Social Programme for Semester in Amsterdam students

Arrival, Introduction, and Social Programme

• Pre-Departure Webinar: 21 January

  Spring 2026 Pre-Departure Webinar: Wednesday, 21 January 2026 from 16:00 - 17:00

  To help you prepare for your arrival in the Netherlands, we have organized an online pre-departure webinar just for Semester in Amsterdam students. During this webinar, we will give you important information about practical matters you must complete after arrival, where to find learning materials and how to use Canvas, information about social life on campus and how to meet other students, and much more! 

  Semester in Amsterdam students who are fully enrolled in the Spring 2026 semester should have already received a Zoom link for this webinar via email. Please let us know if you did not receive this.

• Arrival Day: 30 January

  Spring 2026 Arrival Day: Friday, 30 January 2026

  As the Arrival and Introduction days will take place on 30 and 31 January, we strongly advise you to arrive in Amsterdam by the morning of Friday, 30 January at the latest. If you will live in VU student housing at Hotel Jansen or Eerste Ringdijkstraat, 30 January is also the first day you can check into your housing. 

  If you will be studying abroad through a study abroad provider or partner university, you may have a different arrival day. Please contact your study abroad provider or home university if you have questions about this.

  Arrival Day Market
  Friday, 30 January: 11:30 – 17:00
  Location: Sports Centre VU (Uilenstede 100, Amstelveen)

  • Collect your student card
  • Arrange a health/liability insurance through AON Student Insurance
  • Register with a GP
  • Meet ESN VU Amsterdam

  You can stop by the Sports Centre any time between 11:30 and 17:00 on this day to pick up your student card, arrange health insurance, register with a GP, and meet the ESN VU Amsterdam team.

• Introduction Day: 31 January

  The Introduction Day programme is designed to introduce you to VU Amsterdam, Dutch (academic) culture, the city of Amsterdam and to help you socialize with your fellow students. During the Introduction Day on Saturday, 31 January, we have planned several activities for you including:

  • Welcome presentation & Campus tour: Did you know what words Dutch people use to swear? Or why they have more than one bike? And why it's not very likely that you will be awarded the highest grade in Dutch higher education? All this and more will be discussed during an interactive session about Dutch culture and how to navigate a new academic environment at VU Amsterdam. In addition, you will meet the ESN board and learn more about (social) safety on campus. The presentation will be followed by a campus tour, where you will learn how to navigate the campus and meet people from 3D, the Student Wellbeing Point, Green Office, etc. 
  • Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam OR Canal Cruise: Choose between a visit to the Stedelijk Museum or a Canal Cruise on the Amsterdam canals. 
    • The Stedelijk Museum is the perfect place to explore modern and contemporary art and design. Discover iconic works from Van Gogh and Mondrian to Warhol and Kusama
    • The Canal Cruise (Lovers Canal Cruises) will guide you through the iconic canals of Amsterdam. Get a fresh perspective of the city from the water and uncover its rich history in the most scenic way possible.
  • Drinks at Belushi's: After the Day activity, you can continue at Belushi's Amsterdam. Take this opportunity to sit back, relax, and unwind with your new friends after an eventful day. Drinks are not included, but Belushi's always offers great deals on snacks and beverages.
  • Party at PONG Amsterdam: Get ready for a fun evening at PONG Amsterdam! 🎉 From 20:00 to 23:00, you’ll have a reserved area to enjoy the party with a DJ spinning all your favorite tracks. Take a break from dancing to show off your skills in the karaoke room, snap fun memories in the photobooth, or challenge your friends for a game of darts or ping pong.  It’s the perfect way to kick off your night in Amsterdam.

  Registration REQUIRED

  Registration is required for activities during the Introduction Day. You will receive a sign-up form for introduction activities on 6 January 2026. Please keep an eye on your email and make sure to register on time.

• Social Activities Throughout the Semester

  Each semester, we organize a full social program exclusively for Semester in Amsterdam students. For the Spring 2026 semester, we have planned the activities listed below. All events are free of charge for Semester in Amsterdam students. Students will receive a sign-up form via email a few weeks before each event.

