Welcome service and travel plans

When should you plan to arrive in the Netherlands? Before making your travel plans, find out about the welcome service offered on certain dates by Leiden University. There are also a number of other practical matters to take into consideration.

Warm welcome service

On certain dates before each semester, Leiden University offers a warm welcome service for newly-arriving international students. If you arrive on one of these dates, you can sign up for the welcome service at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, Leiden train station or the Hague Hollandspoor train station. You can also visit an information lounge with any questions you might have about post-arrival practicalities

Dates of the next Warm Welcome Service:

Students who will live in The Hague: 14, 15, 16 August 2019
Students who will live in Leiden: 21, 22, 23 August 2019

Enthusiastic Leiden University staff and students will welcome you upon arrival, provide you with information on post-arrival practicalities and assist you in finding your way to your accommodation.

Dates	If you will live in The Hague: 14, 15, 16 August 2019 If you will live in Leiden: 21, 22, 23 August 2019
Times	07:00 – 22:00
Locations	Amsterdam Schiphol airport: all dates mentioned above The Hague Hollandspoor train station: 14, 15, 16 August 2019 Leiden Central train station: 21, 22, 23 August 2019
How to register	Advance registration required - at least one week before your arrival! Let us know when and where you will arrive via the online registration form. You will then receive further instructions.

At the information lounge you can find a wealth of information about post-arrival practicalities.

Dates	The Hague: 14, 15, 16 August 2019 Leiden: 21, 22, 23 August 2019
Times	09:00 - 17:00
Locations	The Hague: Wijnhaven building - service desk area (2nd floor) Leiden: KOG building - restaurant (1st floor)
Registration?	No registration required. Just drop by!
Services available:	Student Affairs desk: General information service Admissions Office desk: Assistance with last-minute (degree) admission formalities Exchange desk: Assistance for exchange and study abroad students Housing Office desk: Take care of last-minute university housing formalities Orientation week desk: Register for an orientation week Insurance desk: Check you have sufficient insurance or purchase a student insurance policy International Student Advisers desk: Assistance registering with a local GP (doctor), general tips on settling in Rabobank desk: information on opening a Dutch bank account

If you have any questions about the Warm Welcome Service, please send a mail to: arrival@leidenuniv.nl

Other travel plan considerations

Before planning your journey, you should also take the following into consider:

The dates of your introduction week
Your housing contract dates and key collection arrangements
Any orientation activities organised by your study programme
The dates of any necessary appointments, for example:
- Town hall registration appointment
- Dutch bank account appointment
- Biometric data appointment (students who requested a residence permit only)
Always await the approval of your student visa (if applicable) before booking a non-changeable/non-refundable ticket!

Travel information

If you are unable to arrive during the warm welcome service, you can use the following websites and services to help you find your way from the airport and around Leiden and The Hague:

Travel pass

To use public transport in the Netherlands you will need a travel pass, known as an OV-chipkaart. For information on the types of card available and how to purchase them, visit the OV-chipkaart site. Note that you can buy a single-use OV-chipkaart from ticket machines at Dutch train stations.