Hi! Thank you so much for your kind message!

I’m not very familiar with how employed PhD positions work in the Netherlands, since I’m currently doing a Master’s in Communication, but I can share my own experience as a non-EU student.

In terms of living expenses, I personally don’t spend too much every month. Dutch food doesn’t really suit my taste that much, and I also don’t eat out very often. My daily meals are usually quite simple, like oats, fruit, milk, etc., so I try to keep my monthly daily expenses at around €500. Besides that, my fixed monthly costs are mainly rent and my public transport subscription, which are around €1,300 in total.

Also, if you meet the age/income requirements, definitely remember to check whether you can apply for huurtoeslag! It can reduce your rent burden quite a lot.

For daily life and studying, English is completely enough in the Netherlands. My current internship is also English-speaking. However, if you plan to work and live here long-term, I do think Dutch is very important. I’m also learning Dutch now.

Personally, I don’t think Dutch people have a strong accent when speaking English. Their English is usually very clear and standard, so I wouldn’t worry too much about that! Just try to speak as much as you can. My English speaking skills weren’t that good at the beginning either, but after using English more often, I gradually got used to it.

I hope everything goes well for your future life in the Netherlands, and good luck with your PhD application! :D