A packing guide to help you with your stay in the Netherlands
What to pack:
A small personal umbrella- it will rain almost every day at least once.
A rain jacket WITH a hood.
Shoes that can get wet.
Nice clothing that you will wear to class everyday (no one wears sweatpants, leggings or athletic clothing to class- bring jeans and nice sweaters!)
Girls- bring tights to wear with your skirts/dresses!
Warm clothing!! I brought a few sweaters, but I wish I brought more!
Converter for your electronics- more than one! You will want to charge your phone, laptop, etc. all at once!
A winter jacket for when it gets cold, and a denim jacket for the beginning of your trip!
Cold medicine, nyquil, etc. The Netherlands is known to be very stingy with antibiotics and medicine, so it is better to bring over-the-counter meds with you so that you don’t have to go through the hassle of trying to find them on your own!
A pillow case, lock, and extra towel for hostels on weekend trips.
A lockbox for your personal belongings like your passport, money, birth certificate, etc.
A backpack that you can use for weekend trips- much easier than dragging around luggage.
Good walking shoes! You will be walking a LOT more than you do at home!
A reusable water bottle! You have to pay for water at restaurants, so its best to bring your own and save the extra cash.
A portable phone charger. The last thing you want to happen is for your phone to die when you need it for navigation.
A planner so that you can organize your schedule neatly.
Advil, melatonin, tums.
Plenty of undergarments so that you can avoid doing wash every week!
What not to pack
Don't pack a lot of athletic clothing, unless you plan on working out in it. Most people dress nicely here- you don't want to stand out!
Don't bother packing notebooks, paper, etc. You can buy them for really cheap prices at HEMA or other stores, and most classes don't even use notebooks. Save the weight in your luggage for other essentials!
Don't pack too many summery clothes if you are coming in the fall. Although the weather is nice for a month or so, you won't wear them a lot and it's okay to rewear the few outfits that you DO pack!
Don't pack more than 2 sweatshirts and 1 pair of sweatpants. You won't be wearing them out a lot, and it's a waste of space in your luggage.
Don't pack shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. You can buy it as soon as you arrive.
Don't pack other toiletries unless you know you can't get them in Europe (ex: a special type of face wash or lotion).
Don't bring a lot of USD. Everything is in Euros, and if you need to take out cash you can use an ATM!
Don't bring a lot of shoes. They will weigh a lot in your luggage, and you won't wear all of them. Bring a pair of sneakers, boots, and sandals and maybe 1-2 extra pairs. Ladies, don't bother bringing heals. I promise you won't wear them.
Don't bring more than a few pairs of pants, you can rewear them! You want to leave room for clothing you buy abroad too!
Don't bring a lot of jewelry. You don't want to risk losing any and it's okay to rotate a few pieces instead of a bunch!
Leave really personal and valuable belongings at home. It's not worth the risk of being lost or stolen.
I hope this helps you pack for the Netherlands! Remember, 90% of the things you need you can buy here! Its better to save weight in your luggage than have to pay a fee!