  Spring 2026

  • Saturday, 21 February - Sunday, 22 February: Overnight Introduction Trip to the city of Maastricht: Each semester, we organize a special overnight introduction trip just for Semester in Amsterdam students. For the Spring 2026 semester, we will be going to the historic city of Maastricht. With its winding cobblestone streets, vibrant squares, and rich blend of Dutch and international influences, Maastricht offers a warm, lively atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. During our city trip, you’ll not only explore the historic center but also venture underground into the famous Maastricht caves, where centuries of history are carved into the limestone. 
  • Friday, 13 March: Day trip to Zaanse Schans: Zaanse Schans is a famous neighbourhood in Zaandam, a neighboring village of Amsterdam. It is best known for its collection of historic windmills and wooden houses. The Zaanse Schans offers a glimpse into the Zaan region’s most important heyday: the 18th and 19th centuries. The Zaan region is the oldest industrial area in Western Europe and once had as many as six hundred operating windmills. This day trip includes transportation, lunch, and a visit to the historic Zaans Museum.
  • Wednesday, 8 April: Visit the Anne Frank House: Together we will visit the famous Anne Frank House, located on Prinsengracht in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Amsterdam. To visit the Anne Frank House, you sometimes need to make reservations months in advance, so we encourage you to join this event. 
  • Thursday, 23 April: Lunch at Cafe De Ceuvel and Tour of Amsterdam Noord: Café de Ceuvel is a plant-based cafe in Amsterdam dedicated to sustainability. The cafe is part of a larger sustainable urban development project situated on the water in Amsterdam Noord, surrounded by upcycled houseboats and unique architecture. On this day, we will enjoy a sustainable plant-based lunch followed by a tour of the historic northern part of Amsterdam. For centuries, Amsterdam Noord was mainly marshland used for peat extraction. Now it is one of the most popular and upcoming neighborhoods in the city.
  • Thursday, 21 May: Farewell Boat Tour: Every semester, we plan a special farewell event to give you one last chance to gather in Amsterdam, reminisce about the (hopefully) amazing semester you had, and say goodbye to some new friends. If you haven't done a canal cruise in Amsterdam, this is not to be missed!
    

• Choosing a departure date

  It is up to you and/or your home university or study abroad provider to determine a departure date. Many students choose to only take courses during the first two periods of the semester and leave before the last period. For the fall semester, this means you will leave in December before Christmas. For the spring semester, this means you will leave at the end of May/beginning of June. Please see the academic calendar for the start and end dates of each period/semester.

• Dutch Buddy Programme

  There is no better way to instantly meet local students than by joining the Dutch Buddy Programme!

  A buddy is a student at VU Amsterdam who can introduce you to the Dutch way of life. As a participant in the programme, you will be part of a group of approximately 75 buddies and more than 250 fellow international students. Most buddies will be Dutch students; a few will be international students who have been living in Amsterdam for a while already.

  Each semester, the Buddy Programme organizes a free schedule of events including a karaoke night, pub quiz, and more. Some buddy groups also organize their own activities or pair up with other buddy groups. You will be invited to sign up for a buddy about one month before arrival.  

  What can you expect from a buddy? A buddy will be able to:

  • help you get settled during your first weeks by answering practical questions related to living in Amsterdam and by showing you around town;
  • help you with academic issues, such as university life, teaching styles, class schedules, campus set-up, how to prepare for exams, etc.;
  • introduce you to Dutch culture by visiting friends and families, and perhaps he or she will show you their home town;
  • join you during the social activities organized as part of the Buddy programme (picnic, pubquiz, karaoke, etc.).

  It is important to note that a buddy works on a voluntary basis. A buddy is not a professional or an employee at the university. For matters related to VU housing, visa, course registration, etc., or for urgent (privacy-sensitive) issues, you should contact the Semester in Amsterdam team (or your study abroad provider, if applicable).

  Please note that the buddy programme works best if all participants are enthusiastic, active and present during the social activities. We strive to match as many international students to buddies, however we cannot guarantee that everyone will be allocated a buddy during their stay in Amsterdam.

  Please contact buddy.soz@vu.nl with any questions you may have.

• Student Associations

  Here you can find links to all of the non-faculty student associations. Non-faculty student associations are clubs not affiliated with a particular faculty. This means you also get to know students from different study programmes.

  Students are also encouraged to become a member of ESN, the Erasmus Student Network. ESN organises social events and weekend trips for international students. Also, don't forget to sign up for the ESN Introduction Weekend before the start of each semester!