Social Programme for Semester in Amsterdam students

Arrival, Introduction, and Social Programme

• Pre-Departure Webinar: Monday, 27 July

  Fall 2026 Pre-Departure Webinar: Monday, 27 July from 16:00 - 17:00 (CET)

  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 Fall 2026 semester will receive a link for the webinar via email the week before the event.

• Arrival Days: Friday, 14 August - Monday, 17 August

  Fall 2026 Arrival Days: Friday, 14 August 2026 - Monday, 17 August

  As the Introduction programme will start on Tuesday, 18 August, we advise you to arrive on the Friday before the introduction weeks start so you have time to settle in and adjust to the time difference. If you will live in VU student housing at Hotel Jansen or Eerste Ringdijkstraat, 14 August is 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.

• VU International Introduction Weeks: Tuesday, 18 August - Tuesday, 25 August

  The introduction weeks are designed to introduce you to VU Amsterdam, Dutch (academic) culture, and the city of Amsterdam, and to help you meet new people and socialize with your fellow students.

  We highly encourage you to participate in the introduction programme. It's a great opportunity to take care of practical matters and, just as importantly, to start building friendships that often last throughout your semester.

  Please check back in June for a detailed schedule of activities.

• Semester in Amsterdam Introduction Presentation: Monday, 24 August

  Monday, 24 August: 16:00 - 17:00

  To help you prepare for your semester and adjust to the local academic culture, we have planned an introduction presentation just for Semester in Amsterdam students. 

  During this presentation, we will give you more information about our overnight introduction trip to Texel, the social activities planned throughout the semester, academic and support services available at VU, tips on how to navigate Dutch academic culture, how to understand the grading scale and re-sits, and practical matters you need to complete after arrival (such as registering with the municipality).

  This presentation is mandatory for all Semester in Amsterdam students. 

• Overnight Introduction Trip to the island of Texel: Thursday, 27 August - Friday, 28 August

  Each semester, we organise a special overnight introduction trip just for Semester in Amsterdam students. For the Fall 2026 semester, we will be going to the beautiful island of Texel (pronounced 'Tessel') 

  Texel is the largest and most populated island of the Wadden islands, also known as the Frisian Islands, located in the north of the Netherlands. Texel is famous for its sandy dunes, unique mudflats, nature reserves, and the Eierland lighthouse located at the northern tip of the island, which offers sweeping views of Texel and the North Sea. 

• Fall 2026 Social activities schedule

  Each semester, we organize a full social program exclusively for Semester in Amsterdam students. For the Fall 2026 semester, we have tentatively planned the following activities. Please note that some activities and dates are still subject to change. 

  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.

  Fall 2026

  • Thursday, 27 August - Friday, 28 August: Overnight Introduction Trip to the island of Texel: Each semester, we organize a special overnight introduction trip just for Semester in Amsterdam students. For the Fall 2026 semester, we will be going to the island of Texel.
  • Friday, 11 September: 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.
  • Friday, 2 October: 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.
  • Thursday, 29 October: 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, 19 November: Ice Skating in Museumplein: Every winter, an ice skating rink pops up in Museumplein right in front of the Rijksmuseum. Join us for a cozy evening of ice skating and warm drinks in the famous Museum Square.
  • Thursday, 10 December: Farewell Light Festival 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. This boat tour is part of Amsterdam Light Festival and will sail around the various light installations in the city center. Many of the light installations are built over the water, so the best way to see the light festival is by boat.

• 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!