1. Travel
Travelling is a huge part of student culture in the Netherlands, mainly because the country is small and well-connected by public transport. Most students use a combination of three apps:
- NS Reisplanner is the official app by the main railway operator of the Netherlands, Nederlandse Spoorwegen. It’s great to check train schedules to see when your train arrives and departs, and also when you’re hit with those inevitable delays or a cancelled train. Aside from that, I check it to see how many carriages my train has, how busy it is (so I can plan my trips to be more comfortable), and how many OV-bikes are left in a specific station.
- 9292 is a public transport app that uses the same data that the NS app uses. A long time ago, 9292 was the phone number to call if you needed help regarding public transport, and this app was named after the phone number to give homage to it. I use 9292 whenever I’m not on the train, so anything regarding buses, trams, and metros is my sign to use the app. There’s technically no difference between NS and 9292 (because you can also get bus and tram schedules in the NS app), but I like the layout of 9292 better.
- Google Maps does not require any explanation. I wouldn’t trust the bus and tram schedules in it, though – all too often I’ve been bamboozled by Google. It’s great for routes, though, which I don’t need to tell you about.
2. Money and banking
- Your banking app. This will of course be different for everyone depending on what bank you’ve chosen. Most Dutch banking apps are good enough that you can quickly check your balance, access your savings, and make payments with your phone (Apple Pay is amazing). If you’ve just moved and don’t have a Dutch bank account yet, then you’re probably making do with something like Revolut and/or Wise, a global digital bank. That’s fine as well, as long as it works for you.
- Splitwise or Splitser (WieBetaaltWat in Dutch) is a good way of tracking expenses with a group of people. If you’re travelling with friends and everyone’s taking turns to pay for something and no one’s keeping track, these splitting apps keep track for you. You can split equally with your group, based on percentages, or however else you’d like. A handy way of avoiding conflict and keeping the friend group happy – you just need to remember to log your spending amounts.
- Tikkie is great for actually splitting the bill. Most banking apps have a function to instantly transfer money to an account, most of the time through a QR code or a link. However, Tikkie is just so ingrained into the culture here that it makes more sense to ‘Tikkie’ someone instead of holding out a QR code. With Tikkie, you can send and pay on your own time, without any interactions (other than the usual ‘I’ll Tikkie you’ after the event) and without any hassle. Make sure you pay your friends what you owe. ;)
3. Communication
- WhatsApp is the main app for communicating and texting in the Netherlands. Some people use things like Telegram too, but I’ve never met anyone without a WhatsApp number here.
- Reddit is an odd app to suggest for communication, but if you have a question and aren’t sure who to ask (or want to remain anonymous), then Reddit is the main platform for those kinds of things. Plus, it’s a great way to keep yourself updated on your hobbies and interests.
4. Weather
- Buienradar and Buienalarm are the only apps you’ll ever need for the weather. It rains for most of the year, and while usually you get used to it, it’s never nice to forget to check the forecast and get drenched while you’re biking. These apps, however, can never beat the classic strategy: looking up.
5. Academics
- Photomath is the best phone calculator for me, mainly because I’ve gotten used to it. Need to solve for a variable? Just type it in exactly as it is in the problem. Need to graph something? Just scroll to the very bottom. It’s simple, powerful, and even has a pretty good step-by-step explanation for problem-solving.
- Desmos 3D and Geogebra are two absolute heroes when it comes to visualising shapes in 3D. I mainly use the websites on my laptop, so they’re not really apps per se, but they’re just too good to not include in this section.
- Grammarly is used for… well, grammar. Most writing mediums have their own built-in spellchecker, but I feel Grammarly takes it a step further and tells you to write something in a way you hadn’t thought of before. Not a must-have, but it’s definitely nice seeing that you scored highly on Grammarly’s article scorer.
- Duolingo. As I mentioned in my article about learning Dutch, I think Duolingo is great for vocabulary if you’re learning a new language. You’re not really going to use the phrase “I’m an apple” anywhere in daily life, but it’s nice to know what the word for apple is in Dutch. You can also challenge yourself to keep your Duolingo streak for as long as you can – keep that green bird happy!
- De of Het is an app that’s great for people learning Dutch and was recommended to me by my Dutch language teacher. If you’re unsure what article a certain word has in Dutch, then you can pull up this app quickly to double-check. I’ve used it once or twice in everyday scenarios, so it’s had its uses.
6. Food
- Thuisbezorgd came from the University of Twente, so it’d be a disservice not to use it. While the layout could use some tweaks (in my opinion), it’s quick, straight to the point, and performs its main task well: delivering food. Everyone uses it, and eating takeaway is part of student life – you’re a busy person, and you can’t always cook.
- Too Good to Go helps you save money on food by offering deals on leftover food from restaurants around you. If you study at the University of Twente, the main campus catering company, Appél, offers leftovers at around three to five in the afternoon for a discounted price.
- Homemade also came from Enschede and offers options that would otherwise be unavailable on other delivery apps. Homemade’s entire concept is that it connects home chefs with people who want to buy homemade food. All of my experiences with Homemade have been nothing but positive, so if you want some amazing food that also supports a local business, then this app is for you.
- Your favourite grocery store probably has an app for it, and in my case, I use the Lidl Plus app and the Albert Heijn app. I can get some pretty sweet deals to minimise my spending and still find the things I like to get (for a discount). It takes like five extra seconds to scan the barcode, so it’s never a bad idea to have it ready with you whenever you go grocery shopping.
7. Shopping/secondhand apps
- If you’re a fan of saving money, then the Marktplaats app is perfect for you. Marktplaats is the largest Dutch online market platform, and you can find pretty much everything there. From second-hand tablets and electronics to furniture and bikes, you can score yourself some pretty great deals. However, as with everything, do make sure you’re not getting scammed. Remember, if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.
- Vinted is an app that I rarely use, but some of my friends swear by it. It’s an app that’s focused mainly on clothes, so if you’re into thrifting, then you should get it. You can find some pretty affordable pieces that need new owners to give them love, so if you’re looking to buy something for cheap… why not? Besides, if you’re ever planning on cleaning out your closet, Vinted is also perfect for selling clothes that you want to get rid of!
8. Administration
- Most official, government-related things use DigiD as a way to authenticate yourself. You need DigiD if you want to access registration-related things, taxes, government information, or student finances. A must-have app to have on your phone!
Some of these apps have made my life a lot easier, with some (like DigiD and WhatsApp) being absolutely essential. It can be a bit overwhelming not knowing where to go or what to do in certain situations, especially if you’re a foreign student and it’s all new to you, but if you have apps that cover all the main categories (like transport, communication, administration, and food), there’s not much to be scared of. Give these apps a shot, and hopefully, your time here will have been made easier!
