MY STUDENT MOBILITY IN HAGUE: Ana Đošev

26. March 2026

Ana Đošev
University of Arts in Belgrade, Faculty of Music

Erasmus+ Mobility for Studies at:

Royal Conservatoire The Hague

Thanks to the Erasmus+ exchange program, I had the opportunity to spend one semester at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, during the fourth year of my Bachelor’s studies. I was drawn to this institution, having heard about its culturally diverse and inspiring creative atmosphere, as well as the unique, liberated approach to life that flourishes in The Netherlands. Both the school and the country have managed to exceed my expectations – I’m thankful to have made many incredible connections, professional and personal alike, which are actively shaping the way I see music as a young scholar.

Besides enjoying the stimulating intellectual discussions in classes, I spent a lot of time diving into my musical interests and discovering new foreign literature at the city’s grandiose central library (Centrale Bibliotheek). The Hague, as well as the nearby city of Delft (Vermeer’s hometown), contain multiple vinyl and CD shops where music lovers look through the carefully curated shelves in search of their favorite records. As a musician, I especially appreciated having daily access to a wide range of musical performances across different genres, and I tried to make the most of this opportunity whenever possible. The Conservatoire is situated in the Amare building, which is also home to the Residentie Orkest and Nederlands Dans Theater. Besides classical music, I also loved the local jazz gigs, and I got to see a few popular indie acts of today, such as Alex G and bar italia.

The Hague is only a short train ride away from many of the touristic destinations in The Netherlands, which allowed me to visit different cities on multiple occasions. I was able to enjoy the splendour of Amsterdam, Utrecht, Delft, Rotterdam, Leiden and Gouda. I also got to know some of the great cities in Flanders, such as Antwerp and Bruges, well known for their sweets delicacies and rich cultural life. The political capital of The Netherlands in itself offers a variety of activities – museums, artisanal shops, parks, and even an admirable promenade by the North Sea in Scheveningen.

One of the most interesting aspects of my time in The Netherlands was being immersed in Dutch culture. I found that the Hollanders have an astonishing work-life balance – they are focused and efficient in their profession, yet they know how to find time to engage in their interests and enjoy everyday life. Most of the time, they were patient with my clumsy pronunication and appreciated my effort to learn the language. The people of The Netherlands have an incredible, yet subtle sense of humor, which you learn to appreciate as you get to know them more. They also taught me how to love broodje kaas, the football club Ajax and even the cheesy dance tunes of the Dutch meezingers. My semester at the Royal Conservatoire has most definitely enriched me as a person, and as a musicologist.