CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands

I loved my time in Amsterdam with CEA CAPA! The housing and arrival was smooth and easy, and it was very easy to fall into a routine. The schoolwork at the VU was not hard, and I had time to go to 9 different countries during my time abroad. I made amazing friends through the program, and we explored the city together and shared so many fun memories. I would highly recommend this program because of the amazing CEA staff, the wonderful location, and for the personal growth I went through. I gained so much confidence and independence.

I saw so much of the city! Class loads differ depending on what you're taking, but mine allowed me a lot of free time to go around and explore. I found CEA CAPA a little confusing before I took off, but they were a lot of help once I landed. The only complaint I have is that housing was situated relatively far from campus and public transportation. I would usually walk 30+ minutes to get to class, but the area felt very safe so I had no problem doing so. Overall, I had a great time and met a lot of wonderful people.

I studied abroad in Amsterdam this past fall and I had an amazing experience! I went into the program knowing no one and I ended up making so many great friendships that have already lasted beyond the program. I loved Amsterdam as a city and was able to explore so many cool neighborhoods and local spots. I felt very supported by CEA CAPA my whole time abroad and I knew they were there at whenever I needed any support. Amsterdam is definitely a newer, smaller program (my year only had 19 students) but I definitely recommend it as the city is amazing and the smaller group allows for deeper connections to be formed.

Studying abroad in Amsterdam was the most incredible experience of my life. As a political science minor, I was able to take an International Criminal Justice class where we took a field trip to the International Criminal Court. That was something unique to Amsterdam that really changed my experience for the better. I met the most amazing people that I still talk to today and I can say without a doubt they made my experience so amazing. I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and went abroad!

I loved my time studying abroad with CEA CAPA in Amsterdam. From the moment our group arrived at the airport, our on-site advisor, Frans was there to guide us and make sure we got the most out of our time abroad. He gave us a comprehensive tour and orientation to the city during out first few days. CEA CAPA includes to cost of a semester long bike rental int he total cost of the program, so one of the first things we did upon arrival was to pick out a bike. Frans took us on several excursions and activities in the city throughout the semester which were super fun. Classes at Vrije Universiteit were challenging but not overwhelming.I made a ton of good friends and had such a good time in Amsterdam last spring. If I could go back I would've gone for the whole year.

I am so grateful for my time in Amsterdam with CEA CAPA; the whole thing was such a dream. I enrolled in the program to finish my psychology minor, which was a discipline I had begun to fall out of love with (it often begins to feel rather technical and cold), but taking a class with CEA CAPA's university partner entirely reminded me why I was interested in the field to begin with--for the betterment of lives. Every day I sat next to someone from a different country, and our conversations about what constitutes humanity reached a great depth between the sorts of experiences we have alike and otherwise. Amsterdam itself is so remarkable as well; it has a charm entirely its own. With this program, students stay in the Zuid district (which is more on the business side of things than Amsterdam's iconic old town) which creates a really nice balance between the bustle of the more famous part of the city and the upscale district where the university is (the program directors taught us how to use the metro; we would take it into Centrum whenever we wanted to after class). I cannot express enough: I really really loved my time here. I hope you get the chance to miss it as much as I do now; it is such a gift!

As a Political Science major, I wanted to study something that correlated with my interests. After some research, I saw that Amsterdam offered an International Criminal Justice course and decided that this was the trip for me. The city was vibrant, welcoming, and a place I was able to call home very quickly. Fortunately, English is widely spoken throughout the entire country. The main source of travel for many locals is public transportation and biking. The public transportation becomes very easy to figure out, but make sure you are always watching out for bikers! If you decide to rent a bike for your stay, make sure you are pretty proficient and know your way around. In regards to class, the professors were very experienced in their field of study and had amazing credentials. Make sure you are attending class and are aware that the Dutch education system is pretty rigorous.

I loved the organization of the program and the friendships I had the ability to build. Not only did the university have great academics but the excursion activities were so amazing in getting closer with the other members of my program. I loved Amsterdam so much and am so happy with the connections I made. Getting to experience all that the city of Amsterdam had to offer was such a unique experience, and being able to enjoy it with great friends I made through my abroad program, it was even more fun.