Making Friends and Growing: My Life as a Bulgarian Student in the Netherlands

My Life as a Bulgarian Student in the Netherlands

Okay, let’s be honest, when I told my family I was moving from Sofia to the Netherlands to study Business Psychology at SRH Haarlem, my grandma literally asked if that meant I'd be "reading minds for a living." (Honestly? Kind of.)

It's been one of those decisions that sounds terrifying in theory but turns out to be the best thing you ever did. So let me give you the full unfiltered version, the bike rides, the breakthroughs, and everything in between.

Why Business Psychology? Why Haarlem?

I've always been that person who's fascinated by why people do what they do, why some teams click and others implode, why certain brands make you feel things, why a well-placed word can change an entire conversation. Business Psychology at SRH felt like someone had designed a degree specifically for my brain.

The programme blends organizational behaviour, consumer psychology, HR, and marketing in a way that actually makes sense in the real world. We don't just read theory, we apply it, debate it, and sometimes completely unpack everything we thought we knew. The classes are small (like, everyone-knows-your-name small), which means you genuinely can't hide, but also means you actually grow.

And Haarlem? Honestly one of the most underrated cities in the Netherlands. It has the charm of Amsterdam without the tourist chaos. Cobblestone streets, canal vibes, incredible coffee spots, and you're literally 15 minutes from the beach. The international student community here is tight-knit in the best way. I've made friends from Russia,Germany, Ukraine, Macedonia, Turkey, China. We're basically a walking UN meeting every Friday night.

The Dutch Experience, Unfiltered

Nobody prepared me for cycling. Back in Bulgaria, bikes are cute weekend things. Here, cycling is a personality. My first week I got run over by another bike and it left me with a hefty bruise and my first slap in adulthood. Lesson learned, moving on.

The Dutch directness took some adjusting too. A professor will tell you your presentation needs work in front of everyone and then smile like they just gave you a gift, because honestly? They did. That feedback culture forces you to grow faster than you expected. No sugarcoating, just solutions. I love it now. I was not ready for it at first.

Also: the food situation is a journey. Stroopwafels, incredible. Hagelslag (sprinkles on bread for breakfast), chaotic but oddly delicious. Herring from a street cart, I'll take the stroopwafel, thanks.

My Internship: Where It All Got Real

Okay, this is the part I actually want to blabber about. For my internship, I joined the team working on two projects that are genuinely close to my heart: external communication and the alumni network. And wow, nothing prepares you for the gap between "I studied communication theory" and "I am now responsible for actual communication."

The external communication project was all about how the organisation presents itself to the outside world, crafting messaging that resonates, making sure the tone and voice feel consistent and human, and thinking strategically about who we're talking to and why. Sounds theoretical. Is wildly practical. Every piece of content becomes a mini case study in audience psychology, which is basically everything I've been studying.

I got to contribute to real campaigns, sit in on strategy sessions, and give input that was actually taken seriously. That last part grounded me to be honest. Being an intern and having your perspective genuinely considered? That's the kind of experience that builds confidence in a way no classroom can replicate. 

Now I am off to my next exciting project, alumni engagement, lots to learn and do before my internship is done. 

What Studying Abroad Actually Does to You

Here's the thing no one tells you about moving to another country for your degree: it changes the way you think about yourself. Not in a dramatic, crisis-of-identity way (okay, sometimes a little), but in the way that matters, you figure out who you are when no one from home is watching.

I came to Haarlem as a girl from Sofia who loved psychology and was a little terrified of everything. I'm leaving (eventually, not yet, I'm not ready) as someone who's navigated Dutch bureaucracy, presented in a second language, contributed to real professional projects, and made a life from scratch in a foreign country.

If you're considering studying abroad, especially in the Netherlands, especially Business Psychology at SRH, do it. Do it scared. Do it before you feel ready. The tulips will be there when you arrive, and so will a version of yourself you haven't met yet.