Academic Year Study Abroad Programs in Netherlands

IES Abroad Amsterdam has friendly staff that were always kind and responsive. All my questions were answered and we had multiple pre-departure sessions. I really recommend Amsterdam to anyone who is a history buff! With IES Abroad, you can access almost any museum you want for free. It was so fun to explore the city using museums as my guide. For any travelers, Amsterdam has a big airport, that flies direct to most places. While the prices aren't as low as London, planning your trips in advance or being flexible to different spots or cities will give you so many options for cool weekend trips. For people who love night-life, there is an amazing scene in Amsterdam! Intimate bars, crazy clubs, Amsterdam definitely has options, and I had so much fun exploring the different scenes. If you love a cozy rainy day, Amsterdam will provide! Amsterdam is often rainy and cloudy. I got very lucky my semester; it was sunny and beautiful almost the entire time! Compared to my home college in Minnesota, the weather was wonderful even in February. Keep in mind your preferences while choosing a location. Safety wise, I would say being smart is the most important thing. Amsterdam felt super safe, even when I was exploring the city alone. Pickpocketing is not a large issue here. Be smart, and you will have a wonderful time!

Studying in Maastricht is the best decision I have made. This experience was immersive and I met so many amazing people and made so many wonderful friends. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to explore Europe without this experience and to learn about the culture.

Overall, I would recommend Maastricht if you enjoy: smaller city vibes, nature, and the quiet lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, there are places to party and hangout, but if you want to go someplace to party, I would not recommend Maastricht. That being said, I am not a party-er and therefore loved the city and University of Maastricht. The university buildings were really cool, and classes are based on "problem-based learning." Be prepared to present multiple times throughout a semester and read a lot, however, I enjoyed this type of learning, I felt like I was far more engaged with the content than American-styled lecture classes. Additionally, I would NOT recommend Maastricht if you want to travel to other countries frequently. The hassle of getting to a nearby city that does have an airport can be quite stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. You might find it cheaper and easier in the long-run to just go Study Abroad in a different city than in Maastricht, but I still really enjoyed Maastricht.

No experience can compare to my time studying abroad in Maastricht. I made life-long friends whose paths I would've never crossed without this experience. I learned a lot during our program field trips and immersed myself in new cultures during my free travel time. The USAC staff was invaluable and made us all feel safe and welcomed during our time in the Netherlands. One of my favorite experiences was Maastricht's Carnaval celebrations. I had never known this festival existed before my studies here and it gave me unforgettable memories that made me appreciate the diversity in every culture. I love looking back at memories and can't wait to make another trip back to Maastricht!

Traveling to Buenos Aires was an incredible experience! I was nervous initially since it was my first study-abroad experience. I was unfamiliar with the culture, environment, and language and did not know what to expect. The warm hospitality and generosity I received from on-site program staff and locals guided me through all the ups and downs of the experience. The program challenged me to come out of my comfort zone both academically and socially. We attended physics classes at a local university and a sports and contemporary culture class right after. We learned about the history of the country and experienced the Argentinians' passion for futbol firsthand by attending games. My friends and I explored the city after classes, trying out some of the many cafes and restaurants on every corner. Buenos Aires had a very reliable transportation system as well, so it was easy for us to travel from our apartment in Palermo to other neighborhoods in the city like Belgrano, La Boca, and Recoleta. Each neighborhood had something different and wonderful to offer. We often ran into cultural fairs, art festivals, fresh farmer markets, and live performances. There was something fun to discover every day. On the weekends, we traveled outside of the city to see the numerous natural landscapes in Argentina. We saw the falls at Iguazu, went horseback riding in Mendoza, went hiking at the Perito Moreno Glacier and El Chalten, and even visited a cute portside town in Uruguay. Although my time in Argentina was short, the incredible people, food, and music are a memory I will never forget.

Studying abroad in Maastricht was an experience I'll never forget. I had the opportunity to immerse myself into Dutch culture which gave me a different perspective to view the world. During my days in Maastricht, the program organized trips to get to know more about Dutch culture and local history in Maastricht, along with other international students we got to see and learn about the windmills and different types of Dutch cheese. lt was also easy to move around since majority of Dutch people understand English. My favorite part was going to the market on Fridays to eat some olieballen. After finishing the program I feel more academically prepared and confident traveling by myself, if someone would ask me if I would like to study abroad again ,l would definitely say yes!

Maastricht University is a great place to study abroad. Maastricht is a wonderful city with an adequate social scene and beautiful atmosphere. The professors are knowledgeable and fair, with good course offerings. The only negative was housing, which was manageable.

Truly changed my perspective on the world of engineering and potential career path in a world I never would have thought possible. Broaden my world view and met truly amazing people that I connected with for a lifetime.

I had a great time during my semester in Amsterdam. The CEA CAPA team is really responsive and the on site team was super knowledgeable. Our living situation in Diemen was also very nice and was located close to many bike paths and public transit.

Stepping into a new culture can be daunting and yet exciting at the same time. When I first arrived to The Hague I was so excited to finally experience life in another country and culture, but I quickly realized how scary and difficult it can be to remove yourself from the familiar, the comfortable. To me, studying abroad is all about learning to expand your horizons and put yourself out there. It is the perfect opportunity to discover yourself in a new way and grow as a person. I was very nervous that I would go through this experience without making any real friends, but boy was I wrong. I made some of the closest friends I've ever had and now I have meaningful connections across Europe! I would be lying if I said there weren't some tears shed at the airport when I left. Thuas is such a good school in my opinion. The building itself is gorgeous, but the people are even better. It's a welcoming environment with classes taught by passionate instructors. I enjoyed all of my lecturers during my exchange. Also, the city itself has so much to offer. Exploring the beach, new cafes and parks are some of my favorite memories there. Another cute town super close is Delft, which I highly recommend. So fun to explore especially once spring and summer finally arrive. Amsterdam is also pretty close, and that city quickly became my favorite in the world these past several months. Dutch weather may be windy, but trust me the second the sun comes out everything seems to come to life around you, it's really a cool thing. I can't recommend The Hague enough, but in general I believe that doing a study abroad will benefit you no matter where you go!

