NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
speciality: Tourism & Hospitality

I’m currently a 4th-year Hospitality Management student, so I will be graduating at the end of this year. And I can say that I had an amazing time as a student at NHL-Stenden in Leeuwarden!
Leeuwarden is a smaller city, but that doesn’t mean that it’s boring. Since it’s smaller, it quickly gave me a feeling of “home”, and I easily met new people from all over the world.
The opportunities to go abroad are very exciting. In my 3rd year, I went on Grand Tour (minors) to Thailand and Indonesia, it was an amazing experience! And right now I started my 10-month internship in Aruba (an island in the Caribbean). All in all, there are plenty of options to choose from.
In my opinion, the Hospitality study course has a good structure. With a blend of theoretical classes and a good focus on practical education. However, at some moments, the theoretical part of this study can feel quite vague and unclear, which can be confusing when making assignments. But in the end, teachers are always there to help and provide you with feedback.
What I enjoy about this study is that you can make it as busy and challenging as you want, with a lot of extracurricular activities and specialisation courses to choose from (competition teams, diverse associations, workshops, extra wine courses to obtain certificates…)
During my study period, I not only gained knowledge about the Hospitality Industry, but I also learned a lot about myself as a person and a professional, which is very valuable to me.
Overall, I am very positive about my choice of studying at NHL-Stenden. I am grateful for all my experiences and the people I met.

As a second-year tourism management student at the NHL Stenden, I can happily say that my overall experience at the NHL Stenden has been very positive so far. I especially appreciate the practical and hands-on approach the study offers and how almost all modules are connected to real projects in cooperation with real clients. They not only help you to understand what the industry expects and how it works but also shows you the purpose of the study, at all times. We are able to study a variety of topics throughout our study preparing us for the general world of business, management and marketing, always connected to our client projects. While the number of courses can be time consuming, I know it will be worth it and teaches us the necessary basics for the projects. I also enjoy how international the campus and study are, connecting with people and cultures preparing you for an international work environment, while finding amazing friends. Most lectures are supportive and genuinely want to see you do well. Its furthermore a very personal environment with small classes and first name bases. However, the study is based on a demanding schedule most of the time and connected to quite a few tests. It can be a big workload when it’s time for deadlines and the test week and it would be nice if they would be even more practical evaluations, then test. Overall, I am very happy with the study, and I am glad I chose this program. I am looking forward to plenty of opportunities to grow personally and professionally and would recommend the study to everybody who is eager to learn about the tourism business or is looking for a study where that prepares them for the world of management and marketing without study only business economics.

I am a second-year Leisure and Events Management student, and for my year here, I have become accustomed to both the education and life in Leeuwarden. I managed to adjust very quickly, thanks to the Study Start Week organized by students, where I met my classmates and got to know the city very well.

The DBE (Design-Based Education) method uses a practical approach that allows us not only to work with different clients, such as SPOT Groningen, Noorderzone, and Neushoorn, but also to find solutions to the problems these companies face.

Furthermore, as a second-year student, you are required to complete a 168-hour internship. I already completed mine, together with a few classmates, as one of the organizers of this year’s field trip to Paris and Disneyland. The trip lasted five days and included around 140 participants. We also attended an inspiring lecture from the creative directors at Disney Imagineering, where they explained the work behind some of the famous Disneyland rides.

This experience has been my biggest learning curve so far, and I am grateful for the opportunity. At this university, there are many opportunities—it is up to each person to be proactive in order to take advantage of them.

It is a great study! The diversity is very broad so you learn all kinds of things. Sometimes I would have hoped it would go more into detail. The practice was for me the most interesting and the modules that were about the practice.

Stenden is an amazing University. Having 5 campuses worldwide, namely in The Netherlands which is the main campus, Thailand, Bali and South Africa which is the campus i enrolled in. With an exchange program offered by the university we as students are exposed to the various cultures which is a stepping stone to gaining Cultural intelligence which is very beneficial for the Hospitality Industry.

We also have an operating 4 star Hotel where we gain real life experience in the industry thus allowing us to be more than ready to face the world once we graduate.

The campus life is very intimate as it’s not a very big university but this allows us to interact with one another. The professors are patient and well informed about the subjects they teach also the classes are well scheduled.

