Tip number 13: How to explore Tilburg Nature

Tilburg might be a small city but it definetely is the city of parks. Now that spring is here, what better way to spend your weekend than a stroll in the park? No matter where in the city you live, there's always a park nearby! So, here are our favorites:

Oude Warande

Did you know that the park right next to Tilburg University is actually one of the oldest baroque forests in Netherlands and was inspired by Versaille? The German prince Wilhelm Von Hessen-Kassel had it designed in 1712. The forest covers 60 hectares and walking through it, you will discover not only the nature but also amazing pieces of modern art like   Pavilion Grotto, designed by Australian artist Callum Morton.  It is a so called star-park, because all the lanes come together in one central spot, so it is easy to find your way around.


Leijpark
This park is known for Festival Mundial, an ethnic music festival taking place in Tilburg every summer. And if you were in TIK week last August you probably remember it already! But this does not mean that Leijpark is not interesting any other day of the year. For example from June to September free yoga lessons are given here every Sunday at 10.00. At first this park was designed by Leonard Springer as an unemployment relief project. It's landscape reminds of English countryside and was created between 1934 - 1939.

Wilhelmina Park
One of the oldest parks in Tilburg, designed also by Leonard Springer back in 1895, is situated in the most arty  neighborhood of Tilburg close to De Pont Museum of Modern Art, Textile Museum and various art galleries. It might be a smaller park, but there is a duck pont and on the sunny days it is full of students who study in the open air.


Are there any other parks you know that are perfect for enjoying spring? Let us know!

Tip number 12: How to get the best ice cream for less

Are you up for a little treat? When the sun is shining and it is nearly 20 degrees, what better way is there to take a little break from studying than going for a delicious ice cream in Tilburg? None! That´s why in this post we will show you where you can get the best ice cream on a budget. And because we love our readers so much we made the sacrifice to go to on the different spots and test them for you. ;-) So here is the winner of our ice cream compilation. And the first place with the best and cheapest ice cream goes toooooooo:

Intermezzo

In this famous ice cream store "on the corner" you can enjoy selfmade ice cream made from fresh fruit and other delicious ingredients such as Belgian cacao. There is usually a crowd of people queuing in front of it, but since you can choose out of 47 different flavours from classics such as strawberry and chocolate to zuppa inglese you might need the wait to decide on what you are going to eat. Our personal recommendation: try the combination of cinnamon and Oma´s apple cake. It´s delicious! Take a "hoorntje" for a walk in the city or chill at Intermezzo and watch the busy bypassers while you dig into your little treat. Whatever you choose to do, this is definitely the best ice cream in Tilburg! And the best thing is: if you take a cone every scoop is only € 1,- and if you take a cup with two scoops it is € 2,50.

IJssalon Intermezzo weergeven op een grotere kaart

To make sure you really get what you want, read this little Dutch 101 on ordering ice cream:

• hoorntje = cone
• beker/bakje = cup
• een bol / twee bollen /drie bollen = one scoop / two scoops / three scoops
• kaneel = cinnamon
• Oma´s appeltaart = grandmother´s apple cake
• At the store: Een hoorntje/beker met een/twee/drie bollen, alstublieft.

Tip number 11: How to discover Tilburg's history on a budget

Did you know that Tilburg is the capital of textile in Netherlands? The city has a long history in the textile industry and that is why one of the most famous textile museums in Europe is in Tilburg!

Now, we've talked about the museum before, as it is home to one of the most stylish cafes in the city but it sure has a lot more to offer.

And of course since this is 'Tilburg on a budget', the entrance fee is exactly that! For all students of Tilburg University and Fontys, the entry ticket is only 2.25 €! All you have to do is show them your student card!

Right now there are four (!) ongoing exhibitions in the Textile Museum. You can admire everything from the work of famous designer Christien Meindertsma, till the transformation process of wool, an ultra modern textile lab and the history of the industry throughout the years.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday (10:00-17:00) and Saturday and Sunday (12:00). There are so many things to see, so our suggestion is to go as early as possible!

The Textile museum sure is a landmark for the city of Tilburg as it hosts a large part of the city's heritage. It's definetely a must see!

For more information check out the english version of the website. To get directions, take a look at the following map. By the way, the area around the museum is one of the most arty neighbourhoods in Tilburg! Make sure you take a stroll. You'll find hidden gems! But more on that on our next posts.


Grotere kaart weergeven

Tip number 10: How to have lunch on a budget

If you find yourself craving for some good food on your next visit to the centre, but happen to be on a budget (which we always are, aren´t we ;-)) take a look at our blog to find out about cheap but tasty lunch places.


