CIEE College Study Abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Name: CIEE College Study Abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Brand: CIEE
SKU: 268382
Rating: 4.73 (26 reviews)

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4.73 Rating

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Location

Netherlands
- Amsterdam

Term

Fall, J-Term, Spring, Summer

Subject Areas

Accounting Anthropology Communications Economics European Studies Finance Health Sciences International Business International Relations Liberal Arts Marketing Public Health +2

Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships

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Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Degree Level

Bachelors

Housing

Dormitory Host Family

Language

English

Pricing

Price Details

You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE! Our high-quality programs include tuition, housing, on-site airport pick-up, field trips and cultural activities, 24/7 on-site professional staff, and automatic iNext insurance. There are no hidden charges or surprises when you arrive, and scholarships opportunities are available!

What's Included

Accommodation Some Activities Classes Some Meals Travel Insurance

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2024

Last Reviewed: Jan 19, 2024

Wish List

7 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

If you find yourself wondering why it’s so easy to feel at home in Amsterdam, chalk it up to “gezellig.” Roughly translated, that’s Dutch for cozy or home-like – a sensibility commonly associated with this city. Compact and easy to navigate by bike or on foot, Amsterdam houses more than 6,000 buildings from the 16th century forward that are protected for historic importance. It’s loaded with charm and treasures, from the gabled houses that stand shoulder to shoulder along the canals, to glorious masterpieces by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Matisse, and more.

The center is located conveniently across the street from the University of Amsterdam and is embedded in a thriving, student-friendly neighborhood with cafes and restaurants and picturesque canals.

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CIEE College Study Abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands

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Program Highlights

CIEE Amsterdam is located conveniently across the street from the University of Amsterdam and is embedded in a thriving, student-friendly neighborhood with cafes and restaurants and picturesque canals.
Trips to Rotterdam, Maastricht, or an island off the Dutch coast.
Bike tours through Amsterdam’s countryside.
Tours of medieval castles.
Depending on their program of study and availability, students may be able to participate in an internship or volunteer.

Popular Programs

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Though the Dutch capital is home to the stock exchange, central bank, and numerous Dutch and international companies, it’s got an artsy, vibrant side too — think museums housing original works by Van Gogh and Rembrandt, art galleries, music clubs, and theaters.

CIEE Amsterdam Semester Programs

Whether you want to study Business, Humanities or examine social and environmental challenges with a critical lens, the Netherlands is the place to be.

CIEE Amsterdam January Program

Earn credits this January in one of the most progressive cities in the world. Join the locals and bicycle around this accessible, environmentally-conscious and multicultural European capital city.

CIEE Open Campus Block

With CIEE's Open Campus Block Programs, you can design your very own study abroad program to include up to three different locations for 6, 12 or 18 weeks.

Program Reviews

4.73 Rating

based on 26 reviews

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Rating Spread Study

5 rating 73.08%
4 rating 26.92%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 4.1
Support 4.45
Fun 4.8
Housing 4.45
Safety 4.95

Good for Students, Solo Travelers, Photographers

Showing 17 - 24 of 26 reviews

Want to to go to a place where everything looks like a movie? Amsterdam is the place , if that's not already intriguing then listen to why Amsterdam may want to be the next place on your list . Amsterdam is known for it's beautiful tulips along with their canals found all over the city , along with flowers and architecture you will be amazed in learning the transportation services in The Netherlands . The Dutch are HUGE on biking so a lot of the time you will deal with bikers instead of cars , as there are many different things you may not be used to in your home country there's no need to fear on being different because this country is known for their acceptance of all people . Whether you like to go out for a night in the city , or sit at a canal and relax peacefully what ever you are into I can almost guarantee you will feel at home in Amsterdam , if you are considering studying abroad , don't consider it any more , just do it.

What was your funniest moment?

My funniest moment abroad would have to be the countless times locals spoke to me in Dutch thinking I was Dutch , it was always a laugh after explaining how I don't speak Dutch. Many people were shocked and a little embarrassed so we used humor to lighten up the mood , it isn't offensive at all to me because if anything it makes me feel more at home and I have more of a connection to fitting in.

A photo of myself sitting on a bridge next to a canal near the Hortus Garden

Not going to lie, the thought of leaving family behind and traveling to a completely foreign country for four weeks was daunting at first. However, with the help of CIEE’s pre-departure programs and the constant flow of communication and information between the students and staff really helped alleviate the fear. Instead, with the talk of exploring the city's nightlife, trying all staples of the Dutch cuisine, the nervousness transformed into excitement and a thirst for adventure!

