Political Science & Politics Study Abroad Programs in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Forum-Nexus was an amazing experience. I made many new friends, enjoyed the professional and cultural visits, and loved the balance between school and fun. The staff was amazing, and I would definitely recommend it.

I had a really good experience with Forum-Nexus overall. The program gave me the chance to travel a lot, meet great people, and learn more about different countries in a way that felt interesting and personal. I liked that the staff was friendly and helpful, and the hotels were some of the best I’ve stayed in. Some visits were better than others, but the overall balance of academics, free time, and cultural experiences made the program worth it. I’d recommend it to other students, especially if they want to make friends and grow through travel.

This summer abroad program was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as an undergraduate.” “It was thoughtfully organized, with a great balance of academics, cultural exploration, professional visits, and enough independence to grow on my own.” “The instructors were engaging, knowledgeable, and encouraged real discussion, which made classes feel useful beyond the classroom.” “I especially liked being able to connect what we learned to our travels.” “The staff was welcoming and supportive throughout, and I’d absolutely recommend the program to other students.

I believe if any student can participate in this program, they should take real advantage of it. They offer a lot of subjects, Economics, Art, Business, Culture, Design, Sociology, History, Political Science. The knowledge one gain is massive and in a lot of disciplines. I am really happy to participate the connections i made is totally worth it. Forum Nexus staff are very knowledgeable, they know what they are doing. not to mention that they are easily approachable and always prepared for any problems could occur.

the environment was really fun, lots of free time. i am happy that i chose to participate in this program. regarding the staff, i love the energy and positivity they were giving us all the time. the hotels were pretty great and the locations were amazing. I totally recommend this program, for the professional visits; i really learnt a lot, and the cultural visits; didnt feel a chore at all!, things that you need to visit and do when you visit Europe. I am really thankful to be going with such a group, they will be my all time friends!

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!

My time with Forum-Nexus was fast-paced, exciting, and educational. It was the perfect mix of classes, studying, sight-seeing, socializing, and learning first-hand. I learned a lot from the International IQ class and it prepared me to visit each city on the itinerary. My hospitality internship allowed to me communicate and network with the international hotels and restaurants we stayed at and visited. Forum-Nexus allowed me to step-up and take advantage of being abroad.

Joining Forum-Nexus was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. Traveling across Europe while taking classes gave me a unique blend of academic learning and cultural immersion. Every city brought new perspectives, professional visits helped me understand international business at a deeper level, while group activities and friendships made the journey even more memorable. The program pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me adaptability, teamwork, and global awareness. I left with stronger career skills, a network of friends from around the world, and countless memories that I’ll cherish forever.

I am so happy, I will be recommend it to everyone at my home place. It has been so cool to basically have a guided yet laid back tour across Europe. You are all amazing, perfect balance of there to support us but still give us tons of freedom. Went to 2 professional visits, but they were super cool. felt I learned a lot and they were interesting. The independent cultural visits were encouraging us to get out and see the amazing sights is perfect. It made me appreciate where i was so much more. The accommodation was amazing!

It helped to open my mind and learn how to navigate being alone in another country. Also introduced me to new experiences. I loved the staff. I particularly loved the energy that Hugo brought as well as his wisdom. Professional visits were unique experiences that gave us opportunities not everyone would get part in. Hotels were really great. My level of international IQ certainly improved. I also have new perspectives given we have also seen the countries that we learned about first hand. I have much more of a grasp on the understanding.

Independent cultural visits went well. as expected. many of the ICVs were things i planned on doing. I was unimpressed by the professional visits they felt very uninteractive. Organization needs improvement, sticking to the syllabi. I am happy that I came here I have made amazing friends and I have been able to visit places that I would never have ever known about. IT was a great experience but somehow expensive for my budget.

I am happy that I chose to participate because I made good friends and amazing memories and explored the world in a more independent way that allowed me to be more confident in myself as a person, friend, and traveler.

I really enjoyed this program I had so much fun more than what i expected the staf was all awesome! all were very friendly and helpful no matter what was the situation they seemed very welcoming and caring

Honestly, had a very great experience I loved that we kept moving to different places. got to see and learn so much! I am happy that i chose to participate, this is once in a lifetime opportunity that i will always remember.

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.

I loved this program. I enjoyed the fast paced nature of moving around and getting to experience so much. Hugo is upbeat and lively and it helped to get everyone excited and ready to explore. I am happy that i chose this program, I have got to learn and experience new cities. Lake gard was my favorites, overall all cities were great! I enjoyed the class formats and the IQ back to back. I would totally recommend this program and would apply for it again!

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.

It was amazing!! Hugo is so much fun and informative. I always wanted to travel and this made it so much easy for me to do it! It was my first time and I wasn't alone. Loved the cities we went to: Barcelona, Amsterdam, Greece, Milan, Lake Garda, Paris. Hotels were very nice. Classes were little long but very informative. I really enjoyed Laura as a professor, at times it was little stressful having to talk about things with no prior knowledge but she was amazing and have to stay in touch. I learned a lot for future professional endeavours.

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.

Super great, I will have this experience in head forever! I learned so much general knowledge about the places I visited. Loved the places we went although I should have prepared for rainy weather in Amsterdam.