‘Truly the best experience I’ve ever had’ Paula’s Erasmus+ experience in the Netherlands

Matching with all the tulips! Peak time for tulips is mid-April to early-May. It was so fun having photoshoots with my friends.

Paula Prusaityte undertook an Erasmus+ study abroad in the Netherlands as part of her undergraduate degree at the University of Galway. 

I attended the University of Galway from September 2022 to April 2026, completing my degree in Global Media and Performance & Screen studies. I did my Erasmus+ in my third year, from September 2024 to June 2025. I chose to go to Utrecht University because I have always wanted to experience living in the Netherlands.   

How did you learn about Erasmus+?
My degree, a Bachelor of Arts (Global Experience), included a compulsory Erasmus+/study abroad period. I love travelling and experiencing different cultures, and I have always wanted to live abroad – not just visit. This degree has allowed me to do that, which was one of the main reasons I chose it.  

How did you prepare for your trip?
To be honest, I didn’t go too in-depth with my preparation. I listened to my university’s pre-departure talk and handled all the essentials like booking my flight tickets, securing accommodation, arranging insurance, etc. Beyond the logistics, I mostly dived in headfirst and trusted my intuition; looking back, I believe that was truly the best way. I did not want to overthink every little decision (because it can be SO scary moving away from home, especially if this is your first time, like it was mine). Everything can seem daunting but knowing so many others had done this experience before is something I found very comforting.

My favourite street in Utrecht; I took this on the first day that I was in the Netherlands (seems like I already knew!) 

How did you manage your money and your search for accommodation?
I was fortunate in terms of accommodation and managed to get local SSH student accommodation. I am very grateful for that because finding accommodation anywhere in the Netherlands can be quite a stressful process. It’s useful to do research months in advance on what type of student accommodations are available, as they usually require an application.  

Since I shared a room, my rent was quite affordable (about €420 per month, including bills). I know of people who had to live in neighbouring towns, so be aware of the possibility of having to live outside the city if you don’t get student accommodation. My flat was right in the city centre, which was fantastic as I was within walking distance of everything. 

My room in Utrecht. I shared a room with one other girl; there were 12 of us in one flat! Quite busy but I loved it. 

I found the cost of living to be similar to Ireland, perhaps slightly higher. Prices were more or less the same when going out for food and drink. I spent about €50 a week on food, excluding the cost of meat, as I went vegetarian during the stay. 

The bus is quite handy, and you can simply tap your phone when you get on and again when you get off. A four-stop journey costed €1.60. However, in the long run, you don’t want to rely on public transport solely. That’s why I recommend investing in a bike. I rented mine through Swapfiets (about €14 per month), but I know of some who bought a bike for around €100–150. Nearly everyone bikes here, not just the Dutchies! 

Me and my good ol’ bike, I cycled everywhere with it! Here I was cycling to Kastel de Haar with one of my housemates. 

How did you make friends and network? 
The induction events at Utrecht University were incredibly helpful. The Erasmus+/exchange student community is huge. I joined WhatsApp groups and used the app ‘Goin Connect’ to meet people. My accommodation also helped, as I shared a flat with students of nine different nationalities. We became very close, and some are now lifelong friends. I miss all of them so much and have already met up with two since leaving! 

Visiting Den Haag (The Hague) with my friend in May. I really loved this place; I visited twice and would love to return again. 

What about the language barrier? Do you have a favorite word or phrase?
The language barrier in the Netherlands was never an issue, as nearly everyone speaks English, which is super handy. And yes, I have a favourite Dutch word, and that is ‘lekker’! It translates directly to ‘tasty,’ but it’s also a form of expression in slang – for example, when your friend passes an exam, you can say ‘lekker’ to mean ‘great!’ Dutch is such an interesting language; I miss hearing it around. 

What did you enjoy doing in your host country?
I loved travelling around the Netherlands. Utrecht Centraal is the largest station in the country, so it was easy to visit places like Amsterdam, The Hague, Breda, Maastricht, Texel, and more. 

Trying authentic warm stroopwaffels in Amsterdam. Don’t ask me how many I ate while living in the Netherlands… 

The canals in Utrecht were beautiful, and cycling everywhere quickly became one of my favourite parts of life there. I also loved partaking in all the ‘classic’ Dutch events like Carnival and King’s Day … the Dutch really know how to party is what I’ll say! 

Utrecht on King’s Day – I don’t think I ever saw the city so busy and so alive. There were events going on the whole weekend such as concerts and markets.

What were the highlights of your Erasmus+ adventure?
Truly, it was all the wonderful people I met. I miss everyone so much and it definitely causes heartache when I think back on all the good times. Every day was fun, I don’t think I experienced a single boring day. There was always something going on and sometimes I wished I had more time to do it all! 

The soundtrack of your stay?
LET’S DO IT AGAIN by Jamie xx. 

Kayaking the canals with my friend who came to visit. This is an activity I did more than once! It’s great exercise and a wonderful way to see the city. 

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Do even more things and stop stressing so much over money! I know everyone’s financial situations differ, but personally, I really wish I had ‘let loose’ a bit more and tried out more things, like cool restaurants or museums.  

Has Erasmus+ changed you? What lessons and skills did you take home? 
110% yes. It was truly the best experience I could have ever had for personal and academic growth. I was very sad leaving, as I made so many friends there and fell completely in love with the city. I see myself going back after I graduate.  

I feel like I’ve discovered new parts of myself by being away from home for so long. I’ve made memories that I will cherish forever. That’s the hardest part of Erasmus … you think, at the beginning, that it’s the moving away from home part – but you’ll learn by the end that it’s returning home that’s most difficult. Now I carry all these wonderful experiences with me on my journey through life! 

How would you sum up your Erasmus+ in a few words?
The most wonderful, organised chaos you’ll ever get to experience. 

My beloved Miffy! Fun fact, Utrecht is the birthplace of Miffy and you see her EVERYWHERE! 

Tell us what you’re doing now since undertaking your Erasmus+. 
I’ve been in my final year working towards completing my degree. I am going to be starting my applications for internships abroad soon because I’ve realised that I thrive in an international environment. Thanks to Erasmus+ I now have a clearer picture as to where I want to go in life and what goals I wish to achieve. 

The wonderful Dom Tower! I climbed it twice and it was so cool. You could see so much of Utrecht, even far off in the distance you could see Amsterdam (that’s because the Netherlands is so flat). 

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All photos are reproduced here with permission from Paula.

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