Arrival, Introduction, and Social Programme

• Arrival Day: Friday, 29 January 2027

  Spring 2027 Arrival Day: Friday, 29 January

  As the Introduction programme will take place on Saturday, 30 January, we strongly advise you to arrive on 29 January so you can attend introduction activities. If you will live in VU student housing at Hotel Jansen or Eerste Ringdijkstraat, Friday, 29 January is the first day you are guaranteed housing. In some cases, it may be possible to move into Hotel Jansen earlier, but this cannot be guaranteed.

  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 Day: Saturday, 30 January 2027

  The VU Introduction schedule will be published in November. Please check back for more details in a few weeks.

  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

• Semester in Amsterdam Introduction Presentation: TBA

  *This presentation is mandatory for all Semester in Amsterdam students. 

  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 resits, and practical matters you need to complete after arrival (such as registering with the municipality).
  

• Overnight Introduction Trip to Maastricht: Saturday, 20 February - Sunday, 21 February

  Each semester, we organise a special overnight introduction trip just for Semester in Amsterdam students. For the Spring 2027 semester, we will be going to the beautiful city of Maastricht!

  Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, nestled in the rolling hills of the country’s southernmost province, Limburg. The city is known for its medieval architecture, cobblestone streets, and the iconic Sint Servaasbrug, the centuries-old stone bridge that spans the Maas River and offers beautiful views of the historic center. Just outside the city, the famous limestone caves of Maastricht add a sense of mystery and adventure, with their labyrinth of tunnels carved out over centuries. Beyond its charming streets and riverside promenades, Maastricht is home to lively squares filled with cafés, restaurants, and boutiques, as well as a vibrant cultural scene with museums, galleries, and theaters.

  To explore the city of Maastricht and its rich history, we will organize several activities such as a tour of the ‘Kazematten’ (Casemates), an underground network of corridors as part of the ancient defence system, and a guided tour of the caves of Mount Saint Peter, consisting of more than 8,000 underground limestone corridors, carved out more than 700 years ago.

  This trip is free for Semester in Amsterdam students.

• Social activities schedule

  Each semester, we organize a full social program exclusively for Semester in Amsterdam students. Stay tuned for the full Spring 2027 social programme schedule in November.

  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 World Museum Amsterdam: Together we will visit World Museum Amsterdam and do the guided tour “Our Colonial Legacy” during which we will explore how Dutch history shapes what we eat, buy, and believe — through stories of resistance and resilience. After the guided tour, you are free to explore the museum on your own.
  • 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! 

Questions? Please don't hesitate to contact us!

Please note that Semester in Amsterdam is a separate programme from the Exchange programme at VU Amsterdam.

The fastest and easiest way to reach us is via our contact form. Please don't hesitate to contact us with questions.

Are you a student with a question? Schedule a 15-minute appointment on Wednesdays between 13:00 and 14:00 (CEST) via our online booking tool.

If you have been nominated by your home university for (Erasmus) Exchange, please contact the incoming Exchange team.

Are you currently a student of another Dutch university wishing to register for a minor? Please contact the Student Desk.

Contact

• Rachel Bornstein
• International Officer

• Greta Troup
• International Officer