Bike

Bikes are the number-one national means of transportation and the easiest way by far to get from A to B within Eindhoven. Riding a bike is not only cheap, healthy, and quick, but the Dutch infrastructure of bike lanes – there are even special traffic lights for bikers – also makes it especially comfortable and safe. While you’re at it, don’t forget to buy bike lights, a bike pump, a sturdy bike lock, and a seat cover to complete your bike gear.

Raincoat

In the Netherlands, it rains about two hundred days a year on average, which means rain is a standard feature of daily life. Although it doesn’t rain heavily or steadily every day, it’s still handy to buy a good raincoat. One that’s easy to fold and doesn’t take up too much space in your bag is preferred, as the weather can change in the blink of an eye. An umbrella is also an option, of course, but please don’t try and use it while you ride your bike. What can come in handy for bikers are special rain pants, which you put on over your normal pants. Not the most charming item in your wardrobe, but a very practical one indeed.

Warm blankets

Prepare yourself for the cold fall and winter months in the Netherlands. It won’t just be cold outside, but indoors it’s often chilly as well, as the heating is set at twenty degrees max and sometimes turned off completely at night. Protect yourself from the cold with warm PJs, bodywarmers, sweaters, woolen socks, and a supply of warm blankets to snuggle under on the sofa. Bonus tip: keep yourself warm like the Dutch do by drinking a cup of hot Chocomel (cocoa), with or without whipped cream on top.

Gloves

The Dutch climate is pretty cold and damp, especially when the letter R is in the month (September to April). If you plan on being an avid biker, you’ll start appreciating good gloves more and more as the air turns colder. Leather gloves protect your hands well from rain, wind, and low temperatures in fall; woolen mittens are best for keeping your hands warm in the cold winter months.

Waterproof backpack

A waterproof backpack is a real must-have to keep your valuables dry on rainy days. And if you’re riding your bike, a waterproof bike bag will ensure your groceries and other items won’t get wet on the way.

Kaasschaaf

It goes without saying that every grocery store sells cheese in slices, but every Dutch person knows: the best cheese is the non-sliced kind you buy at a street market. If you approve of the cheese after tasting it, the vendor will cut a nice triangular block out of the huge wheel of cheese for you. When you get home, you’ll of course want to cut beautiful, thin slices for your sandwich, and this is where the kaasschaaf (cheese slicer) comes in. Perfect for an authentic Dutch lunch!

Lunchbox

Dutch people like to pack their own lunch, often simply consisting of homemade sandwiches. Getting a healthy, tasty, and filling lunch at a reasonable price can be quite the challenge; a number of students even launched a petition to draw attention to this issue. Cursor investigated why the food prices on campus are so high – and are set to stay that way in the near future. If you don’t want to be dependent on the food offerings on campus, it’s best to buy a practical lunchbox and bring a packed lunch to university.