Soups and Shakes
At this student hotspot you can create your own lunch by chosing the ingredients to a mouthwatering sandwich, tosti, salad or soup. Since you might need an energy boost after a long day of classes, you should definitely try one of the delicious, freshly squeezed shakes. Healthy food never tasted better!
(€ 3-8)

Broodje Jantje
In case you already had your vitamin portion of the day and you are up for a little food sin, try the oldest french fries-place in Tilburg:  Here you can enjoy fresh fries topped with a rich sauce of your choice. Make sure you do not miss the special Broodje Jantje, a local delicacy. And if you want to not enjoy your food, but also give something back to the community, order a Broodje Jantje Beton. For every sandwich sold 25 cents are donated to Speelwijk Stockhasselt, an initiative for giving children a place to play and be creative. For the real Dutch culture experience get your snack "out of the wall".
(€ 2-5)

Kras2
This is the ultimate sandwich place in Tilburg. You can see your sandwich being made in front of you out of Italian fresh ingredients. As a dessert chose out of the collection of tasty pies and combine it with a cup of famous Italian coffee. If you are up for cooking your own lunch at home, you can find unique Italian ingredients in the shop in the shop Italian delicatessen.
(€ 2-7)




View Lunch places in a larger map

Tip number 9: How to drink coffee for less

As a student, your daily coffee intake is really high. So, it's always good to know where to get the cheapest and still tasty coffee. Luckily, you don't have to go to Brazil for this since we are here to help you check out the best places in Tilburg! Here's a list of a nice budget options from french countryside- like cafes to yummie muffins that will remind you of 'Central Perk'.

                                                    
De Burgerij

If you are looking for a short escape to the french countryside without even leaving Tilburg, this is the place to be. You can either enjoy your coffee or compose your own sandwich filled with mouthwatering french ingredients. 

Prices: 3-5 €

Museum Cafe Bij Mommers

If you like industrial-style, modern places then you will love Bij Mommers. The cafe is a bit outside of the center, but you can perfectly combine your coffee with a stroll through Wilhelmina park or a visit to the Textile Museum (by the way also a budget tip! The entry is only € 2.25 for Fontys and UvT students.). If you don't feel like going to the museum, no worries! You can enjoy your coffee at Bij Mommers withouth having to pay for an entry ticket.
Prices: 2-8 €

Prins Heerlijk
In this cafe you can either grab a bit for lunch or just enjoy a "heerlijke" cup of coffee, while contributing to a good cause. Here young people with learning problems or mentally challenged youngsters can work under supervision of professional staff. The ingredients are always fresh and mostly organic and the coffee is a fairtrade product.
Prices: 3-8 €

Mugs and Muffins
Coffee and tea lovers are welcome in this cosy place. If you are bored with just another normal coffee, choose one of the many specialties on the menu. Our personal favorite is the Cinnamon Latte. If you are up for a cup of tea with a twist, we recommend the delicious Chai Latte. Along with your mug you should also take a muffin, but be aware: this will not be an easy choice! To make deciding even harder, there are season specials that change every 3 months. You still have time to taste the Midwinter Coffee. It is a great place for chatting or borrowing one of the boarding games. If you just want some quality time with yourself and you forgot your book at home: no problem! There are plenty of books to read here.
Prices: 3-6 €


Check out our map for the address and opening times:


View Cafes in Tilburg in a larger map

Tip number 8: How to buy more for less

Tilburg has many second-hand shops were you can find a lot of great bargains from furniture to clothing and of course bikes. If you want to get the most out of your money have a look at our list of top second-hand stores in Tilburg.

Number 1: La Poubelle

This is the largest second-hand store in Tilburg were you can find practically everything since every square centimeter is covered with bargains. If you are looking for a second-hand bike get more information from our Tip number 1. The opening times are Monday 13.00-17.00, Tuesday until 10.00-17.00 and Saturday 10.00-15.00.

Make sure to pay a visit on the open door day on Sunday March 4th between 13.00-17.00! You can bid on your most desired item during the two auctions taking place or take a look behind the screens on one of the tours around the shop and workplaces.

For more information (only in Dutch) look at www.poubelle.nl. Unfortunately it is a bit outside the city centre, but definitely worth a visit. To find the store take a look at the map below.




View Larger Map

Number 2: Sam Sam

If you are a fan of vintage clothing and accessories dig into the enormous selection of second-hand clothes at Sam Sam. You can find anything from a classy ball gown from the US to a funky 80´s t-shirt out of the collection of 350 designs. This store is also an insider tip for fans of electro music, since it has Antenne a shop in the shop where you can buy rare lps and meet with fellow electro lovers. To find out what Antenne has on offer take a look at www.antenne-tilburg.nl/antenne. The opening hours are Monday 13.00-18.00, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.00-18.00, Thursday 11.00-21.00 and Saturday 11.00-17.00.

