Besides our courses, we also offer various social activities to make sure you will have an amazing time in and around Amsterdam and the Netherlands. Some of our activities are included in your programme and some are optional. Have you sent in your application for the Summer School already? Great! After you have received the results and have been accepted, you can select the optional activities in our payment form.
Arrival Day and Social Programme
Included Social Programme
On our Arrival Day, we will make sure your Summer School is off to a great start! The Summer School team will welcome you on Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam) and take you to one one of our accommodation options from 9.00 AM-3.00 PM CET. You can subscribe for this pick-up service closer to the Summer School when all applicants have booked their travels. We will keep you updated when you can register through our regular newsletters.
Our Arrival Days for the upcoming year are:
- 4 July 2020 for Session 1
- 18 July 2020 for Session 2
On the first Monday of the session, we will open the Summer School together with all students and staff. The dates are:
- 6 July 2020 for Session 1
- 20 July 2020 for Session 2
In addition, all students are invited to join our included Welcome Event in the afternoon after the classes have finished.
Session 1 | Optional Social Programme €
Explore Amsterdam and its beautiful (lesser known) areas with us. Join us on Wednesday afternoon 8 July for a whole lot of fun! You can choose between four different options. Please note you can only select one option for this afternoon.
- Discover the beautiful canals of Amsterdam with a Standup Paddleboard (SUP);
- Discover more about Amsterdam's migration history from past to present and the beautiful canals by joining us for a unique boat tour hosted by migrants;
- Discover Amsterdam New-West by signing up for our Street Art Tour + get into it yourself with a wonderful workshop;
- Discover the different and quintessentially Dutch Waterland Area North of Amsterdam by bike.
The Netherlands has a lot more to offer than Amsterdam alone of course. Time to explore the rest of our tiny country! On this Saturday you will have the opportunity to join us for various trips outside of our capital. We offer various programmes both in the morning and afternoon. On Saturday 11 July you can join us for:
A morning visit to a cheesefarm
Cheeselovers unite! In the morning we will cycle through the Forest of Amsterdam to a cheesefarm. Here we will see how Dutch farmers cheese is made, will have a tasting session and even make our own cheese! Costs are €15 including the guided tour, coffee and a slice of Dutch apple pie.
Cheeselovers unite! In the morning we will cycle through the Forest of Amsterdam to a cheesefarm. Here we will see how Dutch farmers cheese is made, will have a tasting session and even make our own cheese! Costs are €15 including the guided tour, coffee and a slice of Dutch apple pie.
An Afternoon trip to The Hague with a dinner on the beach We will visit the city of The Hague: the political heart of the Netherlands, home to stunning palaces and museums and so much more! We will leave early afternoon (1.00 PM) and will be back in the evening. Costs are €65 including the trip there and back, dinner on the beach, a visit and guided tour to one of the following:
- A guided tour around the Hall of Knights, Dutch Senate and House of Representatives to get to know more about the Dutch and our politics through history up until now;
- A guided walking tour around the city of the Hague and the historical landmarks;
- A guided tour around the Mauritshuis museum with the world famous paintings of the Girl with the Pearl Earring and the Goldfinch for instance.
A Daytrip to the National Park and Museum Kröller-Müller
The Netherlands might not be famous for our wildlife, but we actually do have stunning national parks around the country. We will visit one of these parks where we will have lunch and cycle around the beautiful heather fields. In addition, we will visit the museum inside the park: the Kröller-Müller museum which has the second largest collection of paintings from Van Gogh, but also pieces painted by Monet, Seurat, Picasso and Mondriaan and a garden full of interesting modern sculptures. All pieces and sculptures were privately collected by the famous Kröller-Müller couple between 1907 and 1922. All in all, a unique experience combining nature, architecture and art. We will leave in the morning and will be back in the late afternoon. Costs are €65 including the trip there and back, lunch, entrance to the park, museum and museum garden.
Join us on Wednesday 15 July in the afternoon for a whole lot of fun! On this second Wednesday of the programme we will organize trips to various museums that are difficult to book yourself due to immense popularity. The lectures will end at 1.00 PM. Cost are €25 including:
- A guided tour and visit to the Van Gogh Museum
- A Workshop and visit to the Anne Frank House and Museum
- A guided tour and visit to the Rijksmuseum
Session 2 | Optional Social Programme €
Explore Amsterdam and its beautiful (lesser known) areas with us. Join us on Wednesday afternoon 8 July for a whole lot of fun! You can choose between four different options. Please note you can only select one option for this afternoon.
- Discover the beautiful canals of Amsterdam with a Standup Paddleboard (SUP);
- Discover more about Amsterdam's migration history from past to present and the beautiful canals by joining us for a unique boat tour hosted by migrants;
- Discover Amsterdam New-West by signing up for our Street Art Tour + get into it yourself with a wonderful workshop;
- Discover the different and quintessentially Dutch Waterland Area North of Amsterdam by bike.
The Netherlands has a lot more to offer than Amsterdam alone of course. Time to explore the rest of our tiny country! On this Saturday you will have the opportunity to join us for various trips outside of our capital. We offer various programmes both in the morning and afternoon. On Saturday 25 July you can join us for:
- A morning visit to a cheesefarm
Cheeselovers unite! In the morning we will cycle through the Forest of Amsterdam to a Cheesefarm. Here we will see how Dutch farmers cheese is made, will have a tasting session and even make our own cheese! Costs are €15 including the guided tour, coffee and a slice of Dutch apple pie.
- A Day trip to Rotterdam City and Harbour
By some dubbed “the New York of the Netherlands” we will set off for a day trip to visit the city of Rotterdam and its world-famous harbour. This city was heavily bombed during the second World War which means that it has a completely different vibe than Amsterdam! Modern, arty and energetic: Rotterdam is a city you definitely do not want to miss during your stay in The Netherlands. Costs are €60 including the trip there and back, lunch, a city walk and a boat tour.
- A Day trip to Haarlem
This quintessentially Dutch and charming city is has been announced as a favorite destination by previous students. It feels like the small and quieter sister of Amsterdam, with its cobbled streets and historic surroundings. You can opt for a guided tour through a traditional wind mill or a guided tour of the oldest museum of the Netherlands: Teyler’s museum. It is also possible to combine Haarlem with a trip to the beach if you would like! Costs are €45 including lunch, the trip there and back, and the guided tour + visit to either the wind mill or museum.
Join us on Wednesday 29 July in the afternoon for a whole lot of fun! On this second Wednesday of the programme we will organize trips to various museums that are difficult to book yourself due to immense popularity. The lectures will end at 1.00 PM. Cost are €25 including:
- A guided tour and visit to the Van Gogh Museum
- A Workshop and visit to the Anne Frank House and Museum
- A guided tour and visit to the Rijksmuseum