In Amsterdam: International students in Amsterdam? Is that a problem?

Young people from a variety of backgrounds can be found all over our capital city. These could be international students or young entrepreneurs looking to start a business in the city. We will now concentrate on the international students who can be seen everywhere. You almost run into those students at the universities here, and they all speak English most of the time. That's great for the city's diversity, but for some inhabitants, the growth in the number of those students can be a barrier. A survey conducted in the Vondelpark revealed this.

It's a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon in the Vondelpark. Despite the weather, it is busy. Children are walking with their parents, and there is a couple standing under an umbrella. It's unclear if they are foreign students or natives of Amsterdam who have lived here their entire lives.

Vera, a 45-year-old local resident, is pleased with their presence: 'I think it's great that all those young people have the opportunity to study in another country,' she says. 'My daughter is studying International Business, so she is surrounded by international students, and she enjoys it.' "I also believe that many students from abroad come here because Amsterdam is a tolerant city". This implies that neither the LGBT community nor the purchase of drugs or vapes is subject to stringent regulations. This attracts not only tourists, but also students to our city.

"It's a nice experience for the students themselves to study in a metropolis like Amsterdam," says Niels, 15, who lives in the city centre. "But those students do have part-time jobs in the city, and they don't speak Dutch at work," he adds. It's understandable because those students need money, but they do everything in English because they don't speak Dutch. I don't like having to speak English all the time in the store."

The 26-year-old Sam Kang is in Amsterdam for a business trip and works as a software developer in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. "I’m not a student myself because I’ve already had my time as a student. I’ve always admired my fellow students who were brave enough to spend a semester in another country. When I was at university, I saw several classmates go to Europe, including the Netherlands, for a semester. Discovering other cultures is one of the most beautiful things we can do. I always find it wonderful when we explore other cultures, and I’m doing just that now during my business trip in Amsterdam."

According to many international students, Amsterdam is therefore welcoming. This is a tolerant city with few hard and fast rules. Some international students have realised a lifelong ambition. Reducing international students can be challenging. For many students all over the world, studying here is still an utopian dream. Aside from that, I've heard nothing about nuisance.