IES Abroad Amsterdam

The four months that I spent in Amsterdam were, for a lack of a better word, amazing. I got to know the city in a way that I didn't think I ever would, and got to meet great people. It was a cool balance between doing my daily things there and feeling at home and exploring the city, which made me feel like a tourist. It was also nice that our program all lived in the same building, which made us all very close. This experience was special for me because I have family that lives in the Netherlands, so it was nice being able to see them more often than I usually do. Additionally, the IES staff did a great job organizing trips and other activities to see other parts of the Netherlands that many visitors don't think of visiting or seeing.

The IES Amsterdam program offered great academics and support

I took two art history courses and introductory course on gender and sexuality studies. The professors did a fantastic job of engaging the class through excursions and guest lecturers. I learned a great deal from the courses and at no point felt overworked.

In terms of support, the staff was very responsive to emails. They helped me make sure that my academic schedule worked out and that I could take the courses that I needed to. Additionally, the office was very close to our apartment building and, thus, the staff was incredibly accessible.

In Amsterdam, I was enrolled as a jazz trumpet student at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. This is truly a great school to study your interests in the area of jazz and explore new styles and/or curiosities. My course schedule allowed me plenty of time for practice (nice rooms), attending jam sessions, and some more touristy activities. I got a strong impression that my instructors sincerely cared about my musical development. The helped me to become more fluent in technique, expression, and adapting to new situations. Amsterdam is a musician-friendly city and there is a great culture of musical excellence.
The living situation is only a 5-10 minute bike ride to the CvA, which is situated not far from the center of Amsterdam. I had one roommate in a room with a bathroom, kitchen, and extra storage space. Compared to a typical dorm, the room is quite spacious. I found out shortly after arriving that many conservatory students ride their bikes 30-40 mins to and from their living placement, so I felt really fortunate with housing.
The IES office staff were delightful to work with. They communicate, via email newsletters, upcoming activities in Amsterdam and The Netherlands, as well as pieces of Dutch history and other tid-bits about the people and culture. There are also opportunites to go on some great field trips sponsored by IES. I participated in the overnight trip to the island Texel and attended a soccer match.
Overall, I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in studying at one of Europe's and the World's finest music schools.

Amsterdam is one of the best cities to study abroad in in Europe. The people are friendly (and almost all speak English) and it is a city with rich international history. It is easy to be a foreigner in the city and explore another culture. Amsterdam is incredibly easy to navigate by bike-museums, restaurants, and nightlife are all just a short ride away. The city provides many varying opportunities, while still being a relatively small European city. After 4 months I still feel as if there are a million things I never had time to experience. However, while I loved my time in Amsterdam and learned a lot, I do not feel as if I really experienced Dutch culture. As a result of living with so many other American students it is easy to interact only with them and not get out and become immersed in the Dutch culture. Additionally, taking classes through IES and participating in activities at the center encourages spending time only with other American students on the program. Meeting Dutch students and really immersing yourself in the culture requires a great deal of effort. While classes at the University of Amsterdam are available, the classes tend to consist of mainly international students and few Dutch students. At the beginning of the semester my coursework was extremely easy but toward the end it became more challenging. If you are looking for an academic challenge while studying abroad, IES Amsterdam is likely not the best choice. However, if you want to travel to other European countries like I did, the easy academics leave a lot of free time for travel and exploring the city.

This past semester, I had the pleasure of studying abroad in Amsterdam. Overall, it was truly an amazing experience. Amsterdam is a city full of life and culture, and to get to explore such an enriched city was an opportunity I will never forget. There is so much to do in Amsterdam that I really never felt bored. Sometimes the weather made it difficult to explore, but the Dutch do not stop their routines because of rain, so that definitely added to my authentic experience. I was underwhelmed with the academics. I only had class three days a week the first half of the semester, and two days of the week the second half of the semester. This gave me lots of time to explore and travel, but also made it much easier to get lonely and homesick. Also, I was interested in enhancing my academic resume, and don't feel like I succeeded in that sense. However, I did learn a lot about Dutch history... Nonetheless, I don't regret my choice of studying abroad in Amsterdam through IES at all. Overall, my experience was unforgettable. I cannot wait to travel back to Amsterdam to visit the beautiful canals, the amazing shops, the delicious food, and the overall alluring atmosphere.

Amsterdam almost immediately felt like home. There is always something to do, but the city doesn't feel overwhelming. It's very walkable and there are tons of amazing bakeries, shops, cafes, and book stores pretty much anywhere you go. There is so much diversity and culture that there is truly something here for everyone.

Amsterdam is one of the best cities in the world! It is beautiful and definitely unique. There is so much to do during the day and at night. Whether your biking around enjoying the view, boating down the canals or exploring one of the million museums, the city has so much to offer. The nightlife is great and there's different scenes to cater to everyone!

I studied abroad in Amsterdam in Fall 2011, specifically in the IES Abroad Pre-Law Certification Program. I took three classes (Argumentation Theory, Public International Law and the core Seminar on Law and Legal Practice). Some of my classmates found the courses to be really easy but if you had no exposure to law previously, you will find the program to be as rewarding and challenging as I did. I loved all of my Professors, everyone spoke English proficiently and I was able to travel around Europe with ease using time management wisely. Amsterdam is a wonderful city and with close proximity to both the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice in The Hague, this program is IDEAL for any student looking for a preview into an law school curriculum while traveling abroad!