Practical info for the Systems Modelling & Advanced Vehicle Dynamics exchange program

The HAN Housing Office arranges rooms for exchange students under 30 years of age. The student rooms are available at 2 locations in Arnhem.

The locations

The student rooms

In these student complexes you have your own private bedroom. You share the kitchen, shower and toilet with other students.

The prices

Rental prices range from around €480 to €675 per month (subject to change), depending on the location, room size, and service charges. Service charges (gas, electricity, water and Internet) are included in the rental price. At Romerselaan, you get billed extra if you use more than the average amount of gas, electricity and water.

Rental period

From August to January (semester 1) or from February to July (semester 2).

How does it work?

First you sign up for an exchange program in Arnhem. Indicate on your application that you need a room. HAN Housing Office randomly places you in a room at one of the above locations. They will contact you with all the details.

Prefer to search for a room yourself?

No problem! But be aware that finding suitable student accommodation in Arnhem is very difficult. There is currently a housing shortage in the Netherlands. So start your search early! We recommend at least 3 months in advance.

When should you arrive in the Netherlands? How do you get to Arnhem? How do you get into your student room? Below we give you all the important arrival info.

Arriving in the Netherlands

Most international students arrive in the Netherlands from Amsterdam Schiphol airport. From there, it’s easiest to take the train to Arnhem Central train station. The station is just a short walk from the campus.

You can buy your ticket at the railway station, which is located underneath the airport. The journey to Arnhem Central takes about 1.25 hours.

Getting to your student room

Are you arriving on the general arrival day? Between 9am and 5pm? Then you can walk or take a bus to your accommodation from Arnhem Central Station.

Arriving outside these hours or on another day? Then contact the caretaker of your building with your arrival details. HAN Housing will email you with further details about this.

Have you organized your own accommodation? Please make sure you arrive in time for the HAN’s On: International Welcome Days.

Money matters

When travelling to the Netherlands bring cash to cover the first few days. Bring the rest of your money in the form of a credit card or international bank or debit card. This is much safer than carrying a lot of cash with you.

When studying abroad, you need to have good health insurance. Are you from the EU/EEA? Your health insurance policy at home might cover you. Non-EU/EEA students receive health insurance through the financial guarantee. Other useful insurances? Liability, repatriation and household contents.

Health insurance

There are 4 health insurance options.

Non-EU/EEA student. You receive AON health insurance. The International Office arranges this on your behalf. This is part of your financial guarantee.
No visa requirement to study at HAN. Your insurance policy in your home country might cover your stay in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has health insurance agreements with most European countries. In that case, request an international declaration form or a European Health Insurance Card from your health insurance company. Bring these with you as you will need them when you see a doctor. And make sure the documents are written in a common European language (English, French, German or Spanish).
You are working in the Netherlands or doing a paid internship. In that case, you have to get Dutch public health insurance. The cost of this is often higher than student insurance.
Not covered under public health insurance of the Netherlands or your home country. You have to get a private health insurance policy. There are special policies available for international students in the Netherlands. Check the website of StudyinHolland for detailed information.

Other insurances

Liability insurance. If you cause an accident or damage someone else’s property, you have to pay the costs. For example, if you break something in your room. Or cause a road accident. Liability insurance covers these costs in most cases. What about damage when working or doing an internship? In the Netherlands the employer’s liability insurance usually covers this.
Repatriation insurance. That’s when you have to return home. For example, because you are seriously ill and wish to be treated at home.
Household contents insurance. This insures the contents of your house. For example, if there’s a burglary, fire or water damage.

The rules on working depend on your nationality. Are you from the EEA? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands. Are you from outside the EEA? Then you are free to do self-employed work. If you work for an employer, you need a work permit and the hours are restricted. All international students working in the Netherlands must have Dutch public health insurance.

Free to work

Are you from the EU/EEA? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands. You can work for an employer or as a freelancer (self-employed). You don’t need a work permit.

Also, there are no restrictions on how many hours you work. But you do have to take out Dutch public health insurance.

Work permit

Are you from outside the EU/EEA? Do you want to work during your studies? Your employer needs to apply for a work permit for you. The organization that arranges this is UWV.

