For comments, mail to ton.ammerlaan@ft.han.nl
Nijmegen Stadsschouwburg
Keizer Karelplein 32
6511 NH Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3228344
Openluchttheater De Goffert
Steinweglaan 2
6532 AE Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3500345
Het Steigertheater
Fortstraat 7
6523 DG Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3606346
De Lindenberg
Ridderstraat 17/23
6511 TM Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3273911
Doornroosje Cultureel Centrum
Groenewoudseweg 322
6525 EL Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3559887
Theater Teneeter
Daalseweg 262
6523 CD Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3600588
Centrum Beeldende Kunst
Nijmegen
Oude Haven 102
6511 XH Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3600760
here can I find a bycicle repairman?
In the Netherlands movies are shown in the original language with Dutch subtitles. There are cinemas which mainly show popular movies, and there is one (Lux/Cinemarienburg) which offers less commercial and perhaps also less well-known movies. You can see the latest movies in Nijmegen, and save by using a Cultural Youth Pass CJP (from Youth Hostels).
Calypso Theater
Tweede Walstraat 16
6511 LV Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3606448
Carolus Theater
Plein 1944 28
6511 JD Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3656499
Centrum Theaters
Houtstraat 10
6511 JN Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3220039
Lux/Cinemariënburg
Marienburg 59
6511 PS Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3221612
http://www.tempo.cz/getting/nijmegen.htm Foreign Student’s Homepage on his adventure in Nijmegen
Updated information on the costs of living in the Netherlands is found on NUFFIC homepages.Second hand stores abound, if you are not prepared to buy new. Augustijnenstraat has a few computer stores with a good reputation. More expensive are Vobis and Dixons in town.
UNiversity of Nijmegen also hosts a computer shop at nearby URC building on the Heyendalseweg.
The Dutch are a mixture of various ethnic groups, remnants of which are still evident; Spanish/French blood down south means these people have darker hair, Frisian/viking blood up north left its trace in taller blond people.
The Dutch are also multi-ethnic: former colonialists settled from Indonesia in the Arnhem/Nijmegen region, Turks and Moroccans were imported en masse in the 1960s to build up Dutch wealth. Native residents from former Empirial Colonies like Surinam (South America) and the Dutch Antilles (near Cuba) and from South Africa make up a large proportion of the 1 million ‘foreign nationals’. Hence, if you ask a Dutch person what is typically Dutch, chances are they come up with something that originally was not Dutch at all...
A humoristic, sometimes very true to life account of the Dutch can be
read in The Undutchables (any bookstore. .
Revealing insights intothe Dutch culture are offerd by Dutch Expats sites which lists everyting they
miss about the Netherlands. Try Australie Pagina, Foreign Friends,
or Dutch in Australia for starters.
Almost everybody in the Netherlands understands English,
and many speak English well. Neverthless, Dutch
is often used in regulations, notices, homepages and other resources. You are well advised to
pick up some Dutch. You can start in your home country by using CD ROMs, Internet sites and local courses.
Once in the Netherlands you can start practising, and go to Dutch schools and courses.
UTN offers free Social Dutch courses to
Exchange Students at the University of Nijmegen. They are popular and registration
must be as early as possible. They start in September and February.
HAN University students need to pay at this stage.
jaaa = yes
Neee = no
Misschien = maybe
Twee bier = two beers
Hai betaalt = he is paying
HAN students can use their Buddies, Organisations for Foreign Students (see Meeting Others) and the like. Some background information on http://www.thehollandring.com/dutchculture.htm
Impress the natives by the national anthems on Sinterklaas, the Dutch patron saint: Both music and lyrics, typed and sang out, can be found on Sint Songs and the Canadian Sint Lied. For ideas on what is good in the Netherlands you could try Expatriate sites such as Aussies Expats in Holland and of course the Dutch Tourist Board.
Although Hotmail and other free providers appear attractive, the emails you can send/read are limited in size. This means big mails can be delayed or even erased. In order to access HAN Insite with inside information by your faculty you need a @student.han.nl account. This account can be generated from www.elearn.han.nl with the help of your student number.
Once you have the HAN student account and password you can register for Insite and Blackboard.
English for adults course http://www.bvenet.nl/~hallo96/bve/22_23001.htm
ROC adult education http://www.roc-nijmegen.nl/cfinternationaal/en/index.cfm
Modern Languages at the Open University Nijmegen http://www.volksuniversiteit.nl/nijmegen/talen/engels.htm
Make sure your partner, friends, family and home institution has exact details
of your whereabouts. In case of emergency at home, ask them to ring the university direct
on 31 24 383 1140 (HLO Department) or any of the lecturers. You should also try and inform your home frot of your email addresses.
Registration with your local embassy may seem bureaucratic, but also
brings advantages. You have a group of fellow countrymen who know their way
around Europe and who can give you advice. You also have the certainty that the
homefront can find you easily. Embassies often have information about local
clubs (e.g. Dutch Australian Women Association, Dutch Indonesians, Moslim
communities, ) and local churches or hospitable countrymen. They even have links to other Expatriates, such as Ausie Expats.
Specialist sites like English for Science are also easy to find: try for starters http://claweb.cla.unipd.it/inglese/ssmmffnn/scienze/hotlinks.htm or Chemistry English and help me find more!
