5 apps all international students in Holland need
Almost everyone uses apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Snapchat, right? But there is also a wide range of lesser-known apps that can make life easier for students currently studying in the Netherlands.
9292
9292 is a high quality app for travelling in the Netherlands and further afield. It offers accurate and reliable information about transportation. The app gives real time travel information, which means you can check bus and train times instantly from any location. This is particularly handy for days where you may be waiting on a bus that is delayed. It can also give you the connecting bus and train times. For a lot of students studying here Erasmus is also a great opportunity to travel. 9292 makes it easy to decide where to go and how to get there. Since most students are not familiar with Dutch bus routes or travel websites, this app makes your travel decisions easy. You can also save your frequently used routes to make things quicker. The user interface is also very simple to use and understand. Overall it is a great app to have for all of your travel needs.
Download the app via Apple iTunes or Google Play Store.
Thuisbezorgd
For most students, getting food delivered is an almost weekly event. Thuisbezorgd makes it easy to get food delivered straight to your front door, which is ideal for the days when you just do not feel like cooking after a long day in college. The app displays all the local restaurants and takeaways which deliver in your local area. You can also choose to pick up your meal in person and save time by ordering ahead, making it a simple, effective process to get your food fast. You can pay online using a credit card or your Paypal account so payment is safe. You can also create an account and save your favourite takeaways and you can see what the most popular meals are if you want to try something new. This app is perfect for students who have not learned to cook for themselves and just want something that is convenient and reasonably priced.
Download the app via Apple iTunes or Google Play Store.
Buienradar
After asking several Dutch people which app in the Netherlands they thought was the most useful, several people recommended Buienradar. As all students currently studying in the Netherlands know, the Dutch weather can be very unpredictable. This ingenious app tells you when it is going to rain and for how long, which means it is incredibly useful if you are studying in the Netherlands as it is almost always raining. It also tells the weather and temperature so it is a very convenient app to have, as it will show you the rare moments when it is sunny. The app includes comprehensive weather forecasts by location, weather videos and social features. With this app you know when to bring an umbrella or when to cover your bike seat before it gets soaked, so it can really make life easier.
Download the app via Apple iTunes or Google Play Store.
Marktplaats
For many students studying in the Netherlands, accommodation is a big problem. Unlike in other countries most rooms in the Netherlands are unfurnished. This can be quite inconvenient, especially for students staying for a short period of time. Instead of spending a lot of money on furniture that you will only use for a few months, you can use Marktplaats to buy cheap furniture and other items. The app makes it easy to buy and sell goods on the go, as well as keeping track of your recent transactions and bids. There is a huge variety of things to buy, ranging from bikes, furniture, clothes and even houses and rooms! With 1.3 million different users and over 300,000 classified ads uploaded per day, you are almost guaranteed to find what you are looking for with this app. You can also use it to sell your furniture and bike when you leave so you can make back the money you spent.
Download the app via Apple iTunes or Google Play Store.
Google Translate
Although it is not specifically a Dutch app, Google Translate is essential for international students. From simple things such as trying to figure out what you are buying in a supermarket or restaurant, to communicating with students of various different nationalities, Google Translate is a life-saver. Instead of randomly picking something from a menu and hoping for the best, you can quickly and easily figure out what you are ordering (tip: never ever order witlof – it is nót what you expect). As Groningen is an international city you can also use it to communicate with internationals and try to impress them by speaking their language. If you, like many other students do, plan on travelling while you are here, it can also be very useful when attempting to communicate abroad. This app helped me out a lot in difficult situations while travelling.
Download the app via Apple iTunes or Google Play Store.