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Number 3: Viva Vintage

The oldest second-hand shop in Tilburg offers not only clothes but also bags, shoes, accessories and jewelry from every decade. Their collection is frequently updated. Check the newest arrivals HERE. And if you feel like shopping from home, they also have a webshop. Visit Thursday and Friday from 11.00 to 18.00 and Saturday from 11.00 to 17.00. If you plan to go shopping on one of these days: March 9th, April 13th, May 11th or June 8th, think again.  The shop is closed on these days, because the owners need to update their collection. For more information check their website www.vivavintage.nl/ or facebook page.



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Tip number 7: How to go to a concert for free

Live concerts don't always have to cost a fortune. In fact, if you know where to look, they can be for free! And a great place to look in Tilburg is the music cafe Cul de Sac. There you can enjoy the music of alternative newcomers or established undergrounders who have already performed in various festivals such as Lowlands, Melt, Sziget, Great Wide Open and Eurosonic/Noorderslag.

So , mark your calendars because this Wednesday there's a free concert coming up! Chubby Louis are coming to Tilburg for one gig. The nine-person band covers classics like 'Tainted Love' and 'Fever' as well as many current hits with their own personal style. Take a look at this a video for a sneak preview:

 The concert starts at 21:30 and it's for free! So come and enjoy this great band while sipping your drink for a reasonable price. The gig is on Wednesday the 29th and you can find Cul de Sac here:


View Larger Map

For more information and to keep track of upcoming events check out the Cul de Sac website: http://www.culdesac.nl/. Unfortunately, all the information is in Dutch but don't worry! You can find the programme right on the homepage and we're here to remind you of all the cool gigs coming up.

Tip number 6: How to get the most out of Carnival

A well-ment warning to all international students: This weekend the city of Tilburg is about to get crazy (just a little bit more than usual). Carnival is in town! Consider yourself lucky because Carnival is a "Dirty South" tradition in the Netherlands. So, Tilburg is the place to be and we are here to guide you safely through all this craziness.

Carnival officially starts on Saturday, but Tilburgians like to get in the mood early. So start off your crazy weekend with the inofficial opening of the festivities at 20.00 in Stadhuisstraat. The night is devoted to a pubcrawl, but if you are not up for crawling, go to one of the concerts taking place on the three biggest squares in the city centre.

After recovering from the party on Friday, the Student Carnival hosted by IESN is the perfect opportunity to get back on track. Saturday and Sunday you can enjoy drinks at a very low price at Carpe Diem (Heuvelring 102). All students in Tilburg are welcome; make sure you bring your student card.

The peak of the celebrations comes on Sunday afternoon at 13.00 with the big parade, so save some energy. On Sunday the streets of Tilburg will be filled with people in crazy costumes dancing and partying. To know what to expect check out this video:

So that you don't get lost, have a look at the map showing the route of the Sunday parade:


Grotere kaart weergeven

And for being able to communicate with the crazy Dutch people during the Carnival here is some Carnival-vocabulary:

• Tilburg = Kruikenstad
• Parade = d'n opstoet
• Pub crawl = Kroegendwèèltocht
• Beer = Biertje
• Sweet herb liquor = Schrobbelèr (typical Tilburg drink)

Tip number 5: How to get culture for free

For those of you who love modern art and think that Tilburg has nothing to offer, you are wrong! Tilburg is the home of De Pont Museum of contemporary art. And you can enjoy it for free! Every third Thursday of the month, the museum opens its doors to all of you who are art lovers AND on a budget. You enjoy free admission if you visit the museum from 17:00 to 20:00.

Currently, the museum is exhibiting two collections: The work of the British artist Mark Wallinger and Dutch artist Paul Panhuysen. And when you feel like taking a break, the museum has a little stylish cafe, where you can a grab a bite or a drink at a low price.

The De Pont is located near Wilhelmina Park and first opened its doors in 1992. The building of the museum makes quite an impression thanks to its size and architecture which is due to its previous function as a wool spinning mill. The works of the artists are shown in huge halls, but also in tiny rooms, narrow corridors and secret hiding places.

So, take the chance this Thursday to visit this extraordinary museum and maybe you'll find us there. Because hey, this is free admission Thursday!

For more information, have a look at the museum's website (yes!It's in English!): http://www.depont.nl/


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Tip number 4: How to go to the movies with less than 5 euros

Movie night can be far from affordable if you are a student on a tight budget. But can you keep a secret? There is a special Monday movie night for those who already know...Don't worry it's not some kind of conspiracy or a secret society, it's just another inside tip we want to share with you!

