Erasmus in Leiden
Information and tips for Erasmus students in Leiden
| Private rooms Leiden | 10 | 721/month |
| Apartments Leiden | 6 | 1720/month |
Located in the Netherlands, Leiden is a small city compared to other Dutch cities such as Amsterdam or The Hague. However, Leiden has a great student and intercultural atmosphere since its university is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country, which is why many students from abroad decide to study there.
If you reached this page, it is because you are wondering: Why you should do Erasmus in Leiden? If you want to discover the most important thing about doing an Erasmus in Leiden, we encourage you to continue reading.
Cost of living in Leiden, the Netherlands
Living in the Netherlands can indeed be quite expensive. For this reason, you must start looking for accommodation as soon as possible and compare different areas, as it will significantly influence the rental price. From our Erasmus Play housing search engine, you can streamline this process and find amazing opportunities.
The average rent for a spare room in an apartment can cost approximately €300 and €450 per month, plus additional expenses.
On the other hand, students usually spend between €150-200 on food per month. Lidl and Dirk supermarkets are the most affordable, while Albert Heijn is more expensive.
Regarding transportation, cycling is the cheapest and easiest way to get around Leiden. But if the bicycle is not your preferred transportation mean, we recommend you to get the OV-chipkaart card, with student discounts. It's like a credit card that allows you to take the bus, tram, train and metro. It costs €7.50 and you have to charge it at the stations.
Student life, Erasmus parties and leisure in Leiden
Foremost, we advise you to join the student associations in Leiden. They are small networks of international students who organize activities and social events to get to know the city and make new friends in a simple and fast way.
Leiden has many cafés and bars, such as The Duke of Oz, Annie's, Roebels, and Einsteinnightclub Next for partygoers.
Breestraat street is the main shopping street in Leiden, where most of the shops, pubs, restaurants, and bars are located. Also, in the old city centre, there are a lot of canals and bridges. It also highlights its incredible architecture, with stately homes and numerous museums to visit.
Culture and gastronomy in Leiden, the Netherlands
Every Saturday you will find one of the best markets in the country, on the banks of the canal, in the centre of Leiden. You can buy and try numerous fresh local products. The "herring", for example, is one of the typical dishes of the market. It is usually eaten raw accompanied by a little chopped onion. A curious fact is that it is very common to see street stalls of fish dishes and especially chips.
As everyone knows, cheese is the quintessential Dutch gastronomic product, where "Gouda", "Edam" and "Alkmaar" stand out. Nor can you miss the “bitterballen”, some ball-shaped meat croquettes accompanied by mustard. And if you have a sweet tooth, you have to try the “stroopwafels”: two thin waffles filled with caramel.
Advantages of doing Erasmus in Leiden
- You will meet many people from different countries, since Leiden is a multicultural city.
- As it is a small city, you get to go around the city easily by bike, saving time and money.
- You will fall in love with its canals and its amazing architecture.
- You can visit other well-known nearby cities such as Amsterdam, The Hague or Rotterdam.
Cheap Erasmus accommodation in Leiden, Netherlands
Do you need accommodation in Leiden and don't know how to get it? In Erasmus Play you can find for free the best flats, rooms and apartments for students in Leiden.
Frequently asked questions about doing Erasmus in Leiden
How much does it cost to live in Leiden as a student? |
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| The cost of living for a student in Leiden depends, in part, on their lifestyle. However, taking into account the rent for accommodation, transport, food and leisure, an approximate cost of €700 per month could be calculated. |
How is student life in Leiden? |
| Leiden is a welcoming city with excellent university life, it has one of the most prestigious universities in the Netherlands. |
How much does student accommodation in Leiden cost? |
| The type of accommodation that students in Leiden usually choose is single spare rooms in shared flats, which are around €300-450 per month. |
How much is the Erasmus scholarship to study in Leiden? |
| To find out the amount of the Erasmus scholarship you will receive to study in Leiden, we recommend that you contact the international relations office of your home university. The amount may vary depending on the autonomous community and/or the country of destination. |
What are the best areas to live in Leiden? |
| Most students prefer to live near the university. Therefore, we advise you to compare different neighbourhoods and types of accommodation. Even so, one of the streets with the most student atmosphere is Haarlemmerstraat, right in the centre of the city. But if you are looking for a more alternative and affordable area, Stevenshof is the ideal district, just 10 minutes from the centre by bike. |