The Dutch love a party, particularly national parties. Naturally there are Xmas traditions, here family oriented too (so consider yourself priveledged when invited along), New Year's Eve parties (Campagne, toasts, midnight hugs and fireworks), Easter and Whitsuntide when one gets Spring days off, but my best is the Queen's Birthday: 30 April everyone is in a orange mood, to celebrate the birthdays of the Old and New Queen but particularly to celebrate freedom to trade. Anyone is allowed to sell and buy almost anything, and so many citis organise Rommel Markten (second hand markets) in parks, where kids sell their toys, as well as mama's old clothes. Bargains galore. Other kids show off their talent, ranging from trumpet playing, flute playing, Punch and Jundy shows, pancake baking on campsite stoves, and what not. Although big cities offer lots to the curious and eager person, smaller towns do it their way in often more congenial way (less commercial). The new Queen (Beatrix) visits two towns and their inhibatitants, often escorted by her train of royalty. See Dutch info on What is On and http://www.tempo.cz/getting/nijmegen.htm Foreign Student’s Homepage on his adventure in Nijmegen
.Beware of days when the Dutch national soccer team plays at night live on television: tempers flare, and you could find yourself being sworn at or more if you support the other team. When Holland plays Germany old war wounds that-never-were emerge, and Germans here have a hard time. Jeallousy amongst brothers it is.
'Family Holland' is equivalent to Sinterklaas (St Claas): the holy man from Spain (although born in Turkey) has his own festivities, starting with his arrival on a steamboat in
November with his hoard of Black Peters, and culminating in
Parcel Night on December 5 and his actual Name Day on December 6th. He was imported with the Dutch
emigrants to the USA and turned into Santa Claus and moved to Xmas for commercial purposes.
He rewards kids who are good, and punishes kids who are bad based on entries in his holy doomesday book. Bad kids are
annoyed by the Black Peters, although currently Black Peters tend to have talent-based roles:
You have the Laughing Peter, the Joke Peter, the Cycling Peter, the Sailor Peter, the Ridle Peter, the Juggling Peter... etc. Just lie the Smurfs.
Do not plan meetings on December 5th in the afternoon or December 6th in the morning
unless it is with non-Dutchies. For songs, go to Sint Songs and
the Canadian Sint Lied.
For other events , try Foreign Friends
and Ex-pats in the Netherlands and Holland . Com sites.
IIf you want to cook: Recipies are available on www.receptenweb.nl
and similar sites in English, and advice on appropriate eating patterns is
found on www.voedingscentrum.nl in
The Hague. Nijmegen has a lively market for food, many Tokos and other importers of African and Asian foods (Yellow Pages).
You can also live on the edge and try many restaurants and bistros in town (see Yellow Pages) and
http://www.tempo.cz/getting/nijmegen.htm A Foreign Student’s Homepage on his adventure
in Nijmegen .
If you do not want to cook: try the Refter University Restaurant near the Erasmus Buildings on the University of Nijmegen campus, Erasmusplein 1 (1630 onwards).
You can also become a member of the ThuisZorg service (at 19 euro a year)
and order in frozen meals. These are cheap, vary enormously and you can cook a healthy meal by
reheating it at any time. Orders can be placed with the Servivebureau Mon-Fridays 9.00-15.00 on 0900 666 77 78. After registration you receive
the meal catalogue and a number of orrder coupons. Useful during exam time!
FOREIGNER POLICE
Details on Dutch migration laws are found on www.nuffic.nl. The guide is intended for foreign students and student-trainees wishing to study or to do an internship in the Netherlands. It is also relevant for guest lecturers, post-doctoral students and researchers intending to come to the Netherlands. The guide describes the procedures for obtaining a visa (Authorization for Temporary Stay), a residence permit and a work permit.
First of all, you need to
have a valid passport. If you plan to stay for less than three months you are
not obliged to register with the police or to arrange a residence permit
(Vergunning tot Verblijf: VTV). However, we do advise you to arrange a
residence permit. You need one if you want to use any official civil service
(housing, social security number, work, etc.). If your stay exceeds 3 months,
you must apply for a residence permit (VTV) at the Police Aliens Registration
Department in Town Hall, Stieltjesstraat. The VTV is valid for a maximum of 12
months. The legal fee involved is Euro 15, -. If your stay in Holland lasts
longer than this, you have to obtain a temporary extension. There is no charge
for this, but you must once more prove to the Alien Police that for the period
in question you are enrolled at a Dutch educational institution, and that you
have enough money to live on and adequate health insurance (see Registration for more details).
When travelling by train (www.ns.nl/reisinfo), keep three things in mind:
· Always check at the railway station (or if possible at home) if the scheme mentioned above is still correct for that day.
· In the Netherlands, trains do not run all night. If you arrive on a very late international train, it is possible that you will not make it to Nijmegen that same day. The latest possible arrival time ranges between 0.30 and 1.30 A.M. Schiphol has a low budget hotel.
· Do not buy a ticket every time you change trains. In most cases you will be able to buy a ticket to Nijmegen in your hometown. If this is not the case, buy a ticket to Nijmegen at the first station in the Netherlands where you have to buy a ticket, regardless of how many times you will have to change trains. This will save you much time (and money). You can pay by using your bankcard and personal identification number (PIN) or VISA.
Train tickets are quite expensive. It is possible, however, to get substantial reductions. If you are staying for a longer period of time, it might be useful to buy one of the railway passes below:
Bus
Once you have arrived at Nijmegen Central Station, the easiest way to get to
the university is by bus. There are many direct lines from the station to the
university:
· number 3, with end destination Wijchen
· number 6, with end destination Dukenburg Station
· number 8, with end destination Hatert
· number 9, with end destination Brabantse Poort
Dutchies have organised public transport to the hilt: one ticketsystem is used all over public transport. ‘Strippenkaarten' are valid all over the Netherlands and can be used on any bus, tram or metro in the country. Strippenkaarten can be bought at the bus, tram or metro station, but the cheapest place to buy them is at a post office or at a train station! On most buses it is the bus driver who stamps your ticket. Trams and sometimes also buses, have devices which enable you to stamp the ticket yourself. Before you stamp your ticket you need to know how many zones you will be travelling in. Zone-information is given on the information panels at bus, metro and tram stops.
