CREA is the cultural organization of the Universiteit van Amsterdam. Griffioen is the cultural organization of the Vrije Universiteit. They both organize activities in the arts and artistic education such as courses, working groups, and projects in the area of drama, dance, photography, film, visual arts, etc. We strongly encourage you to become an active participant of the Amsterdam community. While you can do this by joining a local arts class, or a sports group, volunteering is a great way to give back to your host community. We will typically share volunteering opportunities twice during...

While in Amsterdam, we want to ensure you have every opportunity to immerse yourself in new experiences. That’s why our IES Abroad Amsterdam Center staff is committed to providing outstanding academic and student support services. We take care of the details, so you can soak up every moment of your Amsterdam experience. The IES Abroad Amsterdam Center is housed on two floors on the Geldersekade 101. Built in the early 1930s as a clothing factory, the building has recently been completely renovated. The IES Abroad Center has several study spaces, as well as classrooms and meeting rooms. The...

In general, there are three ways that students go about fulfilling this requirement: Most popular: Buy a Dutch SIM card once on-site in Amsterdam. Your phone must be unlocked for this option. Use your current provider's international phone plan. Check with your service provider for pricing and coverage. Buy a Dutch cell phone. You could also buy a Dutch smartphone; however, this option is more expensive. Even though there are plenty of Wi-Fi spots in Europe, most European phone plans include a lot of data, but charge per call and text. For this reason, we strongly suggest that you have a data...

Housing Introduction The housing provided by the IES Abroad Amsterdam Center will be conveniently located in a nice, safe area. Rooms are likely smaller than you are used to, and commuting is an absolute must as universities do not own housing in the Netherlands. Most universities are not campuses. As you fill out your Housing Form, keep in mind the following factors that are considered when housing placements are made: IES Abroad only locates housing in safe areas of the city. Cohabitation in IES Abroad located housing is prohibited. Switching after arrival is most likely not possible or you...

For more location-specific tips, check out these packing tips from former IES Abroad students. Keep in mind the climate of Amsterdam when packing. January tends to be the coldest month out of the spring semester. In spring, warm weather returns by May. The temperature is usually in the early 60s. For current weather conditions in Amsterdam, visit Amsterdam's weather channel. When packing clothes, remember to bring layers as temperatures can vary considerably between morning, mid-day, and evening. However, warm winter clothing, including heavy sweaters, winter outwear, a good raincoat, and an...

There are three types of entry requirements for students in the Netherlands: an EU passport holder a passport requiring a VVR (Dutch Residence Permit) a passport requiring a VVR and MVV (Visa) EU Passport Holders If you are an EU passport holder and your passport is currently valid, you will not be required to obtain any further documentation to study in the Netherlands. Please check the country list to confirm. Dutch Residence Permit Passport holders requiring a Dutch Residence Permit (VVR) are as follows: United States Australia New Zealand Canada United Kingdom Japan Monaco Vatican City...

Amsterdam Center On-Site Center Address IES Abroad Amsterdam Center, Geldersekade 101-D, 1011 EM Amsterdam, The Netherlands Center Phone Numbers From the US: 011.31.2.0370.6600 From the Netherlands: 02.0370.6600 Center Hours Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Closed 9am to 5pm 9am to 5pm 9am to 5pm 9am to 5pm 9am to 12:30pm & 12:30pm to 5pm by appointment Closed