lochal (the public library), I enjoyed racing on the flat bike lanes as I’m used to quite a few hills, and I enjoyed dancing and jumping at the uni sports center. I also really enjoyed learning about and celebrating Sinterklaas which was completely new to me.

Photo by Mathilde

What were the downsides of your experience here? Were there certain things you didn’t like about the country?

Hm, Tilburg is a relatively quiet city, and I sometimes missed the buzz of a bigger city.

Did you experience culture shock? And if yes, what helped you in dealing with it, or if not, how were you prepared not to have it?

The Netherlands is quite similar to Denmark culturally, so I personally didn’t experience any big culture shocks.

Okay, last question: What tip would you like to give future international students going to study here?

First, don’t be afraid to try new things that are outside of your comfort zone. Be open and curious and challenge yourself, but also remember to listen to your own boundaries.

Second, rent a cheap bike from the shop at the university but also remember to park it in designated spaces so it’s not removed by the authorities!

Third, try jumping fitness at the university sports center – you won’t regret it.

Last, get yourself an OV chipcard and a monthly subscription so you can travel freely with public transportation on weekends. I did it for one month, and it was definitely worth it.

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