Restrictions for work permit holders

Work permit holders can choose from 2 options. Option 1 is to work no more than 16 hours per week. Option 2 is to work full-time during the summer months of June, July and August. You cannot do both options!

Self-employed

All international students are free to do self-employed work in the Netherlands. You don’t need a work permit for this. Also, there are no restrictions on hours.

You can do self-employed work next to studying and next to a part-time job. To become self-employed, you need to register at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel).

Health insurance

As an international student, you normally don’t have to take out Dutch health insurance. But as soon as you get a job, the situation changes. You are seen as an employee. Then you have to take out Dutch public health insurance.

It doesn’t matter whether you pay tax or how many hours you work. It also doesn’t matter if you are an EU citizen with an EU healthcare card. If you work in the Netherlands, you need to get Dutch public health insurance. If you don’t, you risk getting a big fine.

Income tax

You have to pay income tax over your Dutch income. Scholarships may be included in your Dutch income. See the website of the Dutch tax office for more information.

The Netherlands has excellent public transport. In the Nijmegen and Arnhem area you can get almost everywhere by train or bus. In the bigger cities, you can also use the tram or metro. To pay for these services you use an OV chip card (OV-chipkaart in Dutch).

Public transport in the Netherlands is not cheap. For schedules, prices and routes go to www.9292.nl (train, bus, metro) and ns.nl/en (train).

OV chip card

The OV chip card allows you to travel by train, bus, tram, metro or ferry anywhere in the country. The card is the size of a bank card and contains an invisible chip.

How do you use the card? Just touch your card on the card reader when you enter the station. Touch out again when you arrive at your final destination.

How do you pay? The card uses the pre-paid principle. You load credit on your card at a vending machine or at a ticket office. You can also arrange automatic loading. That way when your credit runs low, it automatically tops up using funds from your bank account.

For information about the OV chip card, go to the OV-chipkaart website.

Flexible season tickets

For train travel, you can purchase a season ticket to suit your needs. For example, to get a discount only on weekends. Or to get a discount on weekends and at off-peak times.

You can’t cancel these tickets in the first year. See the website of the Dutch railways (NS) for further details. Or visit a ticket office at your nearest train station.

When you move to the Netherlands, you need to register at city hall. You can only do this in the municipality where you are living. Do this as soon as possible after arriving in the Netherlands. All international students need to do this. Even if you are from the EU/EEA.

After you register you receive a citizen service number (BSN). You need a BSN number for all your administration in the Netherlands. For example, to open a bank account or to visit a doctor.

What if you move to a different address in the same city? Then you need to inform the municipality about this.

What if you move to a different municipality? First you cancel your registration. Then you register again in your new town or city of residence.

You’ll get more info about registering during the HAN International Intro.

When studying abroad, you need to have good health insurance. Are you from the EU/EEA? Your health insurance policy at home might cover you. Non-EU/EEA students receive health insurance through the financial guarantee. Other useful insurances? Liability, repatriation and household contents.

Health insurance

There are 4 health insurance options.

Non-EU/EEA student. You receive AON health insurance. The International Office arranges this on your behalf. This is part of your financial guarantee.
No visa requirement to study at HAN. Your insurance policy in your home country might cover your stay in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has health insurance agreements with most European countries. In that case, request an international declaration form or a European Health Insurance Card from your health insurance company. Bring these with you as you will need them when you see a doctor. And make sure the documents are written in a common European language (English, French, German or Spanish).
You are working in the Netherlands or doing a paid internship. In that case, you have to get Dutch public health insurance. The cost of this is often higher than student insurance.
Not covered under public health insurance of the Netherlands or your home country. You have to get a private health insurance policy. There are special policies available for international students in the Netherlands. Check the website of StudyinHolland for detailed information.

Other insurances

Liability insurance. If you cause an accident or damage someone else’s property, you have to pay the costs. For example, if you break something in your room. Or cause a road accident. Liability insurance covers these costs in most cases. What about damage when working or doing an internship? In the Netherlands the employer’s liability insurance usually covers this.
Repatriation insurance. That’s when you have to return home. For example, because you are seriously ill and wish to be treated at home.
Household contents insurance. This insures the contents of your house. For example, if there’s a burglary, fire or water damage.