Train taxi
An alternative to the bus is the so-called train taxi. At the station you
can purchase a ticket from the ticket counter or from the ticket machine. It
costs Euro 3,- (or 4,50 if you buy it from the taxi driver). If you leave
the station you will find the train taxi stand on your right. If there is no
train taxi waiting, you can press a button and one will arrive within 10
minutes. There may be more passengers in the taxi: due to the cheap fare, taxi
drivers wait 10 minutes for any other passengers going in the same direction.
Usually on Thursday night and the rest of the weekend. Nijmegen offers a lot of venues, but where to start? www.uitgaan.pagina.nl only offers Dutch info, and www.leukedingendoen.nl does not help. You have to rely on your buddy here or some lecturers who were educated in this region. You can book events via the Tourist Info bureau in town, www.vvv.nl or www.reserveerlijn.nl both in Nijmegen as elsewhere. A Dutch list of what is on is also found on www.tickets.nl and www.evenementen.pagina.nl in Dutch, but you could try Foreign Friends and Ex-pats in the Netherlands sites.
Also check outhttp://www.tempo.cz/getting/nijmegen.htm Foreign Student’s Homepage on his adventure in Nijmegen
Study hard but also exercises hard (see Sports below). In case this does not work:
Where can I find a general practitioner?
Dr. W. Bijleveld, St. Jacobslaan 343, 6533 VD Nijmegen, Tel.: +31-24-355 0810
Consultation by appointment between 8.30 A.M. - 12.00 noon. In case of
emergency, go to the First Aid sections of the two hospitals in Nijmegen.
Where can I find a dentist?
If you need to consult a dentist you can ask the International Relations Office of the KUN or your HAN contact
to recommend a dentist or
look in the Yellow Pages below or the telephone book under 'Tandartsen'. Dentists
often demand immediate payment in cash, so it would be wise to ask in advance
for an estimate of the costs. Dental treatment is not always covered by medical
insurance (see below).
Please inform your Nijmegen contact person on your exact date of arrival. If you decide to change your arrival dates, or to postpone or cancel your reservation, it is important to inform the department in Nijmegen as soon as possible. Note: you are responsible for the rent during the period you indicated. This means that if you do not inform your contact person in Nijmegen in time, you may be charged with the possible loss of rent. Note that HLO is the neighbour of Nijmegen Student Housing. (see Rooms and Yellow Pages)
Back to topTry http://bookings.nl and http://hotels.hotel-helpline.com/servlet/AvailabilitySearch?city=Nijmegen&country=NL&remote=hh
Hunting Lodge http://www.bookings.nl/hotels/mookerheide?=&lang=uk
Bed and Breakfast http://www.sintanna.nl/engelsesite2.html and http://www.bbnijmegen.nl
Back to top
http://www.kun.nl/buit/ects.html PDF Nijmegen University ECTS Guide (on Faculties, living in the Netherlands, various issues relating to student life) and http://www.tempo.cz/getting/nijmegen.htm A Foreign Student’s Homepage on his adventure in Nijmegen
A KUN FILM provides an idea on the city and the University of Nijmegen. Back to topThe HAN offers various courses to support your language learning. You could try some Dutch Support courses at the Faculty of Engineering ineke.knol@ft.han.nl or English Electives (keuze vak) by ton.ammerlaan@ft.han.nl. Check your student councilor for details in other Faculties.
Outside the HAN the University of Nijmegen language centre offers various courses in European languages www.kun.nl/utn/ukintro.html and good results for specialist areas are reported from Stoffels Talen Institute on the Haterse weg (www.stoffelstalen.nl) near the campus (see Yellow Pages). They provide crash courses on specialist topics in Dutch, English and French and custom-made courses in these and other languages. English support is supplied by the British Council in Amsterdam (and the HEAO who host Cambridge Certificate Examinations) and of course other universities nearby. www.ammerlaan.demon.nl/ENGLISH.HTm lists various sites where support is found, and your library may also have useful tools to help you get a grip of English. Some useful links are given on the English version of the University of Nijmegen site www.kun.nl Bureau Buitenland (Foreign Relations). You could also go to Expatriates sites on the internet, like Australian Expats. Back to top
English
It may be hard to assess your own skills. Your TOEFL scores may say a
little bit, yet www.dialang.org is more
accurate. It tests 3 of the 4 language skills in any European language and
compares it to your own assessment. Having completed a test you will know
whether your level is similar to what you thought your level was, and what the
name of this level is in comparison to the European Language framework. If you
have doubts about your skills, use the site to find out (free).
Groenestraat textielreiniging; Groenestraat 118, 6531 HT Nijmegen, Tel. +31-24-3220460
You may find that certain skills are not as effective here as you had
thought. For instance, learning course work by heart is of little use in a
project-based context.
A number of sites on the internet offer you help, either
in helping you determine what your own learning style is (how do you learn
best?) www. and also in offering memorization tools www. and advice on cramming for exams. A small
selection is You then find useful tools on www.selfgrowth.com, www.how-to-study.com, www.mindtools.com/index.html
www.iss.stthomas.edu/studyguides/index.htm
and www.psychwww.com.
Students of the adjoining HAN have free access to the libraries of the University of Nijmegen (www.KUN.nl/ubn/) by showing their HAN student card at the Library Headquarter on Erasmuslaan 36 and obtainig a Readers Pass (library card) and they are allowed to make use of the facilities of all KUN libraries, like Medical Science:
Geert Grooteplein 15:- borrowing books, articles, magazines, DVD, tapes, videos etc.
- searching for KUN library files with CD-rom
- making use of internet by using PC facilities on campus
- using photocopying and multimedia facilities
- making use of files of all Dutch libraries via PICA or other library index.
A KUN Readers Pass library card can be obtained at 18 Euro at Erasmuslaan 36 (near the Erasmus-building), provided that the student brings a valid HAN-student card and a personal ID (passport).
For second years-students Life Sciences guide tours are organised in the KUN Main Library of the Science department or in the Library of Medical sciences of the KUN.
