A gap year in Netherlands
Gap years in Netherlands
Windmills, clogs, and bicycles. Just three great reasons to include Holland (the Netherlands) in your Gap Itinerary. This well-connected, flat and fertile country is a beautiful, cosmopolitan place to work and live; no wonder it’s been a backpacker favourite for years. Read on to discover many more reasons to choose the Netherlands for a varied Gap Year...
Gap Year Opportunities
Tourism is still huge in the Netherlands. You could work as a campsite courier – providing childcare or hospitality on one of the civilised campsites in the Dutch countryside – or a cleaner, or even, for the business-minded, as an Area Manager, overseeing a selection of regional campsites.
Fancy teaching English? You can train and work in the Netherlands: there is a CELTA course offered by the British Language School in Amsterdam. Whatever package you choose, look for one that offers help with finding a placement.
Au Pair work is also popular, and usually in demand. You will work for fewer than 30 hours per week, providing childcare and other household duties for a host family. In return, you’ll get most weekends off, and the chance to get to know the country from an insider’s perspective.
Getting Around
Interrailing is the obvious choice for anyone taking a gap year in the Netherlands. One pass gives you unlimited train travel in Europe, making it really great value if you want to continue around Europe. The rail network is brilliant, taking you from Amsterdam to Cologne, Brussels, Hannover, Paris... the choices are endless. If you want more independence, consider renting a car: it’s fairly inexpensive, and the road conditions are great. Of course, don’t take it into Amsterdam – in the capital, either walk or hop on a frequent tram – alternatively, join 700,000 others and cycle.
About the Netherlands
“In Dutch society,” says the Lonely Planet guide, “fuss of any kind is regarded as undignified.” Its famously liberal policies on gay rights, euthanasia, drug use and prostitution certainly keep the demonstrators quiet. There’s a curious contrast here, with the placid, staid Dutch personality hiding an extremely liberal set of social norms.
The country’s political history, compared with other European countries, has been very peaceful in recent years. It was neutral in the first world war and managed to stay out of the second until Nazi forces invaded. The following years of occupation were devastating for the population; more than 100,000 Jews were deported or murdered, and Dutch civilians were killed, deprived and starved. When occupation ended in 1945, the Netherlands sought to make new relationships with neighbouring European countries, in order to find allies for future confrontation. It subsequently played a key role in founding NATO and the EU.
The country’s economy is high-performing, with industry comprising most of its GDP. Rotterdam is Europe’s biggest port and an important centre for trade. Key exports include natural gas, chemicals, flowering bulbs, and Heineken!
What to see in the Netherlands
Want a really hands-on experience? There is an eleven-city tour (information on the Holland tourist site – see links) that takes you to every corner of the country. Discover Mata Hari in Leeuwarden, immerse yourself in culture Assen, or meet the student population in Gronigan or Rotterdam.
The two big cities – Amsterdam and Rotterdam – are typically cosmopolitan, high-rise and tourist-friendly. Don’t miss this opportunity to view works by some of the world’s most influential artists: visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and the Rembrandt House Museum. Discover the country from a resident’s perspective at the Houseboat Museum, the Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis canal mansion, or the Anne Frank House. And when you’ve finished the cities, don’t forget the rural regions – hire a bike, and go windmill-spotting – no hill-climbing required!