Studying Leisure and Events Management at NHL Stenden is a great opportunity to work with real clients and tackle real-world challenges. The program is highly practical, and most coursework is completed in teams of 5 to 6 students. Working in a multicultural environment allows you to meet people from different backgrounds, build strong relationships, and even make lifelong friends.
However, teamwork can sometimes be frustrating, especially when cultural differences affect how tasks are approached or when some team members do not take their work as seriously as others. That being said, these challenges help shape you as a person and prepare you for professional life, where you don’t always get to choose your colleagues.
One aspect I personally appreciate about the program is that most assessments are written assignments, with only two actual tests per year. Additionally, the university itself is more modern compared to others, which enhances the overall student experience. Despite these positives, there are some drawbacks. In my experience, the coaches can be quite unorganized, often giving conflicting instructions. There have been instances where one coach told us something completely different from another, making it difficult to understand what was actually expected of us.
Another challenge is the testing system in the first two years. Some of the content covered in the exams was not adequately addressed during the semesters, and students are required to take comprehensive tests on the entire first and second year before even completing those years, making them particularly difficult to pass.
Overall, I am satisfied with my experience at NHL Stenden. While there are areas that could be improved, the positive aspects of the university outweigh the negatives.

I’m a third-year tourism management student. I studied in Leeuwarden for 2,5 years and I’m currently spending a semester abroad in Bangkok.
My experience at NHL Stenden has been very positive. I’ve had the chance to study with international students, and I enjoyed working in small project groups. Getting to work with real clients was a valuable part of my studies, as it helped me develop practical skills. The program wasn’t too focused on theory, which I actually liked because it gave us more time to work on practical projects.
NHL Stenden is a great place for personal development. Over the past three years, I’ve learned a lot about myself, especially thanks to the strong focus on personal reflection at NHL Stenden. I also really appreciate the opportunity to study abroad. The application process was smooth and I felt well-prepared for this experience.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time studying in Leeuwarden and I already miss it.

I would highly recommend NHL Stenden University with both hands. It offers a dynamic and engaging environment where boredom is never an option. There are countless extracurricular activities, from student associations to side jobs and volunteer work related to the university, ensuring an active and social student life. The university hosts numerous events, workshops, and activities throughout the year, making it easy to meet new people and expand your network.

I’m studying Hospitality Management, one of the university’s most distinctive programs, and I absolutely love it. The focus is heavily on practical education rather than theory. A standout feature is the practical training, where we work in real hospitality settings, dealing with real guests and challenges. While some might find this unnecessary or intimidating, it provides invaluable learning experiences beyond traditional lectures.

The education at NHL Stenden is outstanding, but I won’t lie — it can be overwhelming at first. The first weeks or even months might feel confusing, so don’t expect it to be easy. However, as time passes, those early uncertainties fade, and everything starts to fall into place. It only gets more exciting as you go along. The professors are passionate, supportive, and always ready to help. At times, the coursework can feel too easy. In such cases, it’s up to you to push yourself further and seek additional challenges—thankfully, there are plenty of opportunities to do so.

As an international student, one challenge I faced was the large number of Dutch students in the Hospitality program. While classes are in English, Dutch students often converse in their native language ( sometimes even during the lectures ), which can sometimes feel isolating. It does become less of an issue since you learn to chose the people who have influence on you but it is definitely something you should take into consideration if being an international student. Over time, you learn to choose your social circles wisely and embrace the diversity around you.

Overall, the university fosters a positive and supportive atmosphere. Students are friendly and engaged, and I’m grateful for the friendships and experiences I’ve gained here. Despite its minor drawbacks, I would not even consider changing my choice even if I had the chance.

I am not from Europe, so in the beginning, everything was very difficult for me to adapt to. The course offered me chances to volunteer and intern at some event companies in The Netherlands, which helped me improve my knowledge and skills. Besides, the field trips to UtrechtParis and Disneyland Paris were insane!! The students are very friendly, the coaches from Leisure and Tourism are approachable but still sometimes could be improved. So, despite some negative feedback, my experience at NHL was very good!!

I am a student within the IHSM degree. I think the program is well structured, with loads os supporting materials and a great teaching team!
Moreover, it is a degree that I would say its most advantageous for students who have a academic background in either Leisure, Hospitatility or Tourism. If you come with a different background it might be challenging

I would totally recommend it!