Bulgarian students in the Netherlands have support of Bulgarian Society there

The Netherlands has established as the most preferred destination for higher education among Bulgarians in recent years. Statistics show that Bulgaria ranks seventh in terms of the number of foreign students there, with over 5,000 compatriots crossing the threshold of Dutch universities every year. To understand how young people are adapting and what the role of their communities is, we talk to Vladislav Marinov and Monika Delieva from the youth organization "Bulgarian Society Netherlands".

Organization and support in nine cities

Bulgarian Society Netherlands is an association of young Bulgarians with a developed structure in nine Dutch cities, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Groningen and Maastricht. The organization includes regional boards and a national council, which coordinates their activities and develops partnerships. Their main mission is to be a "first start" for newcomers, helping them with practical information about accommodation, administrative procedures and socialization.

In addition to household assistance, the Society strongly focuses on preserving the Bulgarian spirit through shared celebration of traditional holidays such as Christmas and Easter, so that students do not feel lonely away from home. One of their signature events is the cultural gala on the occasion of May 24, which this year for the second time brought together Bulgarians of all ages for a colourful celebration:

"We called it ‘Cultural Palette and the Power of the Youth’ gala festival. We did it together with the Het Success cultural foundation [...] and invited Bulgarian singers who have participated in many famous Bulgarian formats, as well as student music groups. I think it turned out to be a unique event for the Netherlands, because we tried to bring together both older and younger students so that an interesting exchange of experience and knowledge could take place. An event from Bulgarians for Bulgarians, but also aimed at a foreign audience, to show what Bulgaria is for us and to introduce the world to our country," Monika, who was involved in the organization, tells us. Originally from Varna, she herself had a hard time adapting in the first months of her studies in the Netherlands and now this period serves as a motivation for her to engage in community activities. She told us more about her choice to study abroad:

"I went to a university fair because I didn't see the program I wanted in Bulgarian universities. I applied to the University of Groningen, they accepted me, and I left for the Netherlands. At first it was extremely difficult for me to integrate. I found many barriers between me, my idea of ​​life there, and the people the university brought me into contact with. I started to engage with the Society precisely because I don't want anyone else to feel as out of place as I did in my first months. I think that such a union can help many students become more confident in themselves," Monika Delieva told us.

Pros and cons of studying abroad

Studying abroad offers serious personal growth and better preparation for real career, according to Monika and Vladislav. They do not hide that the path has its difficulties. As the main disadvantage, they point out the initial culture shock and the difficulties in finding housing, but point out that everyday problems can be overcome, but the "spiritual integration" to the new place is more important. An interesting trend is that many students are ready to return to Bulgaria if they find a good opportunity for realization, which is also helped by the internship programs offered by various companies through the website of the Bulgarian Society Netherlands.

"The need for information and sharing of experiences is great because every year new students come with almost the same questions about life abroad, finding accommodation and friends. We more or less reassure them, especially the mothers, because there are many mothers who come to us with these questions. We tell them that there is nothing scary about studying abroad," says Vladislav, adding that the difficulties for Bulgarian students abroad are often caused by the preliminary expectations of young people:

"Nothing is impossible... Everything is just boundaries that we set for ourselves. In my opinion, the biggest challenge is that people generally have a very narrow, comfortable environment and going abroad disrupts it... Just act!"

Monika Delieva also has advice to the Bulgarians who will go to the Netherlands this year:

"The students who are yet to go there should be the ones who are active and looking for answers to the questions. This is my advice – you should be the people who drive your study in another country instead of your mothers!", Monika says and sums up: "It's not scary to study abroad, it's scary not to have the motivation to do it."