Addresses:
Library of Medical Sciences: Geert Grooteplein 15, Nijmegen (entrance on the first floor).
Libary Science department: Universal Laboratories, Toernooiveld (collection Biology and Chemical Sciences)
Internet library access
page: www.kun.nl/ubn/ubmenu.html
For more information,
contact:
W.B.D. Lippmann Groep B.V.
Casuariestraat 5
PO Box 30706
2500 GS Den Haag
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31-70-3028598
Fax: +31-70-3925691
E-mail: info@lippmann.nl
Medical treatment and medical service
The Dutch Medical Care system is different from your system at home. If you
need medical treatment this is what you should do:
Students Without Frontiers (SZG)
The aim of the SZG is to promote contacts between students of different
countries. This means that they take care of the reception of international
students, providing them with pointers concerning their integration into Dutch
student life, helping them with bureaucratic and other problems, etc. Twice a
year SZG organises an introduction, in which you can learn more about studying
and living in Nijmegen.
SZG
Thomas van Aquinostraat 2.00.10
Postal address:
Thomas van Aquinostraat 6
6525 GD Nijmegen
Office hours: on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12.30 P.M. - 1.30 P.M.
Tel.: +31-24-3612520
E-mail: szg@student.kun.nl
AEGEE Nijmegen
AEGEE is short for Association des Etats Generaux des Etudiants de l’Europe. AEGEE was established in April 1985 in Paris as a
non-political, European student club. At present AEGEE has approximately 150
antennae (branches) with 12,000 members. The aim of AEGEE is to promote
contacts between young people in Europe by organising informative and R&R
activities both on a local level (lectures, social gatherings) as well as on an
international level (conferences, sports events). Members of AEGEE can take
part in all AEGEE activities (very often in English) in Nijmegen as well as in
all other antennae. Being a member of AEGEE is an ideal opportunity to meet
other Europeans who are fond of travelling.
AEGEE Nijmegen
Thomas van Aquinostraat 5
Room: 5.00.39 6500 GD Nijmegen
E-mail: nijmegen@aegee.org
AIESEC
AIESEC stands for Association Internationale des Etudiants Scientific Economics
et Commerciales. This is a non-profit
and non-political international student organisation, which is entirely
organised by and for students. It offers students the opportunity to gain
international experience by means of practical training periods, organised in
one of the 87 countries where AIESEC is active. The AIESEC team of the country
where the training period is carried out will provide housing, visas, and work
and residence permits.
AIESEC Nijmegen
Thomas van Aquinostraat 4
6525 GD Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3615951 on Tuesdays from 11.00 A.M - 4.00 P.M.
E-mail: AIESEC-N@student.kun.nl
The following museums can be visited in Nijmegen:
Anatomical Museum Nijmegen
Geert Grooteplein 21 (Studie Centrum, opp. main entrance St Radboud)
Tel.: +31-24-361 3301
Permanent exhibitions of anatomical and pathological specimen,
for study by students of medecine. Guided tours possible on arrangement.
Open every workday from10.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.
Nijmegen Museum of Nature
Gerard Noodtstraat 121
Tel.: +31-24-3297070
Permanent exhibitions about the plant and animal communities in the "Kingdom of
Nijmegen". Temporary exhibitions too. Closed Saturdays.
Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays from 10.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M. and Sundays from
1.00 P.M. - 3.00 P.M.
Hemel Town Brewery
Franse Plaats 1
tel.: +31-24-3606167
Beer brewery, distillery, vinegar and mustards makers. Free admission to bar
and tasting room.
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays 12.00 - 8.00 P.M.
Stratemakers Tower
Museum
Waalkade 83-84
tel.: +31-24-3238690
A unique fortress tower, built around 1520, with subterranean passages in which
cannons were positioned to defend the nearby town gate. Also interesting
temporary exhibitions on historic subjects and archaeology.
Open: Tuesdays to Fridays from 10.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.,
Saturdays and Sundays from 1.00 - 5.00 P.M.
Grandmother’s Kitchen
Museum
Parkweg 99 (Kruittoren Kronenburgerpark)
Kitchen equipment from around 1900.
A shop as it was in grandmother’s day, old tins and collection of egg cups.
Open by appointment (please telephone in the evening +31-24-6776852).
Valkhof Art and Archaeology Museum
Kelfkensbos 59
tel.: +31-24-3608805
fax +31-24-3608656
New museum, built to the design of the Amsterdam architect Ben van Berkel.
Displays the Nijmegen collections in the fields of archaeology, culture and
history, old and new sculpture. Temporary exhibitions too, museum cafe and
library. Unique views.
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Fridays from 10.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 12.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.
Velorama National Bicycle Museum
Waalkade 107, tel.: +31-24-3225851
Collection of around 250 historic bicycles and tricycles, posters and
children’s bicycles. Refreshments also available in the Velocitas Cafe.
Opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays from 10.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.
Sundays and holidays from 11.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.
Close to Nijmegen there are three other very interesting museums:
Africa Museum
Postweg 6, 6571 CS Berg en Dal
Tel.: +31-24-6842044/024 6841211
Opening hours: April - November
Mondays to Fridays from 10.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 11.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.
Opening hours: November - April
Tuesdays to Fridays from 10.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 1.00 P.M. - 5.00 P.M.
Biblical Open Air Museum
Profetenlaan 2, 6564 BL Heilig Landstichting
Tel.: +31-24-3823110
Fax +31-24-3823111
Opening hours: March - November, daily from 9.00 A.M. - 5.30 P.M.
Museum 1944
Wylerbaan 4, 6561 KR Groesbeek
Tel.: +31-24-3974404
Liberation and Bridge Too Far museum. Opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays from
10.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M., Sundays from 12.00 noon - 5.00 P.M.
