Social Programme for Semester in Amsterdam students

Arrival, Introduction, and Social Programme

• Arrival Day and Pre-Departure Webinar

  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.

  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! Please mark this date in your agenda. We hope to see you there.

• 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 2026 Introduction programme: Friday, 30 January - Saturday, 31 January

  For the Spring 2026 Semester, the arrival and introduction days will take place from Friday, 30 January to Saturday, 31 January. 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 tours, ping pong/game night, sports day, and more. In addition to the VU introduction activities organized for all international students, we have planned a special overnight introduction trip to the island of Texel just for Semester in Amsterdam students.

  As soon as the full introduction schedule is published you can find it here. Please check back for an update in the coming weeks.

• Social Activities Throughout the Semester

  Each semester, we organize a full social program exclusively for Semester in Amsterdam students. For the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters, 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.

  Fall 2025

  • Friday, 29 August - Saturday, 30 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 2025 semester, we will be going to the beautiful island of Texel! Texel (pronounced 'Tessel') 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. During our trip to Texel, you will get to know your fellow students while experiencing the rich and dynamic culture of a unique part of the Netherlands, the Wadden Islands. 
  • Thursday, 11 September: SUP Cleanup Event: 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.
  • Friday, 19 September: Day trip to 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, 9 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, 20 November: Ice Skating at Museumplein: Celebrate the winter weather and holiday season with us in Amsterdam's famous Museumplein! Together we will go ice skating in Museumplein and share a warm drink together in their cozy cafe.
  • Thursday, 11 December: Light Festival 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. This year, we have planned a boat tour of the Amsterdam Light Festival. The Amsterdam Light Festivall is an art festival comprised of art installations around the center of Amsterdam, many of which are best seen by boat. If you haven't done a canal cruise in Amsterdam, this is not to be missed!

  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!
    

• 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!