The lasting friendships, the scrumptious stroopwafels, the eye-opening lectures, the bustling nightlife have helped make my first study abroad experience an amazing one; one that has greatly exceeded beyond my expectations and what I hoped to have achieve in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Definitely rent a bike! As a non-biker back in the United States, I was nervous about biking around the busy Amsterdam streets. However, after stepping past that initial fear, you will fall in love with using bikes as your main means of transportation! The city is very bike-able and is much easier to navigate via biking!

Baked Goods at a Bake Shop Next to the Cannabis College

World’s Best Vanilla Ice Cream in Utrecht

Amsterdam is an incredible choice for abroad: while there are a lot of cultural values and practices similar to American culture, it allows for critical reflection and comparison on both places. The classes are really well done and suited to the needs of American students while providing the invaluable experience of taking classes alongside Dutch students at the University of Amsterdam. The program is incredibly well run, and the staff is always there to help. Amsterdam is a gateway to many countries in Europe, although there is so much to see in the Netherlands itself. They also have incredible programming outside of the classes itself, like day trips, DEI discussions, and cultural activities, alongside the ISN program at the University of Amsterdam that fills in the gaps. It is 100% a city-based program, which many people forget, so there is a commute and there isn't a true campus like many schools in the U.S., which is a change, but further allowed me the freedom and exploratory opportunities that I wanted.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Travel as much as you can within the Netherlands. Amsterdam is becoming a more global city by the day, and to get a real taste of Dutch culture, it is important to explore. The train system is super easy to use, and from Amsterdam, the furthest it takes you to any major city is about 3 hours. I made it a point to visit every province in the Netherlands (there are 12) and each taught me a different lesson and shared different insights into what it means to be Dutch.

Amsterdam is such an amazing city and I am so glad I came on this CIEE program this semester. CIEE staff was very helpful and supportive throughout my time in Amsterdam. They also planned fun and interesting excisions for us throughout the semester. For my semester in Amsterdam, I chose to live with a host family. Living with a host family allowed me to learn so much about Dutch culture and feel more comfortable during my time here. I was able to travel around Europe and throughout the Netherlands. These past four months have helped me learn so much about myself and the world around me. I have experienced so many amazing thing and seen so many beautiful places. I have made friends and memories to last a lifetime. While I am sad that the semester is coming to a close, I know that this will not be my last time in this city that I now feel so connected to.

This program is absolutely amazing! I had the privilege of staying with a host family, which made my experience a lot better. My favorite memory would be sitting at the dinner table and eating with my host family and their friends. It allowed me to learn a lot about the culture in the Netherlands and to share my culture with them as well. Future participants should know that Amsterdam has a lot to do and they should take advantage of it. Go out and explore, there is so much to see! However, be careful not to overwhelm yourself, remember that studies are important too. I arrived back from the program not too long ago but I know that my life post-program will be affected in a positive way. I feel more open to change and experiences and that helps me grow as a person. I would advise keeping a journal. I did not do it but I wish I had. I would also advise keeping a budget for expenses. Separate your budget by categories: daily expenses, travel, shopping, etc. It will help you be aware of what you have and what you can spend. Most of all enjoy the experience to the fullest! It is a once in a lifetime experience

What would you improve about this program?

The structure of the CIEE courses could be improved. At times it felt like the program was not really aware of the way the individual classes were run. For the most part, I made it work out but at times it was difficult to get in touch with a professor or to have all the work for a class online and easily available.

I had an incredible time in Amsterdam Spring 2018! The CIEE staff was helpful when they needed to be, and I made incredible friends. I was in a location where I got to travel all over Europe, which made up some of my favorite experiences. The academics were really interesting and my teachers were innovative and understanding. Amsterdam is such an unbelievable city and I would HIGHLY recommend this program to anyone looking for a great time!

CIEE is pretty organized. They had very detailed pre arrival orientation. They picked us up from the airport when we arrived and took us to the hostel where we were staying. The first week was orientation with a lot of opportunities to get to know each other, I appreciated that. I felt supported throughout the semester. The CIEE Amsterdam staff are amazing. They had several events planned out for us. University of Amsterdam is great, I enjoyed the classes I took. It also has a beautiful campus.

What would you improve about this program?

I wish we were housed in the student hotel in the city centre instead of the one in Amsterdam West, it was much more central. I also wish we were given travel passes for the Netherlands instead of just Amsterdam, this would make it a lot easier to travel the Netherlands, and explore more places. They should also give museum cards like IES. Otherwise, I loved the program. I liked that I lived with other CIEE students in the student hotel, I got to know them pretty well.

CIEE has done a great job catering to students of all types with their Amsterdam program.
On the academic side, there are a wide variety of classes in many disciplines to choose from, including unique offerings from CIEE, such as Beginning Dutch. CIEE does a solid job of communicating with you throughout the application and enrollment processes, so you always know what you need to do next.
As far as encouraging engagement with Dutch culture goes, CIEE is also great. Students can experience the city on their own, but for those who aren't as motivated, CIEE has many planned activities, ranging from museum visits and book clubs to overnights in other locales such as the city of Utrecht or the island of Schiermonnikoog. As an added bonus, CIEE's partnership with the International Student Network gives students access to even more fun events at low prices, including trips to other European countries.
If I could go through the process of choosing a study away organization and program again, I would be hard pressed to find something better than CIEE's Amsterdam program. It offers something for everyone, and that means a good experience can be had by all.

