The Netherlands and Leeuwarden

The Netherlands: A small country with great opportunities
The Netherlands actually mean ‘the lowlands’. The country is indeed low-lying and remarkably flat, with large expanses of lakes, rivers and canals. About 27% of its area and 60% of its population are located below sea level. This perhaps explains why the Netherlands is famous for its water management.

The city: Leeuwarden
NHL University of Applied Sciences is located in Leeuwarden, a city with about 95,000 inhabitants. Leeuwarden is the capital city of the province of Friesland. The heart of the city is very old, with beautiful old buildings (500 monuments), nice shops, a beautiful theatre, lots of events, museums and of course the canals. There are countless restaurants and pubs in Leeuwarden and in the summer there are many terraces where you can enjoy a drink and look out over the canals. And while you’re here you should try the famous Frisian ‘Oranjekoek’, a unique local cake!

Plenty activities
Leeuwarden is highly recommended as a student city. It has a large variety in students' clubs, restaurants, cafes and theatres. For every student there are plenty of sports, music and cultural events. Many recreational activities are within easy reach. Water sports such as sailing, swimming and canoeing can all be done in close proximity to the city. Cycling is not only recreational, but also the easiest way to move around. The students' sports club organizes a wide range of sports activities, in which there is something for everybody's taste.

Nature + city breaks
Although Leeuwarden itself lies in a region where nature, water and tranquillity dominate, it is only a 1½ hour drive away from Amsterdam. The extensive public transport infrastructure also provides easy connections between Leeuwarden and all the major cities in the Netherlands.