1. Introduction week
If you are new to a city, it can sometimes be exciting to meet new people. But rest assured, you are not the only one! Many students make this move and there are several ways to connect with others. A good way to start is by signing up for an introductory week. This week/day gives you the chance to get to know the city, your fellow students and the atmosphere at university in a short time.
At the University of Amsterdam (UvA) you can take part in the Intreeweek, more information can be found at intreeweek.nl. The Vrije Universiteit (VU) organises an introduction through VU Introductie and the Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA) offers an introduction programme through HvA Introductie. These are excellent opportunities to make new friends and prepare well for your studies.
2. Student associations
You can also join a student or study association. A study association is linked to a specific programme and organises study-related events as well as social activities. This is an excellent way to get to know other students from your programme. You will gain a better understanding of the study and make new friends at the same time.
You can find the study association for your course via the following links:
– UvA: Study associations UvA (under ‘show information for programme’ select your own programme)
– VU: Study associations VU
– AUAS: Study associations AUAS (If you want to read the page in English, you can translate the page by clicking on the three dots in Google Chrome and selecting ‘Translate’)
This way, you can easily find the right study association for your course.
3. Student associations
Besides study associations, there are also student associations that students from different programmes can join. Here you will meet students from various fields of study. Conviviality is often central, but some associations also have a specific focus, such as sports, religion or common interests.
There are several English student associations in Amsterdam, such as AEGEE, SIB, ISN and AIESEC. You can even take a quiz to find out which student association suits you best: Become a member in Amsterdam – Kieswijzer.
At both student and study associations, you can not only meet new people and network, but also gain valuable experience. For example, by becoming active in a board or committee, or by helping organise the introduction week. These kinds of activities not only add value to your student life, but will also always look good on your CV.
4. Other ways to make friends
If you are looking for a more casual way to get to know people, there are several options. For example, you can join UvA Talen to learn Dutch (or another language). This is a fun way to not only improve your language skills, but also meet other students.
You can also participate in Crea Courses at the Cultural Student Centre Crea, where you can take creative courses such as dance, theatre, photography and much more. This not only offers the chance to meet new people, but also to express yourself creatively.
For sports enthusiasts, USC Sport is a great option. Here you can sign up for sports classes such as fitness, kickboxing, tennis, dancing and much more. A perfect way to keep moving and meet other students.
You can also visit SPUI25, the academic cultural stage. Here, scientists, writers, artists and other thinkers share their ideas and inspiring stories on topics that concern them. The events are free and offer a great opportunity to gain new knowledge and connect with other interested parties.
