The Netherlands

What language do people in the Netherlands speak?
The inhabitants of the Netherlands speak Dutch. There are also certain areas with their own dialect or provincial language. Most of the Dutch inhabitants understand and speak English very well, especially the younger generation.

What is the weather like in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is a four season country. The weather in the Netherlands varies. In summer the temperature can climb up to 30° Celsius. However, the weather in the Netherlands is very unpredictable, so you could end up in a rainy and cloudy summer with 18° Celsius. A raincoat and/or an umbrella are basic necessities when visiting the Netherlands.

What is the currency in the Netherlands?
The Dutch pay in Euros (€)

How does the Dutch public transportation system work?
The Dutch public transportation network is very good. Groningen is situated in the far north of the Netherlands. However, since the Netherlands is not very big, other cities are very accessible by bus or by train.

From Groningen Central Station there are many options to travel:
- Groningen Central Station is the end station of the Dutch railroads, so there is a twice an hour departure to almost every other big city in the Netherlands. (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague, etc.)  
- Groningen is situated near the German border. There good bus connections to Oldenburg and Bremen (Germany) five times a day. A time schedule can be found on the website www.publicexpress.nl

You can pay for public transportation with the OV-Chipcard. This is a pass the size of a bank card with a small chip inside. You can transfer money on to your OV-Chipcard which will allow you to check in buses and trains. More information on the OV-Chipcard can be found at www.ov-chipkaart.nl

Are all summer school students internationals?
Most Summer School Students are international students.

What are the voltage requirements in the Netherlands?
Voltage: 230 V; Plug types C & F. You might need a voltage converter and plug adapter.

How many people live in the Netherlands?
Although the Netherlands is a small country, it is home to 16 million inhabitants.