Cost of living

Going to the right supermarket will save you money
There are plenty of ways to save money on food. Getting your groceries? Keep in mind that the Netherlands has discount supermarket chains like Lidl and Aldi that are cheaper than any other supermarket. The largest supermarket chains in the Netherlands are Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Plus. Jumbo and Plus are on the cheaper side. Lidl and Aldi offer the best prices for a decent quality. Getting your groceries here instead of at Albert Heijn will definitely be easier on your wallet.

Also make sure to check out the local market in Arnhem and Nijmegen. Here you can get high quality food for good prices. The market in Arnhem is held every Friday and Saturday. The market in Nijmegen is held every Monday and Saturday. Bonus: it’s way more fun than shopping at a supermarket chain. The local market is the perfect place to observe locals who are strolling around and doing their daily business. The local sellers will be happy to have a little chat with you.  

Do you want to get the best food deals?
Then you’ll want to check out the deals offered on the Too Good To Go app. During the day, bakeries and restaurants offer leftovers that are simply too good to go. Many bakeries, supermarkets and restaurants in Arnhem and Nijmegen have joined the this initiative. Just select your favorite stores in the app and check what’s available. 

Go to campus the Dutch way: by bike
Transportation costs are relatively higher in the Netherlands than the European average. Luckily, the Netherlands has the best biking facilities in the world. Did you know that 70% of high school students go to school by bike? Biking in the Netherlands is safe and fun (as long as you’re not in what the Dutch call a plensbui: a large and sudden amount of rain that falls down in a short amount of time). There are parking garages solely made for cyclists. Within Dutch cities, going by bike is usually faster than going by car or public transport.

Getting a bike will save you time and money. You can get a Swapfiets (rental bike) in Arnhem and Nijmegen for only €20 per month. Just make an online reservation for your Swapfiets, pick it up at the Swapfiets store and you’re ready to go. You can cancel your monthly subscription any time you want. Need help with your bike? Swapfiets offers free repair service.

Get 40% discount on your train journey
Going somewhere by train? Then you don’t want to miss out on Joint Journey Discount: 40% discount on jour train journey when you’re traveling with a group of two to four people. Do note that the Joint Journey Discount is not available during peak hours (6.30 - 9.00 and 16.00 and 18.30).

 

• Secondhand shopping
  Kringloop is one of largest secondhand stores in the Netherlands. You can buy a variety of used goods here, varying from clothing to furniture. Looking for secondhand items online? Then check out Marktplaats.
   
• ISIC Card
  As a student, an ISIC Card is a must have. With the ISIC (International Student Identity Card), you receive discount up to 50% for various products: food, educational courses, software, clothes and more. It only costs €12 per year.
   
• Museumkaart
  Are you a fan of museums? Then you’ll want to get the Museumkaart. For only €60 per year you will have unlimited access to over more than 400 museums in the Netherlands.
   
• Sport
  Would you like to discover new sports and meet new people in the process? The Radboud Sports Centre got you covered. Here, you get to practice as many as 80 different kinds of sports, 300 group lessons and 200 courses. Want to get access to one of most versatile sport facilities in the Netherlands? HAN Students get discount on both monthly and annual subscriptions.
  
  Do you attend classes at the Nijmegen campus? Then you can easily combine studying with sports. HAN Seneca is the center for sport, work and health and it is located in the HAN Nijmegen campus. Apart from working out, SENECA also offers physiotherapy, clinics and diet advice. Find out more about the best sport options here.