IES Abroad - Study Abroad in The Netherlands

Studying abroad in the Netherlands through IES Abroad was the best choice I have made in college thus far. I can say with confidence that it changed my life for the better. Going into it I wasn't sure what to expect, but I come out of it with a heightened sense of self as well as a greater awareness of others. The IES Amsterdam staff were with me every step of the way, always eager to answer questions, have discussions, and check in with me. My program was well organized, I always felt safe, and was given many opportunities to learn about Dutch life and culture. Overall I don't think I could have chosen a better program for me, and would encourage any student to consider studying in Amsterdam through IES!

Amsterdam is a great study to spend an entire semester or even a whole year in. After my first semester was up, I tried to find ways to stay the entire year. The entire IES staff is extremely helpful and friendly. They are always there to answer any questions or concerns you may have. They are your first point of contact when you first get to this new country and they were able to help me with every question I had. IES does a wonderful job at organizing program wide trips and activities. These activities force you to do things you typically would not go out and do on your own, such as several day trips around The Netherlands, outside of Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a great place to try new things and make new relationships. It is located centrally in regards to other European countries, making it easy to travel to other countries for just a few days. Overall, the city itself and the IES staff made my experience one I will never forget.

Studying abroad in Amsterdam was one of the best decisions I have ever made. IES Abroad provided all participants with an extensive orientation program that lasted a few days, and by the end, we all felt extremely ready to take on anything that happened to us in the city. Our housing was located incredibly close to the center of the city, and IES was able to help us get discounts on renting bikes for all of us to get around. Biking became a huge part of life and was one of the most memorable parts of living in Amsterdam. Our IES classes would frequently take field trips, and we would all have the option to ride to the destination on our bikes together. Our program group grew very close and my roommate and I are still very good friends (I'm going to visit her soon!). Alongside taking classes at the IES center, we had the option to take classes at the University of Amsterdam, which was located only 10 minutes away from our housing. Taking classes at the UvA really expanded my world view, as I had classes with students from many different countries. I became friends with people from Germany, Indonesia, and Amsterdam! IES also organized program-wide field trips and excursions that really helped get us out into the culture of the Netherlands. We went on biking trips to see the tulips and windmills, we went on a weekend trip to Rotterdam to see some cool modern architecture, and we also visited the Delft where we made our own Delft Blue tiles. Now that I'm back home, I miss Amsterdam every single day. And I'm incredibly grateful to IES for giving me the opportunity to have this experience.