Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: Semester in Amsterdam Program June 06, 2024

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Most of my classes required a little to a moderate amount of work outside of class lectures and tutorials. Sometimes it was difficult to know what was expected to me by the professor in regards to grading, expectations, assignment requirements, etc. It took some time to get used to the Dutch grading system -- a 7/10 is considered a good grade, and a 9/10 or 10/10 is extremely hard to get!

On-site administration of your program

The Semester in Amsterdam employees were friendly and tried to be as helpful as possible. They always responded to my emails in a timely manner (sometimes within the same day). All the program events that I attended (introduction day, adventure day, Hague and ICC visit, canal cruise) were fun and well organized. I just wish there were more organized opportunities to get to meet other VU students.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed in Hotel Jansen during my study abroad. It was in a very good location (5 minute bike ride to metro stop and tram stop, 15 minute bike ride to the VU, 10 minute walk to nearest grocery store) in a family-friendly neighborhood. There are many restaurants nearby. My room was nice and in pretty good condition when I arrived. The bed was comfortable and I think it was slightly smaller than a full-sized bed. The room came with some toilet paper, sheets, pillow, comforter, towels, clothes hangers, and trash bags. I had some leaky toilet problems in the beginning, but the staff were helpful and provided me with towels to mop up the water before maintenance could fix it. I had some friends stay in my room when I visited, and the housekeeping staff provided me with extra bedding (for free) when I asked. I had to borrow an air mattress from a friend because the hotel could not provide one. There is a shared kitchen with a lot of dishware and utensils left by previous inhabitants that anyone is free to use. You also get your own locker in the kitchen to store non-perishable items (I stored pasta, rice, oil, and potatoes in it). One thing that was occasionally hard to find was a knife, so consider purchasing or bringing your own. One thing I was no happy about was that the housing contract I had was an agreement between the VU and Hotel Jansen. This meant that I was not able to change my start and end dates to the contract. The VU's housing agreement with the Hotel Jansen lasted until the end of June, which is at the end of the optional 6th period at the VU (the spring semester is split into 4th, 5th, and 6th periods). This was frustrating because I did not end up taking classes in the 6th period because it was optional and the course offerings were very limited for exchange students. Essentially, I was forced to pay an extra month of rent even though I only stayed at the hotel until the end of May (when the 5th period ended).

I cooked my own food most of the time, but sometimes I would have lunch at the university. There are multiple restaurants/cafeterias on campus, and the options are pretty tasty and affordable. I especially liked getting the fresh baguette sandwiches from the cafeteria in the main building. The made to order freshly baked pizza was also nice. There are also many coffee machines and cafes on campus that are convenient and visited by many students.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The customs are pretty similar to the United States, so it was easy to adjust to the culture. One thing to note is that if you do not speak Dutch, you will never truly feel like you are part of the community. Cycling culture is huge in the Netherlands, so getting/renting a bike is a must! There are so many bike paths that riding a bike is often faster than taking public transportation or driving somewhere.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not use the healthcare there, but it was easy to register myself at the hospital online. (You need to register yourself in the system before they can provide healthcare.)

I almost always felt safe (was catcalled once). Travelling alone using public transportation felt super safe even close to midnight. I was never really concerned with pickpockets, but always made sure to keep an eye on my belongings, especially in the city center where it can get very crowded.

I really enjoyed living in Amsterdam/the Netherlands for a semester. While the educational experience was not the most enjoyable at times, I think it was worthwhile to experience what it is like to attend a large university.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I spent about 35-40 euros each week on groceries, about 10 euros per week on public transportation, and about 20 euros per month to rent a bike. Too Good to Go is widely used, so that is another way to get groceries or pre-made meals cheaply.

Select all that apply

• Hotel

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students
• Other

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The Semester in Amsterdam events (canal cruise, ICC/Hague visit, adventure day)
• The location; I loved living in Amsterdam.
• The Semester in Amsterdam staff were very friendly and helpful.

• The housing contract dates should be made more clear.
• I wish we received a food stipend and/or a public transportation card from the school (the VU or Wellesley).
• I wish there were more Semester in Amsterdam events.

The Avid Adventurer