Every Monday at the Cinecitta in the centre, you can watch a movie for only 4 euros! You know, Cinecitta is one of those old-cut movie theatres, where you can still sip a glass of wine while enjoying a movie. The only word to describe this ancient, cosy, beautiful decorated cinema is "gezellig". This term is typically Dutch and hard to explain. It is like the feeling you get when you cuddle up in a cozy chair, with a cup of hot chocolate or when you are among good friends. And that's exactly what you get, when watching a movie at Cinecitta.

This Monday (February 13th), you can watch these movies:
 

If you want to catch the early show, we recommend to go a bit early as it gets crowded and reservations are not possible. The doors open at 18:15. To find your way, take a look at this map:


View Larger Map
For more information take a look at their website : http://www.cinecitta.nl/. Unfortunately it is only in Dutch, but luckily the program is right on the homepage!

Tip number 3: How to save money by saving the environment

|This is the promotion poster
as seen at Tilburg University

Sometimes it is not only about saving money, but also about doing something good for the environment: and isn't it great if you can do both things at the same time? Today is the day to start being environmentally friendly and being on a budget! Be part of the "Warme Truiendag" - you might wonder what this means... It is the Warm Pullover Day. Of course with these temperatures every day is a Warm Pullover Day, but today we put on our cosiest sweaters to save energy.

Today, all over the country everyone sets their thermostat a degree lower to remind us of the day the Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005. In this protocol various countries promised to reduce greenhouse gases.

The good thing is by using less energy for heating not only you reduce greenhouse gases, but also you save a lot of money. According to the Vereniging Klimaatverbond Nederland (Dutch Climate Association) you save 7% energy by setting your thermostat only one degree lower.

So, put on your warmest sweater for a good cause and join the example of Tilburg University and other institutions and companies!

Tip number 2: How to print for free

Did you know that you can print for free? Yes, you can! If you are fed up with paying for printing or you just ran out of credit on your chip-card, just sign up for gratisprint.nl. This website enables you to print 30 pages for free every week. The free pages have advertisements on them, so don't use to print your thesis or research papers! However, if you are willing to pay, then every ad-free page costs only 4 cents.


Unfortunately the website is only available in Dutch, but as your best-deal angels we are here to guide you through the signing up process. And once you get the grip it is so easy to use that you won't need our help any more. On the bright side: you don't only get to print for free, but you also learn some typically Dutch expressions like: e-mail address and inloggen.

 The following video is a tutorial we set up for you, to help you navigate through this page. It is our first try to make one, so please be gentle! We hope, it will be useful to you, and it will save you a lot of money on printing! If you have any problems viewing the video just let us know and will try to fix them.  Oh, by the way, we are sorry for the water mark, but we are also students on a tight budget! Enjoy free printing!

Tip number 1 : How to get a cheap ride!

First thing to do once you settle down in the Netherlands is buy a bike. Because as you may have noticed, walking is not a priority: why walk if you can cruise somewhere with your fancy bike? And don't mistake fancy for expensive, because in the Netherlands a cool ride looks and sounds like it is just going to break down any second. The only and most important thing is that your bike takes you places no matter HOW.

So, if you want to get started on the bikemania instead of always paying for an expensive bus ticket go to:

• Save a bike project (www.sifetilburg.nl/projects/save-a-bike-project/): this project collects abandoned bikes in Tilburg, repairs them and resells them for € 60,-. The shop is located in Verbernelaan 80A - just across the street from Tilburg University. This is your unique chance to get a stand-out blue bike! Drop in!

• La Poubelle (www.lapoubelle.nl): This second-hand-store is located in the south of the city, so for students living in the west of Tilburg it might be pretty far. But trust us, it is worth the trouble! You can´t only buy really cheap second-hand bikes (around € 35,-), but also locks and everything else you might need to join the bikemania. If you know how to do it you can also repair your bike and La Poubelle will give you the tools you´ll need. The shop at Lourdesplein 4 is open from 1pm until 5pm from Monday till Friday.

And once you've bought your two-wheeled new best friend don't forget to pimp it with flowers and baskets and to avoid bad suprises buy a good lock. Find more info on how to do this (always on a budget!), in our next post coming up soon.

Welcome!

Welcome everyone! We are two international students, living in Tilburg and we are here to share our knowledge on how to spend less and see more of the beautiful city of Tilburg. As you can imagine, as students we are short on money just like you. And we know, it can be hard to find your way around when you are in a new place. But even if you've already lived here for a while, you'd be surprised with what Tilburg has to offer. So, we've been there, done that and because we would have wanted someone to crunch the numbers for us, we decided to start this blog and give you tips on how to spend less and see more in Tilburg!