Gelders Gedistilleerd
Museum
Graafseweg 122, Tel.: +31-24-3244961
The secrets to brewing your own spirits? A must for any lab person. Opening hours: Sundays 1.00 P.M. - 5.00 P.M.
Nijmegen war sites
http://www.nijmegenweb.myweb.nl/
Liberation museum Groesbeek http://www.bevrijdingsmuseum.nl/en/index.html
Background on the country from a US point of view http://www.cghouston.org/fie_country.html
Latest English language news on http://www.netherlands-embassy.org/f_explorer.html or try
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Try your embassies but also find www.cnn.com or http://news.bbc.co.uk to find your local newspapers or internet sites at home. A listing of various useful sites is on
NijmegenOnline http://www.nijmegenonline.nl/Talen/indexEngels.htm (some hotels, Newspapers, Going out, etc per category) **
The city of Nijmegen is of
Roman origin (‘Noviomagus’ meaning
‘new market’) and is one of the oldest in
the Netherlands. It is situated (map)
close to the German border and on the bank of the river Waal (a branch of the
Rhine). The castle ‘Valkhof’, the highest point in the city and erected by
Charlemagne, overlooks the river where the typically Dutch polder landscape and
rolling hills provide a beautiful view. The Romans settled here because of the
splendid strategic view of the enemy territory across the river. For similar
strategic reasons, kings and other rulers chose Nijmegen as their place of
residence, and until a century ago Nijmegen was a fortified town, its
surroundings being the scene of fierce battles. However, in 1879 the old city
walls were torn down since they were an increasing handicap to the city’s
prosperity. A period of spectacular growth ensued, and several decades later
the railway bridge across the Waal was constructed and gas, electricity and
water mains were installed in the city.
The Second World War is a black page in Nijmegen’s history. On 22 February
1944, the Allied forces bombed the city by mistake and 800 people died. But a
few months later Nijmegen was liberated thanks to the well-known Operation
Market Garden, which set the southern part of the Netherlands free on 17
September 1944. In the post-war period, much was done to rebuild the city. A
new city centre arose in which the remaining monuments of the rich history of
Nijmegen occupy a special position.
http://www.5mdn.nl/Engels/E_whykan.htm Background to Doing Business in Nijmegen.
- Getting around NijmegenTourist information
Apart from the rich history of the city, there are other reasons which make
Nijmegen well worth visiting. You can stroll the winding streets or go shopping
in the city centre. You can experience the cosy atmosphere that is so
characteristic of Nijmegen at the many outdoor cafes. The centre of the city is
one of the liveliest in the Netherlands. From attractive shops, cafes (one
hundred different types of beer!) and restaurants to unique historic monuments;
from a lovely view over the busiest river of Europe to lively traditions such
as the Street Theatre and the Concert Days; everything is present, not to
mention happenings such as the International Four Days Marches and the
International Summer Festival. Cultural facilities are also abundant: there are
nine museums, dozens of galleries, a theatre, a concert hall and a large number
of cinemas.
Picturesque are Appeltern, Hernen castle, Batenburg and castle, Kleve castle, Den Bosch city, ancient prehistoric Lent and Elst, Arnhem and its Burger’s Bush zoo, Dutch Open Air museum, Airborne museum (bridge too far) and the Van Gogh museum in the national park Hoge Veluwe. National parks like Haterse Vennen offer marches and sandhills, Veluwe offers forests and wildlife galore as well as stark heathland, and the German Emperial Forest provides hills, hauted houses and ruins.
More information about
Nijmegen and surroundings:
- VVV Tourist information
Keizer Karelplein 2
6500 AD Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-900-1122344
Fax: +31-24-3297879
E-mail: info@vvvnijmegen.nl
Opening hours Mondays to Fridays from 9.30 A.M. - 5.30 P.M.
and Saturdays from 10.00 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.
- ANWB
Maps and travel materials are a must, particularly when you decide to buy a
cheap VW camper for doing Europe in. The ‘Algemene Nederlandse Wielrijders
Bond’ provides you with information about the Netherlands, Europe or any other
country (only in Dutch).
Stationsplein 12, 6512 AB Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3222378
Fax: +31-24-3604252
Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays from 9.30 A.M. - 6.00 P.M.,
and Saturdays from 9.30 A.M. - 5.00 P.M.
http://www-instr.sci.kun.nl/images/nijmkaart.jpg
Map of Nijmegen
http://wwww.noviomagnus.nl/Plattegronden/novioplattegrondbot.htm
Historical maps of Nijmegen from 1500
http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/html/NijmegenNetherlands.html Weather in Nijmegen todate
http://earth.esrin.esa.it/ew/floods/nijmagen_nl_95/ Background to the Nijmegen Floods of 1995
http://members1.chello.nl/~b.hagebeek01/index2.html History of Punk in Nijmegen
http://www.fotw.net/flags/nl-ge-nm.html History of Nijmegen flags
http://www.commelec2003.ca/na_nemejgne.html Nijmegen
4 Days Walks 2003
Svenska.mil.nijmegen.orgSwedish site on Nijmegen, the Netherlands and the
4 Days Walks
NijmegenOnline www.nijmegenonline.nl/Talen/indexEngels.htm (some hotels, Newspapers, Going out, etc per category) and Sports facilities;
Dutch language info is available on www.nijmegen.nl (and www.arnhem.nl) or A href="http://www.nijmegen.com">www.nijmegen.com, or Go to Nijmegen.Closest is the University of
Nijmegen campus: Thomas van Aquinostraat 5.
At the University hospital,
Geert Grooteplein 10
Main post office, van
Schevichavenstraat 1, Tel.: +31-24-323 9092
Stamps can also be bought
from, some drugstores in town.
Telephone cards for my
prepay GSM or phone booths can be bought from the Central railway station, post
offices.
Bustickets (strippenkaart)
can be bought from the post office, the Central railway station and the tabbaconist
(and at an extra charge from each busdriver).