Going abroad on my own was so far out of my comfort zone, but turned out to be an absolutely incredible experience that I will never forget! Enrolling through USAC made the process so easy and I felt supported by the staff in Maastricht every step of the way. I had so many learning moments, whether it was in the classroom or navigating a trip to a new country. I can’t think of a better way to first experience traveling solo abroad.

Studying abroad in Maastricht was a life changing experience. I traveled to so many new places, did so many new things, and met some really great people. Maastricht quickly became a second home and I can’t wait to go back!

During my time with IES Abroad, Amsterdam, I took classes in Communication and Media Studies at Vrije University, explored the city and surrounding countries, and was able to experience many aspects of Dutch living and culture through the sponsored field trips and taking a Dutch language class. I really enjoyed the different style of education, the VU emphasizes less time in the classroom in favor of independent reading and studying. There were several group projects, which allowed me to get to know my classmates. A highlight of the outings that IES Abroad organized was the trip to Hoorn, where we explored a cute lakeside town with historic architecture, and then took a boat back to Amsterdam. I highly recommend this program for its support of students, commitment to ensuring students can experience the Netherlands' culture and lifestyle, and exciting location.

When I was first looking into studying abroad, Amsterdam was not on my radar. Originally, I wanted to go to a bigger city like London or Paris. I was very confident I was going to go to one of those locations. After doing more research, I realized that Amsterdam aligned with what I wanted in a city. It was small enough for me to know where everything was, but almost everyday I was able to learn/explore something new. Whether it was walking by the canals or exploring a new museum, I was never bored. It sounds cliché, but Amsterdam will forever hold a special place in my heart. When I would travel on the weekends to other places, I would be excited to be back in my home country. I felt so safe and so at peace with where I was at. Also, I took classes at the University of Amsterdam. Unlike Penn State (My home university), the University of Amsterdam classes were spread across the city. I had to plan out my day to get to class, which was very different compared to what I am used to where I would just walk a couple minutes over to my class.

Studying abroad changed my life for the better. The Netherlands is a beautiful place with a mix of modernity and longstanding culture, and it's easy to either find something to do or travel inside and outside of the country. Maastricht gave me independence that I was searching for on two wheels! My bike empowered me to seek out new places, relax, and rely on myself for my well-being. The UM Guesthouse was full of international students from across the world as well, so I got to expand my knowledge of the world and share my experiences with people from a variety of different backgrounds from the comfort of my dorm hall. My experiences with USAC in the Netherlands taught me how to be an adult on my own, trust my judgement, and remain organized in an entirely new country. I wouldn't change it for the world!

I had the best time when studying abroad at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. Not only did I gain cultural and worldly knowledge, but I did so in a beautiful place surrounded by great people. Maastricht is a gorgeous city located on the border of the Netherlands and Belgium with the River Maas running through it, almost at the center. The school is a central part of the city, however tourism isn't uncommon making Maastricht a multicultural hub. Maastricht is located about two hours away from Amsterdam which is not too far but not too close, making trips into the big city special. Traveling to other cities and countries was very easy as Maastricht has a reliable bus and train system. The city itself is not that big, it only takes about forty-five minutes to get from one side to the other, but it is packed with college life. The schools buildings are spread out all over the city, allowing students to explore unknown areas and truly get to know the region. The school system is set up into two parts, lectures and tutorials, which really helped me to understand and retain the information that I was learning. The study abroad program at the University took the students on trips to Berlin and Paris, where we were able to see art museums and historic sites. In all, to be able to travel and create new memories and experiences while also making friends and learning is an invaluable experience. I would highly recommend studying abroad, you're able to be surrounded by open minded individuals who have a passion for traveling and educating themselves!

Everything about the program made it impossible to have a bad time!! The staff as well as my peers helped make every day so amazing. We had the opportunity to explore all over the city as well as other parts of the Netherlands which I loved so much.

My time in Amsterdam, Netherlands was some of the best few weeks of my life. The professors I had were so helpful and intelligent, along with the fact I had classmates from all over the world who were so insightful. CEA was there for me at every step of the way, even in my host country. They prioritized immersing their students and ensuring their safety. Any cultural, educational, or living question we had CEA was ready to answer, and guide us. I met the most amazing people through my program and am very lucky to call them some of my closest friends to this day. I am from New Jersey and actually went to visit them in California for a weekend in October! Thank you CEA for the time of my life!

CEA responded to this reviewMarch 21, 2024

Hi Melisa! Thanks for sharing your amazing feedback about your summer in Amsterdam! So glad you met new lifelong friends and made incredible memories with CEA CAPA.

Absolutely loved my Study Abroad experience in Maastricht. Met incredible people and made lifelong memories. It’s in the perfect location for exploring other countries, and the town itself quickly begins to feel like home. I felt truly immersed in Dutch culture, leaving the summer feeling more educated and fulfilled. The classes themselves were manageable, covered important topics, and I learned a lot. It was definitely hard to leave at the end of the semester and go back home, but I’m grateful for everything the experience Maastricht brought me.

This study abroad trip was so much fun and I learned a lot during my 6 weeks abroad. The classes were really fun and interesting and the food on campus was amazing and affordable. Maastricht is a perfect place to visit, it’s very walkable and you can also rent a bike :)