What would you improve about this program?

There are a large number of mandatory meetings about health, safety, culture, etc. to attend, some of which repeat information.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

My study abroad office at the University of Scranton had a connection with the CIEE Amsterdam program, so when I found out I could knock out most of my elective credits there, I jumped aboard.

I knew I wanted to go to Amsterdam after I discovered an extensive blog written by a previous study abroad student who stayed in Amsterdam for a full year. The stories of stroopwafels, canals, and extensive biking culture all just pulled me in until I knew I needed to experience it for myself.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

CIEE Amsterdam helped with so many things both within the registering process as well as throughout the semester. They provided assistance in applying for classes both with CIEE and at the UvA. They also took care of finding housing for us, hosted extensive orientations for the first few days, and was also a constant resource for questions or concerns throughout the semester. They also assisted in setting up meetings for us to register at the IND and at the UvA.

I had to get my classes approved before the end of my previous semester at my home university. I also had to organize travel to and from Amsterdam, food, and transportation within Amsterdam, and most of your day to day activities are on your own.

This program will be there to help and takes care of a lot of the bureaucratic aspect of studying abroad in another country (minus registering at the IND and setting up a bank account).

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I wish I had known that you can only take one humanities class at the UvA. Due to the limited number of CIEE student openings in these classes, you'll likely only be able to get into one humanities class. The rest will be social science classes. So if you planned on doing this program for the humanities electives, be aware.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

During an average day on the CIEE Amsterdam program, you'll likely only run into CIEE if you either have a CIEE facilitated class or physically stop by the office. The rest is up to you.

My day consisted of me waking up, showering and eating breakfast, biking to class (which is very easy via the bike pathways all throughout Amsterdam), and usually stopping by a new cafe or section of the town after class.

The program itself isn't overly structured, so it leaves you a lot of time to travel and do your own thing when you want to.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest challenge studying abroad was loneliness. I didn't make a solid group of friends in the first couple weeks, so most of my time exploring Amsterdam and traveling was done alone. I'll be honest, there were times I didn't feel too great. Sometimes I would just force myself to get out of my apartment every day just to see other people.

Eventually, I discovered Meetup groups and befriended some local coffee cafe owners, so I did get to know some locals. I also made an effort to take advantage of the CIEE activities. I started doing the day trips to other cities and I went on both overnight excursions (Utrecht and Schiermonnikoog respectively). I also participated in the weekend homestay opportunity that CIEE offers, which I can honestly say I'm very happy I did.

In terms of traveling in Europe, I also learned how to travel on my own. Since most of my trips were done by myself, I learned how to navigate airports, book hostels/Airbnbs, figure out buses and train schedules, and overall just became more independent.

I'm far more confident in my ability to travel and manage a new culture than when I left for Amsterdam this past January.

What is Dutch culture really like?

I believe it is important to understand that while most Netherlanders speaking English, they are not like their English neighbors from across the North Sea.

Now, of course, this is just my observation, so none of this is set-in-stone fact. However, I noticed the Dutch were classically Northern European. In other words, they tend to be a little cold. Not unfriendly, but just a little different from my usual American perspective. By cold, I mean that they tend to stick to their own groups and mind their own business.

You'll also get used to "Dutch Directness", which is a fancy way of saying that they like to get to the point. If you go to a restaurant, you'll typically find that the waiter or waitress won't introduce themselves or go out of their way to greet you or ask how you're doing. To me initially, this came across as slightly off-putting or rude. However, this isn't considered rude. Politeness for the Dutch is getting to the point and not wasting each other's time with pleasantries.

Once you do get to know a native Dutch person though, you'll find them to be as warm and friendly as anyone else. The initial barrier is a little awkward, but rewarding in the end. If worst comes to worst and you still haven't made that connection with a Netherlander, just wait until the weather gets warm.

By the end of my time in Amsterdam (May and June), I saw a noticeable change in how open people were in Amsterdam. Personalities come alive as the rainy season is finally gone. Suddenly cafes will be filled with locals having a beer on outdoor tables and kids of all ages having fun in local parks. It'll never be as warm as say Italy for example, but keep an eye out for the small changes as the seasons progress.

About CIEE

A nonprofit, non-governmental organization, CIEE is the world leader in international study and exchange programs. For more than 75 years, CIEE has helped thousands of students, professionals, and educators gain the knowledge and skills necessary to live and work in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world by offering the most...