Study in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the jewel in Europe’s crown and the political, economic and cultural capital of the Netherlands. Located on an inlet of the North Sea, Amsterdam is famous for its canals and waterways which have established the city as a major centre for trade and tourism. Lively Amsterdam is a living, breathing metropolis home to world-famous museums, historical centres and a well-educated population enjoying a high quality of life. At the heart of this beautiful and romantic European city lies Dam Square framed by quaint canals and cobbled streets where you will find a host of bicycles, tourists, houseboats, students, and street performers. Amsterdam is a truly multicultural and tolerant city, welcoming people from far and wide. With almost all of its population speaking English and its reputation for innovative research, Amsterdam is the No.1 choice for international students.

European City

Amsterdam is famously one of the most vibrant, cosmopolitan and colourful cities in Europe. It is also a very corporate city hosting the European headquarter of over 1,800 foreign corporations and conference and seminar facilities such as the RAI Exhibition and Congress Centre recognised as one of the one of the continent’s key conference and business hubs. The Dutch capital is also home to one of Europe’s largest airports, seaports and stock exchanges.

“God made the Dutch, but the Dutch made Holland”

This quote refers to the creation of the country and the original settlement of ‘Aemstelledamme’ where the River Amstel was dammed in the 13th Century and a community quite literally emerged from the sea. Since most of the country is below sea level, only through Holland’s masterful design and engineering was civilisation made possible by vigorous pumping methods and the construction of dykes to hold back the water. The beautiful lush green terrain remains and is surrounded on all sides by canals lined with elegant gabled houses. Today Amsterdam’s myriad of dykes and canals remains a true testament to the architectural feat the Dutch achieved.

Transport

Amsterdam’s public transportation is second-to-none with its extensive networks of trams, buses, the subway and railway. Whilst many of the locals and tourists use bikes rather than cars to make their way around town, if you’re not a keen cyclist, there are plenty of ways you can explore the city and beyond. The main public transportation hub in Amsterdam is the bustling Central Station, however, you can access rail services from seven other stations located within the city. Because the transportation system is so highly integrated, all of the railway stations are served by at least two other modes of transportation so getting around is easy.

Sightseeing

Amsterdam is a tourist’s paradise; most of the sights of interest are compacted and navigable by foot. Stroll across ancient bridges and down narrow lanes past gabled houses onto one of the many quaint squares that exist around the city such as Dam Square, Leidseplein Square, Rembrandt Square and the Museum Square. Why not drop in and browse the souvenir boutiques to pick up some blue and white Delft china or wooden clogs. When it’s time for rest and refreshment, grab a bite to eat in one of the pavement cafes or relax with a drink in a cosy bar. Alternatively, unwind and take in the sights by water on a canal-boat cruise where you can peer in on the lives of the locals who live on house-boats lining the waterways.

Arts and Culture

Amsterdam is a cultural mecca with its popular museums, beautiful architecture, flower markets and artistic heritage. The following are amongst the highlights:

Anne Frank’s House

Of major historic and cultural importance is Anne Frank’s House where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis between 6th July, 1942, and 3rd September, 1944. The first translation of “The Secret Annex” appeared in Dutch in 1947 and since then it has been translated into more than 60 languages. Get there early, as the queues can be very long!

Van Gogh Museum

Containing 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters, this museum undoubtedly houses the largest and most important collection of Van Gogh’s work. The museum stretches over four floors with sections for different periods of the painter’s life. A whole day can easily be spent her soaking up the inspiration and understanding Van Gogh’s life and works.

Rijksmusuem

Boasting some of history’s most amazing artworks, Rijksmuseum has a vast collection of prints, paintings, sculpture, Asian art, and works detailing the history of the Dutch nation. Dating back to 1798, the museum also hosts works by such notables as Vermeer, Goya, Van Dyck, Rubens, and van Ruisdael. Rembrandt’s most famous creation, “The Night Watch” is not to be missed.

Food

Amsterdam is a city that caters for all tastes, and food is no exception. Amsterdam is certainly not lacking in place to visit to drink or eat. Choose from a vast array of cafes, restaurants and tearooms to sample a wide range of cuisines from the exotic to local delicacies.

Entertainment

Amsterdam comes alive at night with a massive selection of things to do and places to go. Laugh out loud at a comedy club or sing along at a musical, drink Guinness at an Irish pub or chill out in a local café, hit the dance floor in a pumping nightclub or listen to live jazz, whatever you enjoy doing, you will find what you are looking for in Amsterdam.