Amsterdam
Sports
After having arrived in amsterdam, you’ll find out soon enough that it’s quite an active city. From walking and cycling to practising team sports, there’s something you can do at any time of the day.
12:00
ISN Sports
“I’m not big on team sports, but I did join a few football events organised by isn. You didn’t need to be a pro, just willing to work with your team and have some fun as well. I’m happy I got to go.”
The IJ & Central Station
Transport
In amsterdam the fastest way to travel from A to B is by bike. Did you know that there are more bikes than inhabitants in our town? Cycling is easy to do in a compact town without hills. However, be careful not to get caught in a tram rail with your bike wheels! Of course there are other means of transportation as well. Trains, trams, the metro, buses and ferries will get you anywhere you want to go.
09:00
Biking everywhere
“In Sweden I used to cycle, but not as much as in Amsterdam. I love how many bike roads there are here, even between cities. At one time I decided to bike from Amsterdam to Utrecht. It was a hell of a bike tour, but worth it!”
09:00
By Bike
“I usually get out of bed at 08.00 hrs, make some tea and get ready for my class. at 09.00 hrs I pack lunch and make sure I have all of my books, but there usually isn’t time to do much else! I live at Science Park so it‘s just a short walk to auc. When walking to school, the fresh air really wakes me up.”
Amsterdam North
Living
living and working in a town like amsterdam, who wouldn’t want that? everybody does. And that causes problems. It can be very difficult to find a house. If you’re on a waiting list for a council house in amsterdam, it may take you more than five years to get one.
09:00
Music for breakfast
“On a Sunday morning I wake up with some cheerful music. This can be jazz, pop or some orchestral music. Indie music I like best; it makes me totally happy. For breakfast I have an egg and bacon sandwich while playing my music. After breakfast I have a discovery hour while watching indie clips of 10 minutes. I enjoy finding music that nobody knows.”
15:00
Reliable
“I helped a friend getting a medical checkup when he was having some health problems. The doctors managed to calm him down and assured him that he was suffering from exam stress. They were very understanding and they’re used to working with students.”
The Jordaan
7 days in Amsterdam
History has made amsterdam into what it is – from two dikes with a dam in between to the most multicultural town in the world. Did you know that amsterdam has 180 different nationalities? Compare this with new york’s 150 nationalities, and you will wonder how this came about.
Wednesday
“The Concertgebouw offers free lunch concerts every Wednesday at 12.30 hrs, from September to June. The concerts last thirty minutes, and vary from rehearsals by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to chamber music by young musicians.”
Old centre
Going Out
Students and going out are as inseparable as a clock and its hands. Without going out, life becomes rather drab. Fortunately amsterdam offers plenty of opportunities to go out around the clock. Did you, for instance, know that there are more than a thousand pubs in amsterdam?
18:00
Shake it off
“After the exam period is over, my study buddies and I celebrate by going out. We usually have dinner together, after which we will go to a pub or even to a karaoke bar. We usually get on the stage together and sing as a group!”
19:00
No smoking
“You’re not allowed to smoke inside public buildings, including pubs and restaurants, which makes going out less of a health hazard! However, some public spots have special smoke areas, like Amsterdam Centraal Station.”
Knsm & IJburg
beaches
You do not have to leave town in order to enjoy the sun and the beach. There are various city beaches in Amsterdam. Like Strand West, The roof of the Nemo Science museum, Strand Zuid and 't Twiske.
13:00
Soaking up the sun
“When I first came to Amsterdam, I was told that I would need a lot of vitamin c and d. Autumn and winter are quite long here, so people said that I was definitely going to end up craving vitamins and sunlight. I ended up taking a vitamin pill a day."
16:00
Chill in the park
“If the weather holds, I can be found in the park, most of the time in Flevopark in the ‘Indische Buurt’, but also in Oosterpark or in Vondelpark. It’s nice to relax and sit in the sun, and listen to music with friends, but I also like going on my own. When I’m with friends, it’s the first thing we do before going out on the town."
Museum District
Arts & Culture
In the seventeenth century, during the dutch golden age, Amsterdam art and culture flourished exceptionally. It was the age of world-famous dutch masters like Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer. Today, art and culture still play an important role in town. Both tourists and inhabitants are drawn to the rijksmuseum, the van Gogh museum and the Stedelijk museum. Go at least once during your stay here. Students under 29 get a discount when they show their student card.
12:00
A taste of culture
“At noon I like going for some culture, surprising myself with some spontaneous activity. I like going to museums. I’ve been to the Scheepvaartmuseum and the Tropenmuseum. The Jazz Museum is still on my bucket list. The Scheepvaartmuseum blew my mind. I thought it was very interesting to hear about Dutch shipping at the age of the Dutch East India Company (voc)."
The grachtengordel (canal ring)
History
Amsterdam was built on the Amstel estuary, on what used to be marshland. To protect the town against the sea, a dam with a sluice gate was built in the river and the area was shielded by dikes, the ‘Nieuwendijk’ and ‘Zeedijk’. This area formed the heart of what would ultimately become the city of Amsterdam. The city’s name was first recorded in a document signed by the Dutch Count Floris the Fifth in 1275.
13:00
Class again
“In my Brain and Cognition class, I feel stimulated by the lectures every day. I find the material fascinating and the professor genuinely passionate about the subject. And in my History & Culture of the Dutch Golden Age, I love learning about the major events in Dutch history that form the background of the country I live in today. Plus, we go on some excursions around the city, which are a lot of fun.”
Study Campus
Studying
Time to open your books! studying in amsterdam is a great experience, but as a new student here you should know everything about where to study and any other student information. Where, for instance, do you get your textbooks? And did you know that a great place for studying quietly is the amsterdam public library (openbare bibliotheek amsterdam)?
09:00
Class
“On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have class. I feel really lucky this semester, because I have been thoroughly enjoying my classes. In my Big Books literature class, we are reading selections of Western literature and discussing them. The professor for this class is especially good – he encourages real discussion in the classroom, and a deeper reading of the texts – which makes me think about and engage with the content more.”
11:00
Students'
“You’re not allowed to smoke inside public buildings, including pubs and restaurants, which makes going out less of a health hazard! However, some public spots have special smoke areas, like Amsterdam Centraal Station.”