Ciska
Hoe is het om als internationale student naar Nederland te verhuizen en hier je carrière te beginnen? Van het inruilen van de lekkerste moussaka voor de klassieke bitterballen tot en met het opbouwen van een lokaal netwerk, astrofysica student Kristo verteld over zijn ervaring met meer dan 4 jaar in Nederland werken, wonen en studeren.
Four years ago, I traded Greek sunshine for Dutch clouds. My journey from Greece to the Netherlands was not what I originally planned. England was my first choice—my sister lived there, and I already spoke English. But Brexit forced me to reconsider, and the Netherlands, with its excellent universities, working climate and quality of life, became my new home.
The differences between here and home were immediately clear. The weather and food—two constants of daily life—felt entirely foreign. Greece offers year-round sunshine, while the Netherlands often greets you with gray skies and unexpected rain. At first, I thought I could handle it. But as the months passed, and winter came around the corner, the cold and lack of sunlight became a struggle.
And then, there was the food. Let’s just say I quickly became the Greek chef for me and my friends, regularly making dishes like moussaka in my tiny student kitchen. Dutch cuisine, while practical, lacked the rich flavors I was used to.
Luckily, my new home at the Thalia student complex made my transition easier. We had an international community where people from different backgrounds came together almost every night. Board games, movie nights, borrels and deep conversations. Some of my closest friendships started outside where we bonded over shared moments in the cold.
Social life in the Netherlands requires planning. In Greece, friendships are spontaneous—you call a friend, and you meet right away. Here, people schedule everything, which took some getting used to. But while it felt strange at first, I’ve come to appreciate the predictability. One thing that surprised me was how open Dutch society is. In Greece, some topics remain unspoken, but here, nothing is off-limits. This kind of openness changed the way I see things.
The Netherlands offers a great balance for students. I worked part-time while studying astrophysics, and it was manageable. Even though my two-year master’s took a little longer than planned, I never felt overwhelmed. Four years later, I’ve gained more than a degree—I’ve gained a new perspective.
I still miss Greek traditions, like long barbecues where family and friends gather around a slow-cooked lamb. But I’ve also come to appreciate Dutch efficiency and structure. Whether I stay here, return to Greece, or move elsewhere, one thing is certain: the experiences I’ve had in the Netherlands will stay with me forever.
