Meppel. A small city in the south-west of the province of Drenthe, technically on the edge of the north of the Netherlands and snuggled amongst beautiful nature reserves. It's the best of both worlds with the countryside just a few minutes away and major train and road connections on your doorstep. In fact, it has the fourth largest train station in the north of the Netherlands and is just 1.5 hours from Amsterdam and Schiphol airport.
The facts about Meppel
Meppel is the main city in the local region
There are almost 36,000 inhabitants in the city and surrounding villages – and nearly 2,000 of them are NHL Stenden students
It takes just 20 minutes to walk from the NHL Stenden campus to the Meppel train station – and the station is a major hub for the Netherlands taking you to Leeuwarden, Groningen, Zwolle, Amsterdam and beyond
Meppel has a history stretching back to the 12th century
Meppel may be small, but it’s culturally rich with its museums, churches, windmills, theatre and cinema
Meppel has lovely parks and the local Resst Valley to cycle, paddleboard or hike through. And you’re only 20 minutes away from Giethoorn where you can spend the day in a punter on its canals
The social scene
Meppel is a lively city, especially in the spring and summer months when there’s a weekly Thursday festival, a Canal festival in June and sports events. There are plenty of things to do the rest of the year too, including a Dickens Christmas celebration in December.
The student community is close-knit and you get to know each other quickly in the local bars, cafes and at local events. And of course there are plenty of theatre shows, concerts, dances, exhibitions, and workshops you can join.
Shopping & doing groceries
Meppel is a hidden gem in terms of shopping with its quaint city centre packed with boutiques and familiar high street stores. Whether you’re looking for something that is run of the mill or specially designed, there’s a good choice of shops and stores. And of course, there are bookshops, bike shops, opticians, pharmacies, second-hand shops, flower shops, homeware stores and jewellers.
When it comes to grocery shopping, let’s be honest, a student budget doesn’t often stretch to a take-away every evening. And standing on your own two feet means being able to sort your own breakfasts, lunches and dinners – and maybe for your friends too. So think up those menus, make your shopping list and get yourself off to the supermarket, specialist store or the weekly market on Thursdays and Saturdays. And have fun!
The sports scene
Balance your mind and body and check out the sports clubs, teams and facilities you can join. From paddleboards and kayaks to ballroom and urban Latin dancing, from climbing park and yoga to bowling and swimming.
Your student card will often mean you get a discount for sports. Check out what you can do with the student sports pass.
Get a basic sports pass and join a few sports classes and get discounts at local clubs for €10 a month
Go for maximum fitness and work out in the gym, play different sports and maybe even join a local team for between €25 and €30 a month
Run or walk the parks and paths in Meppel and get your exercise for free
Book a paddleboard lesson
And there's more...
Housing
Once you’ve sent in your application, you can start looking for accommodation. In the Netherlands, you need to arrange student housing yourself. Our housing partner in Meppel can actually guarantee accommodation for our first-year international students under certain conditions. That said, there really is enough choice for everyone.
In the north of the Netherlands, accommodation is easier to find and far more affordable than in other parts of the country. In fact, studies show you get more space for your money in the north.