From Sydney to Utrecht
One of the international students still looking for a room is 17-year-old Lies den Hollander from Sydney, Australia. She will start her Philosophy, Politics and Economics studies in September. “I’m coming to the Netherlands in a month and I’m really nervous that I might not have a room.” She was born in the Netherlands but has lived in Australia most of her life. “I do have family where I can stay, but having to go from place to place all the time doesn’t seem nice to me.”
The university has given her tips for finding a room, but housing specifically for international students is quickly taken. “There are also a lot of scams, where they ask you to pay in advance.” Still, she is confident that things will work out in the end. “I speak Dutch and will probably stay for three years anyway, so I have a better chance in student housing. I am a bit nervous but I am mostly looking forward to it, I am ready for something new.”