Driving by train or bus is not free for foreign students in the
Netherlands!! There are discounts which are valid for everyone though.
A special department for non-Dutch residents is called the Aliens Police or Foreigner Police (Vreemdelingen Politie). Each town has its own team. Check for details the City Hall pages. Back to top
Within 3 days of your
arrival in the Netherlands, you have to call and make an appointment to
register with the Police Aliens Registration Department Stieltjesstraat 1,
Nijmegen (near the central railway station)
Tel.: +31-24-3276210, office hours: Mondays to Fridays 9.00 A.M. - 12.30 noon
What you need to bring:
·
Valid Passport or ID
·
2 passport photographs
(in colour)
·
a legalised birth
certificate
·
proof of income
·
E-128 form or other
proof of health insurance
·
The ID letter with
green stamp - let us call it a pre-ID, because you do not have your real student
ID yet - issued by the International Relations Office, which is included in
your information package. (In other words, do not register with the police
until you have received our information package. You cannot register without
the ID-letter with the green stamp.)
After you have been at the
Police Aliens Registration Department:
·
You will receive a giro
slip for Euro 15,- or 65,- (depending on your nationality) in order to pay
legal dues (it will be sent to your study address).
·
Again depending on your
nationality, you may have to be examined for tuberculosis. In case a test is
required, the Police Aliens Registration Department will give you a form with
which you have to make an appointment at the ‘GGD’ (address: Groenewoudseweg
275, 6501 BC Nijmegen, tel.: +31-24-3297110, Mondays to Thursdays 1.30 P.M. -
3.00 P.M.). Please, do not forget to take your ID or passport with you!
·
Before the application
can be approved, you have to register with the local administration offices
(Town Hall, address see below).
·
When all this is done
and everything is found to be in order, you will receive a message from the
Police Aliens Registration Department to come and pick up your residence
permit.
Registration with the Municipality
Citizens from all countries have to register with the local administration
offices if their stay in Nijmegen exceeds 3 months. Within five days of your
arrival in the Netherlands you should go in person to the registry office at
the town hall. The registry office is called ‘Gemeentelijke Basisadministratie
(GBA)’ or ‘bevolkings-register’.
Documents required for
registering with the GBA:
·
a valid passport
proving your nationality
·
evidence that you have
a suitable place to live (your contract as a tenant, for example)
·
a birth certificate
indicating your name, date and place of birth
·
a marriage certificate
if you are married.
·
university ID
All documents should be in
English, French or German.
Town Hall
Korte Nieuwstraat 6
6511 PP Nijmegen
Tel.: +31-24-3299111
Office hours from 9.00 A.M. - 4.00 P.M.
Leaving Nijmegen
After your stay in Nijmegen, you will have to undo your registration with the
Police Aliens Registrations Department. You have to make an appointment again,
during the opening hours stated above. Please, take your residence permit and
passport with you! (see Foreigner Police)
Check out the University REFTER on the University of Nijmegen campus
near the 20 stories Erasmus tower (Erasmusplein 3, 1600-2000). Cheap grub and lots of students.
Nearby is also the University Pub CULTUURCAFE (Mercatorpad 1) 16.30-21.00.
Other
student haunts are Grub, Spin, Poppecatepedl, DownUnder, the Pancake Boat on the river, ...............(see Yellow Pages)
http://www.tempo.cz/getting/nijmegen.htm Foreign Student’s Homepage on his adventure in Nijmegen
In view of the costs of living, you should sublet your own room whilst in Nijmegen.
Make sure all agreements are set in a contract, so that you are not disappointed on your return.
On arrival, check that the International Office is processing your
form for accomodation.
Dutch specialists in rooms are found on www.woonbond.nl,
www.markplaats.nl and www.ricardo.nl (internet markets for
anything), www.studentenkamers.nl
and www.studentsforstudents.nl.
entrée subsidized by goverment,
but the waiting list can be 4 years.
www.portaal.nl (same as above)
www.talis.nl (same as above)
www.sshn.nl student,
cheap, waitinglist 1 year
http://www.rotsvast.nl/pages/english/indexe.htm
http://www.woninggevraagd.com/
http://www.studentenkamers.nl/
http://www.huisadvertenties.nl
http://www.housingonline.nl/dutch.asp
http://www.steunpuntwonen.nl/english/index.asp
http://www.huisverhuren.nl/oost.html
other
possible actions: read gelderlander krant (Zaterdag), AIO milist, putting your
advertisements on the walls(or trees) at campus. Some got their 'kamer' from networking
at church....
The local Student Housing department (next to HLO building) can also help you
in urgent cases.
For larger rooms (functions, training, group meetings, sports) see the Yellow Pages.
For foreign students in the Netherlands various regulations apply. You
can start at www.nuffic.nl for a list and
links to related sites. Dutch students wishing to go abroad could try www.wilweg.nl for advice and suggestions, and
could try www.geldbron.nl for suggestions
on getting sponsors and scholarships to fund their traveling.
Within each Faculty certain rules of conduct and regulations apply.
Check your own prospectus and Insite (intranet) to avoid surprises. It will be no surprise that you
are not allowed to crib during exams, but it may be new that any HAN member of
staff can ask you for your ID, which you then have to show (failure to comply
to the request three times can result in removal from the buildings).
Details on national regulations regarding student finance, ID cards and
related info is found on www.ib-groep.nl
and via your local student councilor.
http://www.kun.nl/buit/ects.html
PDF Nijmegen University ECTS Guide (on Faculties, living in the Netherlands,
various issues relating to student life)
A Dutch sites on grants and money sources could also help: GELD BRON lists many options for anyone.
Try the local second hand shops in town, but also go to the Stichting Overal on Wednesday/Saturday afternoon after 1400 for recycled goodies at a reasonable price.
