Interim in the Netherlands

Students can experience Dutch culture and everyday life by spending an interim in the Netherlands.

This course features numerous contacts with the Dutch as well as museum visits, excursions, concerts, church services, and sightseeing. Depending on the language background of participating students, some may also receive several days of formal language instruction from a local Dutch language teacher. Lodging includes several home stays with Dutch hosts. Local and intercity travel is done primarily via the efficient bus and rail systems. Extended stays include the major cities of Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Middelburg, with numerous excursions to cities including Gouda, Haarlem, The Hague, as well as to the province of Friesland and to cities in Belgium. This course concludes with free days for independent travel. Course goals are that students demonstrate gains in Dutch language skills and that understanding of various religious, political, and broadly cultural facets of the Low Countries is increased. Students demonstrate achievement of these goals in journal writing, field assignments, and in a concluding writing project. Students with skills in the Dutch language are given priority.

Amsterdam

Things to do

Highlights and Details:

• Stays/visits to places may include: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Middelburg, Amersfoort, The Hague, Delft, Ghent (Belgium)
• Home stays with Dutch families
• Some lodging in state-of-the-art youth hostels
• Travel nearly exclusively by renowned public transportation (trains, street cars, etc.)
• Bicycling whenever possible (the truly Dutch way to get around!)
• Places visited/topics presented (often by local experts) include: Free University of Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, Dutch parliament, canal tours, water management museum, Dutch Emigration Story, famous churches and cathedrals, various museums, agencies addressing Dutch social issues, the church and society, immigration issues and much more!
• Visits to and participation in various church services
• Time for free travel

Academics

Course Objectives:

• Variety of cultural experiences
• Meaningful interaction with locals
• Language learning (regardless of starting level)
• Develop informed knowledge of social and cultural institutions
• Learn from local and site experts

Eligibility

Open to all students, but students with at least one semester of Dutch language study have priority admission to the course.

Cost

$3,300 (exact)

Questions / contact