Amsterdam: Beyond University

By Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

It’s nice to earnestly say that my exchange year in Amsterdam has been one of the most fulfilling and formative experiences of my life. I approached the year with both excitement and scepticism, not sure if it would be as life-altering and meaningful as I hoped it would. Seven months in, I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything else with my time.

The university itself has, of course, had an impact. UvA’s courses are varied and detailed, and my particular exchange programme has allowed me to go in-depth on topics such as alienation, free speech, and Machiavellianism, ideas that may be covered in a lecture of two during a standard Manchester course but have been devoted entire blocks in Amsterdam. Studying alongside a diverse array of international students has also broadened my perspective, with a wide variety of backgrounds and interests represented in classes.

Still, when I think about my time in Amsterdam so far, it has been defined largely by the activities I’ve pursued beyond university. Amsterdam is a vibrant, busy city, and no matter where your interests lie, you’d be hard pressed not to find a community or club dedicated to them, waiting for you to join.

A large (sometimes questionably large) portion of my time in Amsterdam has revolved around activism and grassroots political work. This happened almost by accident – when I first came to Amsterdam I was happy to be taking a break from the political work that had dominated my second year of university. Nonetheless, during my first week at university I started a conversation with an organiser at a campus stand, and things sort of snowballed from there.

No matter where your inclinations lie, there’s a space for you in Amsterdam’s student politics scene. The organisations that dominate the activity here are varied and welcoming, with more activism-focused groups such as AP and Rosa organising events and protests, and with others like ASVA and Machiavelli taking on more institutional roles. Newcomers to activist spaces have opportunities to get to grips with organising strategies, while veterans can take on leading roles in many of these groups by the end of the exchange.

Being somewhere in the middle myself, I’ve tried to get involved wherever I can. I’ve helped to organise and manage events, hosted educational sessions, joined protests, written articles for local publications, and shaped organisational policy. You develop unexpected skills through this work; I’ve expertly honed my abilities in dumpster diving and mopping floors. It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my time here so far, and has shaped the direction I want my life and career to take.

Of course, if politics isn’t really your thing (insofar as it hasn’t become everybody’s thing at this point), there’s still plenty to do. I’ve spent many days volunteering at local community centres, helping out with fundraising, cleaning and cooking. The city’s large network of legalised squats, grassroots collectives, and music venues gave me a range of social scenes to explore, and before too long I found my place in the city’s infrastructure. Getting involved meaningfully in a local community is one of the most important aspects of a year abroad, and Amsterdam provides just that opportunity. Even if you don’t want to volunteer yourself, these spaces host regular events that are well worth attending (Vondelbunker, for example, puts on regular free gigs, supported by a team of volunteers and making money on drink sales), and that can still integrate you well into the culture here.

Finally, one of the best things you can do in Amsterdam is leave! The city’s well-connected transport links provide the perfect opportunity to take impromptu vacations, be it a day out in nearby Utrecht, a trip to the Hague, or a long weekend in Paris, all of which I’ve had the pleasure of participating in. The best travel experience I’ve had so far was unquestionably Berlin, when I travelled with a group of activists in January to attend the annual Rosa Luxemburg conference. You might never again have as good of an opportunity to explore Europe as you will on your year abroad, so you may as well take advantage of that while you can.

I never expected that my year abroad could connect me so well with parts of the culture here. It didn’t happen immediately (patience is a virtue on an exchange year!) but once I found the scenes and activities that resonated with me, I threw myself into them and they welcomed me in. I’ve only experienced a fraction of what Amsterdam has to offer, and no matter what you find interesting or involving, I promise there’s a space for you here.

P.S: In UvA, you choose your courses in 6-week blocks, rather than semesters. A little fiddling can give you months at a time without any university classes, at the cost of a denser block during your studies. For those looking to travel, bear this in mind!