Franziska went on high school in the Netherlands

Franziska from Austria spent a year abroad in the Netherlands.

I chose the Netherlands because I felt drawn to this country from the beginning and wanted to know what it was all about.

My host family

I got along well with my host family straight away and was included in everyday family life and on all excursions. After a short time, I felt at home with them, and it was a really familiar environment. My host family also helped me a lot to learn the language and they were very patient with me. When I finally was able to speak Dutch fluently, they were very proud of me. Even after my year abroad, I still have a lot of contact with my host family.

About school

My teachers were very understanding of the fact that I didn't have the same level as the rest of my classmates at the beginning and tried to give me the best possible support. Since everything was in Dutch, it took me a few weeks to get used to it.

My friends

Even before I flew to the Netherlands, I was in contact with a few classmates, and they accompanied me for the first few weeks. They ended up becoming my best friends. I also met up with the other STS students in the Netherlands and did a lot with them!

I recommend going!

I would recommend everyone to go on a high school year to attend a local school and live with a host family. Not only do you get to know a new culture, but you also learn a lot about yourself and develop yourself further.

Find out more

• Read more student stories from the Netherlands
• See all our high school exchange destinations