The Yellow Pages list a number in town (like Habbekrats, Het Goed),
but do not forget the Smuggler's Market every Saturday in Cuyk as well as one in the Honig factory near the Waal river.
You could also try the Internet markets like www.ricardo.nl or w ww.marktplaats.nl www.studentsforstudents.nl and www.2dehands.nl
The shopping district is
situated between the encircling canals which in the past showed the extent of
the old town’s expansion. The principal shopping streets are: the Van
Welderenstraat, the Van Broeckhuijsenstraat, the Molenstraat with the
Molenpoort mall, the Broerstraat, the Ziekerstraat, Plein 1944, the
Koningsplein, the Houtstraat, the Hezelstraat, the Burchtstraat and the
Marikenstraat.
The shops are generally open Tuesdays to Fridays from 9.30 A.M. - 5.30 P.M. On
Mondays they usually open either at 11.00 A.M. or 1.00 P.M. On Saturdays, the
shops are open from 9.30 A.M. - 5.00 P.M. Late night shopping is on Thursdays,
until 9.00 P.M. Most supermarkets are open from 8.00 A.M. till 8.00 or 9.00
P.M. on weekdays. On certain Sundays, shops are allowed to open their doors.
For centuries, the Grote Markt has been the place for the weekly market. There
are two general markets each week, on Mondays and Saturdays, the market stalls
stretching from the Grote Markt into the Burchtstraat and the surrounding
streets. On Mondays from 8.00 A.M. till 2.00 P.M., there is a vegetable, fruit
and plant market. The general market then begins at 10.00 and continues through
to 5.00 P.M. (in winter till 4.00 P.M.) On Saturdays, you can buy your fruit
and vegetables between 8.00 A.M. and 2.00 P.M., and general wares from 10.00
A.M. till 5.00 P.M.
A very special market is the Nijmeegse Lusemert (Flea Market) which is held on
Monday mornings from 8.00 A.M. till 12.00 noon around the Church of St. Stephen
(St. Stevenskerk).
You are never allowed to install software at any of the HAN PC rooms
unless you wish to get expelled. They take this seriously. At home is
different: cheap PCs are available form Orbit opposite the General Post office
in town. You can install what you like, and legal software for students can be
obtained from www.surfspot.nl and your
local computer systems manager.
Clubs and teams can be found via www.studentensport.nl
in Dutch, although a search for your sports via a search engine may also come
up with a local team via another route (or try the Yellow Pages below).
Nijmegen has an English-language
cricket team, American Football, rugby club, baseball club, basketball club and icehockey team www.nijmegen.com and
www.nijmegenonline.nl.
Walkathon
in summer http://walking.about.com/library/walk/bl4dlast.htm?once=true&iam=mt&terms=+nijmegen++four++days++marches
and http://www.walker-online.com/travel/Niederrhein/Nijmegen/index.htm and http://www.pspmembers.com/nijmegen/nijmegen_days1.htm
Videos and
fotos of walking through Nijmegen http://www.channels.nl/nijmegen/station.html
Climbing http://nijsac.climbing.nl/en/
Volleyball http://www.vocasa.nl
Skating http://www.kun.nl/lacustris
For fun, tryhttp://www.commelec2003.ca/na_nemejgne.html Nijmegen
4 Days Walks 2003
http://tigers_fanpage.tripod.com/nijmegen/ Nijmegen Icehockey legends
http://home-1.tiscali.nl/~innop/main.htm Intercompany Hockey competition
Taekwondo
Martial arts is not so popular as in Asia but there are many dojo here
(including pencaksilat) since there were many ex-soldiers brought their
interest of martialarts from Indonesia (pencaksilat,
kuntau/chinese-Ind-kempo-kungfu) http://www.taekwondobond.nl/ , http://www.taekwondo-nijmegen.nl/,
http://www.yoo-sin.nl
Fitness/bodybuilding
Keepfit:
Coehoornstrt 22, a good place, but too crowded Nijmegen82:
thijmstrt141, mostly girls & cardio, bodybuilding is possible by
selftraining
Roostjes:
Groenewoudseweg 322, cheap, nice people, bodybuilding is possible, but the
place is small
Noviomagum:
Tollenstrt 211, bigger place, bodybuilding is possible, also available:
karate, aikido, judo.
KUN University Sports Centre:
(the 'non student fitness section') Kwekerijweg 4, mostly cardio, not
complete for bodybuilding, cheap for KUN workers.
Golf: Forget it: Much more expensive than in Indonesia
Watersports: Skicentrum Wijchen
Youth Hostels &
Camping parks: see your lonelyplanet guide www.lonelyplanet.com
Back to top
Student Housing
http://www.tempo.cz/getting/nijmegen.htm Foreign Student’s Homepage on his adventure in Nijmegen
Back to top
Useful sites in Dutch are www.leren.nl
and www.studentennet.nl but not a lot
in English here. Instead you can consult British and US homesites using various
searchengines like Altvavista or Yahoo. You then find useful tools on www.selfgrowth.com, www.how-to-study.com, www.mindtools.com/index.html
www.iss.stthomas.edu/studyguides/index.htm
and www.psychwww.com.
http://www.kun.nl/buit/ects.html
PDF Nijmegen University ECTS Guide (on Faculties, living in the Netherlands,
various issues relating to student life). Student Councillors at the University of Nijmegen can be rached via 31 24 361 6090 and balie@dsz.kun.nl.
CJP offers student discounts on records, subscriptions, theatres and
concerts www.cjp.nl. Youth Hostel cards also
offer discounts.
In order to use the public telephone at stations one needs a Vodafone
card or Visa card to activate the machines. In town public phones are either
coin operated or Chip card (a small copper chip in your bank card that you need
to charge with your own money in order to pay via the Chipper). Within the HLO
the phone is activated by a phone card from Theo at the Reception desk.