The rules on working depend on your nationality. Are you from the EEA? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands. Are you from outside the EEA? Then you are free to do self-employed work. If you work for an employer, you need a work permit and the hours are restricted. All international students working in the Netherlands must have Dutch public health insurance.

Free to work

Are you from the EU/EEA? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands. You can work for an employer or as a freelancer (self-employed). You don’t need a work permit.

Also, there are no restrictions on how many hours you work. But you do have to take out Dutch public health insurance.

Work permit

Are you from outside the EU/EEA? Do you want to work during your studies? Your employer needs to apply for a work permit for you. The organization that arranges this is UWV.

Restrictions for work permit holders

Work permit holders can choose from 2 options. Option 1 is to work no more than 16 hours per week. Option 2 is to work full-time during the summer months of June, July and August. You cannot do both options!

Self-employed

All international students are free to do self-employed work in the Netherlands. You don’t need a work permit for this. Also, there are no restrictions on hours.

You can do self-employed work next to studying and next to a part-time job. To become self-employed, you need to register at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel).

Health insurance

As an international student, you normally don’t have to take out Dutch health insurance. But as soon as you get a job, the situation changes. You are seen as an employee. Then you have to take out Dutch public health insurance.

It doesn’t matter whether you pay tax or how many hours you work. It also doesn’t matter if you are an EU citizen with an EU healthcare card. If you work in the Netherlands, you need to get Dutch public health insurance. If you don’t, you risk getting a big fine.

Income tax

You have to pay income tax over your Dutch income. Scholarships may be included in your Dutch income. See the website of the Dutch tax office for more information.

The Netherlands has excellent public transport. In the Nijmegen and Arnhem area you can get almost everywhere by train or bus. In the bigger cities, you can also use the tram or metro. To pay for these services you use an OV chip card (OV-chipkaart in Dutch).

Public transport in the Netherlands is not cheap. For schedules, prices and routes go to www.9292.nl (train, bus, metro) and ns.nl/en (train).

OV chip card

The OV chip card allows you to travel by train, bus, tram, metro or ferry anywhere in the country. The card is the size of a bank card and contains an invisible chip.

How do you use the card? Just touch your card on the card reader when you enter the station. Touch out again when you arrive at your final destination.

How do you pay? The card uses the pre-paid principle. You load credit on your card at a vending machine or at a ticket office. You can also arrange automatic loading. That way when your credit runs low, it automatically tops up using funds from your bank account.

For information about the OV chip card, go to the OV-chipkaart website.

Flexible season tickets

For train travel, you can purchase a season ticket to suit your needs. For example, to get a discount only on weekends. Or to get a discount on weekends and at off-peak times.

You can’t cancel these tickets in the first year. See the website of the Dutch railways (NS) for further details. Or visit a ticket office at your nearest train station.

When you move to the Netherlands, you need to register at city hall. You can only do this in the municipality where you are living. Do this as soon as possible after arriving in the Netherlands. All international students need to do this. Even if you are from the EU/EEA.

After you register you receive a citizen service number (BSN). You need a BSN number for all your administration in the Netherlands. For example, to open a bank account or to visit a doctor.

What if you move to a different address in the same city? Then you need to inform the municipality about this.

What if you move to a different municipality? First you cancel your registration. Then you register again in your new town or city of residence.

You’ll get more info about registering during the HAN International Intro.

What	Approx. cost per month
Renting a furnished room + utilities	€350-€400
Food from the grocery store	€180
Insurance costs	€100
Books and study materials	€340
Public transport	€50-€100
Telephone costs	€30

What	Approx. price
Movie ticket	€ 10
Meal in a simple café	€ 15
Coffee/tea or soft drink on a terrace	€ 2.50 - € 3.00

Practical info

Visas

Housing

Arrival info

Other practical matters

Insurance

Working

Public transport

Government

Cost of living

Location

HAN Arnhem campus

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