[no]WURries: Moving

Moving

‘As an international student who can’t drive in the Netherlands, I often wonder how people like me move from Wageningen to other places in the Netherlands or Europe. I have heard from friends that it can be expensive and complicated to hire a removal firm or even just a van. Does anyone have advice or tips on this topic?’

Julia van der Westhuyzen, MSc student of Plant Sciences

Friends

‘I experienced the same difficulty when moving around Europe. Once I did rent a van. There are international companies that allow you to rent a van in one country and return it in another. Like you, I don’t drive, so I asked two friends to drive the van to my new apartment. It felt a bit like a road trip and my friends stayed with me for a few days to explore the area. For them it was a cheap holiday, while they were doing me a huge favour at the same time.’

Jacob, Master’s student

Parcel delivery services

‘Indeed, moving can be very expensive. As someone who has moved internationally six times, I’ve always sold items that I can live without or that I can easily buy in my country of destination. For things I can’t live without, I’ve used parcel delivery services like GLS, UPS, Parcel2Go, or EuroSender. If you can afford to move gradually, perhaps leave some of your items with a friend, fly back to Wageningen with Ryanair, and move them as checked luggage.’

Anna Abatayo, assistant professor of Environmental Economics and Natural Resources

Cargo bike

‘This is indeed a challenge for international students in the Netherlands. When I want to move my belongings, I rent a cargo bike from Idealis and ask my fellow Chinese friends to help me move. But when you are dealing with a lot of stuff you do need to contact a company or a friend or colleague who owns a car. You could also ask for help in the Facebook community Wageningen student plaza. In addition, there are self-service car rentals such as Greenwheels or Mywheels. The price is fine and the procedure is easy. Just ask some friends who can drive to help you.’

Anna Huang, PhD student of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management

Declutter

‘Use moving from one country to the next as an opportunity to “declutter your life”. Go through your belongings and only take with you the most important items. If you do not drive or make use of a removal firm, you are limited to the belongings that fit in a suitcase. Donate or sell the furniture, clothes and other belongings you’re leaving behind. It will feel liberating to carry all your belongings in a single, perhaps somewhat large, suitcase.’

Elise, student of Biology

OV student card

‘Within the Netherlands, you can use your public transport (OV) student card, that lets you travel throughout the country for free or at a discount. There are also all kinds of discounts and good connections with Germany, Belgium and France. It is also increasingly easy to hire a car for one or two days. This is possible for from as little as 25 euros per day. In short, there are enough options for travelling cheaply and easily.’

Mohamed el Bouziri, assistant location manager

Next [WUR]ry:

Do you have advice or tips for this Wurrier? Or could you use some good advice yourself? Email your tips or your question by 21 June to resource@wur.nl, subject noWURries.

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