7 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WHEN CONSIDERING WHETHER (OR NOT) TO STAY IN AMSTERDAM
MAY 1ST, 2022
Illustration by: Silvia Alonso Rodriguez
When I moved to Amsterdam for my bachelor’s in 2018, my initial post-graduation plan was to move back to London, get a corporate job and start my *that girl* era. However, the pandemic completely changed this. I was halfway through my degree when the first lockdown started and I quickly felt robbed of both a real university experience and a real Amsterdam experience.
I wasn’t the only one who felt this way, and upon graduation, my plans had drastically changed. I had decided to complete my master’s in Amsterdam — partly motivated by the half-price tuition fees, but largely because I wanted to spend more time in the city. I wanted to re-experience the Amsterdam nightlife that I had so craved during the pandemic, I wanted to spend my time in bougie cafes writing philosophy and also stay close to the friends who had become like family.
AT A CROSSROAD
Nearing the end of my master’s degree, I now find myself at the same crossroads I did last year, but instead of my friends choosing to stay in the city, more are leaving. Some have graduated and are heading back to their home countries for better job opportunities, some are taking gap years and getting ready to travel the world and others have simply decided that their time in Amsterdam has come to an end.
At the same time, not everyone is leaving. A few friends have decided after spending the last three to four years here, that this is their home. Others want to stay in the EU and are too close to permanent residency to logically leave.
I haven’t decided what I’m doing yet. I have a flat here, a job, friends and incredible memories, but I can’t help but wonder — am I settling? Am I staying in Amsterdam not because it is home to me, but because it feels safe and comfortable? It’s the easiest option, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best one. Right?
I believe every international student faces a similar dilemma as they come to the end of their studies and have to deal with VISA restrictions, language-limited job opportunities and choosing where home is — or could be — for them.
7 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WHEN CONSIDERING WHETHER (OR NOT) TO STAY IN AMSTERDAM
If you’re still reading, you’ve gotten to the good part. If like me, you’re still arguing with yourself about the next best steps to take, I made a set of 7 questions to help me (and you) choose whether or not to stay or leave beautiful Amsterdam.
1) WILL YOU HAVE ACCOMMODATION NEXT YEAR?
Now, this might be a relatively obvious question, but the Amsterdam housing market is getting increasingly worse. Whether you have a lease ending soon or are in shorter-term student housing, this is something you’ll need to think about.
If you’re having to find a new place I would suggest setting two budgets — one being how much you would like to spend on rent incl. and the second one as your absolute max. budget incl.
Also, make sure to reach out to friends and post on your Instagram story that you’re looking for accommodation for next year — it’s always easiest to find something from within your network.
2) CAN YOU AFFORD TO STAY NEXT YEAR?
Again, a potentially obvious question but if you’re coming to the end of your bachelor’s/master’s and are an international student, you might not continue to qualify for more student finance, or your parents might only be able to support you up to a certain point. Make a budget and work out if in your current/future situation you will be able to comfortably afford rent/living costs/potential tuition in Amsterdam.
3) DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE STUDYING IN AMSTERDAM?
You will likely already know the answer to this question, but if you haven’t decided yet make sure you go through all the university courses offered. A lot of masters also have scholarships or external funding you can apply for, so if finances are an issue make sure to look into that!
If you’re heavily debating whether to do a master’s or take a gap year/start a job instead, my suggestion would be to still apply to university just in case. You can always decline later on when you feel more confident about what you want to do next year.
It took me until August to decide whether I would be doing my masters in Amsterdam or Utrecht, so try not to put too much pressure on yourself to decide right this moment. (But also keep your options open.)
4) DO YOU HAVE A JOB LINED UP IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO STUDY FURTHER?
This is one of the hardest questions to answer, because you may well not even want to look for a full-time job until you’ve finished your studies. If you’re already working for a company part-time that you enjoy, consider joining them full time. It might not be your dream job, but it will give you the financial buffer, and a chance to get more experience while you look for something that’s a better fit.
Meanwhile, if you’re starting the job hunt from scratch, you should check your VISA situation/restrictions (do you need a zoekjaar visa?), and make sure to utilise all of the job-hunting platforms and recruiters. Some industries are still predominantly Dutch in Amsterdam, so make sure to think about this when you look into what jobs you want to apply for.
Finally, use the university career services and events! You can use these as a chance to network and learn more about industries that your bachelor’s can help you access.
5) ARE YOUR FRIENDS STAYING?
This is probably one of the most important considerations for whether to stay or not. Building a support network and a solid group of friends is difficult. If you’re coming to the end of your studies and finding that nearly all your friends are leaving, you’ll have to factor in re-building friendships and meeting new people.
Is this something you want to do? Do you have an easy time making friends, or do you find it quite difficult? When you live in a country where you don’t have any family, your friends really become your surrogate family and it can be daunting having to find new people who you connect with.
This same question can apply if you’re dating someone. I personally don’t endorse moving/staying for love, and believe you should always choose where you live based on what’s best for you — love can be a factor, but it shouldn’t be the whole reason. If you have a partner, do you want to have a long-distance relationship? Or maybe you’re in a situation where it feels natural for the relationship to end when your study programme finishes. Take friends and lovers into consideration, but don’t base your entire decision on this one!
6) DO YOU MISS HOME?
I never really missed home until this year, when for the first time I was completely financially independent. I couldn’t afford to go home for a ‘quick trip’ every other month anymore as I didn’t have the disposable income. I find myself missing home significantly more this year, and feel like I’m missing out on so many major milestones of my best friends from my home country.
This is a factor I feel that you really can’t discount or overlook, especially because it’s so easy to view going back as giving up, as showing a sign of weakness. It’s not, and if you’ve spent the past year, two years, three years really yearning for aspects of your home country, that might be your sign to return.
7) FINALLY, IS TRAVELLING AN OPTION FOR YOU?
Now, by this I don’t just mean taking time off from reality and going island hopping around Greece. Do you want to go to another country? Either permanently, or for a few months or years? Or do you really want to take a gap year and go travelling around the world?
The first thing you need to consider is finances. Whether going gap year travelling or moving permanently, I’m sure you remember how expensive an international move is. For the former, you’ll need enough money so that you don’t get halfway through and find yourself stuck in Vietnam with 2 euros. For the latter, you’ll need to be able to find a job/study programme in the new country and be able to afford the rent/living expenses of that country (including housing deposits), as well as the travel there. (Don’t forget you’ll likely have several big suitcases that will need to travel with you.).
Wherever your next chapter is, remember you can always change your mind. These questions are just meant to guide you at a time when it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the options and decisions you’ll have to take on what to do next.
