Social Programme for Semester in Amsterdam students

Arrival, Introduction, and Social Programme

• Arrival Day and Pre-Departure Webinar

  Spring 2025 Arrival Day: 31 January 2025

  The Spring 2025 Arrival Day for Semester in Amsterdam students is 31 January 2025. All Semester in Amsterdam students should plan to arrive in Amsterdam by 31 January so that you can participate in introduction activities. 

  Please note that 31 January is Practical Matters Day. We strongly recommend that you arrive in Amsterdam on the morning of 31 January so that you will have time to check into your housing and go to Practical Matters Day at the VU Uilenstede Campus. Practical Matters Day gives you the chance to easily arrange all of your practical matters at one time. During this day, you can sign up for insurance, register with a doctor, pick up your student card, open a bank account, and more. 

• 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.

• Introduction and Orientation Programme

  Spring 2025 Semester (2024/2025 academic year): Friday, 31 January and Saturday, 1 February 

  For the Spring 2025 Semester, the arrival and introduction programme will take place on Friday, 31 January and Saturday, 1 February 2025. Together with other Semester in Amsterdam and Exchange students, we will help you discover the most popular places on campus and in Amsterdam. During the arrival and introduction days, you are invited to participate in various educational and social activities including a scavenger hunt, campus tour, karaoke, and more.

  You can find the full overview of our Spring 2025 Introduction Programme here.

• Social Activities Throughout the Semester

  Spring 2025

  Each semester, we plan a full social programme of events just for Semester in Amsterdam students. For the Spring 2025 semester, we have planned the following activities. You can expect to receive a sign-up form via email a few weeks before the date of each event.

  • Friday, 7 March: Day trip to Zaanse Schans: On 7 March we will take a day trip to see the famous Zaanse Schans! Zaanse Schans is a 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.
  • Thursday, 10 April and Friday, 11 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. Due to popularity, we have booked two separate sessions.
  • Friday, 9 May: SUP Cleanup Event: Would you like to make a positive impact on the environment and learn how to SUP at the same time? Join our SUP Cleanup! During our SUP cleanup event, we will learn how to SUP on the water together while collecting plastic waste and other pollution. With the help of our SUP boards, we can easily pick up waste and take it with us. It is a fun and effective way to be active and help the environment at the same time.
  • Thursday, 28 May: Farewell Dinner: 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. Location TBA.
    

• 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!