Mobile phones abound as a result, and you need to consult either phone
shops in town or consult the Internet sites for each provider. The regulations
change regularly so you need to consult experts.
Although the Yellow Pages /Gele Gids www.goudengids.nl
can help you to a number, you can also try Scoot for numbers you need www.scoot.nl. White page supply regular
subscription numbers.
It helps to make a list of phone numbers of your own student team at the
beginning of each meeting, to avoid lengthy discussions. And email addresses!
The Dutch do not expect any service tips, as they have calculated it in.
Only on special occasions tip your assistant to avoid misunderstanding (or
encourage misunderstanding if you so wish).
Long distance bus trips are offered by www.eurolines.nl
and active trips by www.travelactive.nl
and www.happytravel.nl. Student Travel
in the Netherlands have numerous offices, like www.nbbs.nl
show you. Nijmegen hosts several travel agents, and you need to shop around the
center.
If you ever consider buying a car (together) buy a secondhand VW camper
bus. They are cheap, disgustingly reliable and extremely versatile (most sleep
4 comfortably) www.vwbusclub.nl. Cars in
the Netherlands involve paying road tax, at least Third Party insurance
(expensive for under 25s) and annual vehicle inspections.
IMPORTANT: in some
countries, a driving licence can be obtained at the age of 16. Dutch law
stipulates that the minimum age for driving a car is 18 years. Therefore, no
matter how valid your licence is in your own country, you cannot drive in the
Netherlands if you are under 18.
For more information please check at the Town Hall, Korte Nieuwstraat 6, tel.:
+31-24-329 2435, office hours from 9.00 A.M. - 4.00 P.M. From April till
August, also open on Thursday evenings from 6.00 P.M. - 8.00 P.M.
Main traffic rules
In general, all traffic coming from
the right has right-of-way, unless the signs indicate otherwise. On
roundabouts, unless indicated otherwise, all traffic on the roundabout has
right-of-way. The speed limit in urban areas is 50 km per hour, 80 km per hour
on non-motorway roads outside city limits and 120 km per hour on motorways.
Visiting the Netherlands?
|
|
General Information about the
Netherlands
Amsterdam:The Capital - The
Hague:The Government
Culture and the Arts
Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles
Visas, Passports, Tourist
Regulations and Practical Information
Documents Needed to Visit the
Netherlands
How to Obtain a Schengen Visa
Driving in the Netherlands
Moving to the Netherlands
Want to Take Your Pet?
Travelling with Personal Use Items
Visiting Aruba and the Netherlands
Antilles
How to Obtain/Renew a Dutch Passport (in Dutch)
Registration of Foreign Certificates
in the Netherlands (in Dutch)
Wijziging Rijkswet op het
Nederlanderschap (in Dutch)
Tourism Sites
Internet Search Engines in/for the
Netherlands
Search the Netherlands
Roundabout: What's On in the Netherlands
Netherlands Board of Tourism
Kids Corner
Dutch Railways (trip planner)
Visit Amsterdam!
Amsterdam Guide
The Keukenhof
Floriade 2002
Dutch Yellow Pages
Dutch White Pages (telephone
book)
Dutch Museums on-line
The Digital City
www.the-netherlands.com
U.S. Embassy in the Hague
Living and Working in the Netherlands
Interesting Websites (in
English)
Do You have Roots in Holland?
Dutch Klompen (wooden shoes)
Dutch Pop and Rock Music Institute
Info for English-speaking Ex-Pats in
the Netherlands
National Library of the Netherlands
The Royal House
Information for People Visiting or
Relocating to the US
Assisting Dutch Expats in the US
Assistance for Remigration to the
Netherlands
Students within EU (European
Union) and EEA are allowed to earn money alongside their studies or internship
activities without a Work Permit. All other students with a residence permit
for study purposes may earn money on the side as long as the work is either
seasonal (in June, July and/or August) or adds up to less than ten hours a
week. The employer must apply for your work permit. For this, you have to
supply a document from the host institution stating that the job will not
hinder your academic work.
Work on offer ranges from
work via Call Centres (in various languages), baby sitting, teaching English to
Dutch students, working a few hours in factories or on farms, or newspaper
rounds. You can advertise your services in the local newspaper www.gelderlander.nl, check out local
www.regiowerk
or the KUN
Newsletter 'VOX' or the HAN newsletter 'Sensor' for opportunities.
You are allowed to supplement your income to a limited degree (check www.nuffic.nl) and some help in getting work
can be offered by Temp Agencies (www.callcenterwerk.nl,
www.kellyservices.nl, www.centerparks.com, www.tempo-team.nl, www.manpower.nl. You can also decide to
become a test person for certain drugs (call (024) 388 8786), volunteer for
experiments in Psychology, or distribute newspapers (no mail), or help out
local Language Institutes as a native speaker in their conversation classes and
translation work. Some bars offer reasonable pay and working conditions, as do
some shops. Check out taxation details though www.belastingdienst.nl or ask at the
Taxation Office opposite the Railway Station.
Although the HAN has oral exams and practical sessions, you will find
that most exams involve writing. Project-based learning also involves the
writing of logbooks, reports, letters and theses, all of these are assessed on
both contents and form. In order to help you write these texts.
To help you
provide feedback, HAN has constructed www.worldwidewriting.com.
This is a free, multilanguage tool that both online and offline allows students
and staff to develop their writing skills, use checklists prior to final
submission, and offer ready-made feedback comments on any aspects of a text.
Youth hostels are still very cheap and in combination with EuroLines busses a cheap way to travel. the Netherlands have 25, in big cities, on the islands and inland.
You also find some on the nearby Rhine
near Koblenz (Germany) in old Rhine castles, in medieval towns in the Belgian
Ardennes and Luxemburg, in French cities and of course European capitals.
Membership is cheap, and rooms usually go for about 16 euro a night.
