Near the Rijksmuseum

Author: Amanda Thomsen | Major: Economics, Mathematics | Semester: Fall 2023

If you’re a prospective traveler to the Netherlands, you may across the word “gezellig” in many of the travel blogs about things and terms to know about Dutch culture you Googled before visiting. They will all insist that the Dutch adjective “gezellig” is simply untranslatable, offering terms ranging from cozy to togetherness to pleasant to explain its meaning. After spending a semester of searching in Amsterdam, I am happy to confirm that there is no shortage of “gezelligheid” – the core of the Dutch spirit.

I chose this program because I wanted to continue to explore my academic and professional interests in economics and entrepreneurship with a new global perspective in a historical hub of all things commerce: Amsterdam. I studied at the Universiteit van Amsterdam, where several programs are taught in English to accommodate the 37% (primarily other EEA) non-Dutch student body. My courses offered unique opportunities to collaborate with my Dutch classmates to examine European companies and financial systems. My classes in Amsterdam also challenged me to adapt to new learning styles and environments. Most of my courses were taught in 8-week blocks, so they moved very quickly. Additionally, my classes had more people (3 of my lectures had 500+ students) and less contact hours than my past courses at UArk. While daunting at first, I learned to really appreciate this teaching style, as it gave me more agency over my time. Still, I did find it a bit strange (and ongezellig) when one of my final exams was administered in a ferry cruise terminal to fit all the students.

With a new routine came new friends and new adventures. Courtesy of the many busses, trains, and planes that connect through Amsterdam, I was able to expand my horizons across the Netherlands and to 8 additional countries during my stay. And in each place, I found the lively, the old, the new, and the scars left by the people who have and currently call each place home. Each destination revealed a tapestry of history, from the grandeur of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia to the poignant remnants of Krakow’s Jewish quarter. Engaging with locals, I discovered the lively spirit of Faro and the chic style of Paris. In each place, I saw the triumph and beauty of humanity at its very best, and scars left from its very worst. I got to share in these adventures with friends, whose company was especially appreciated when trying to figure out how to get the right tram ticket or late-night chats in 8 bed hostels. I learned how saying “yes” to new opportunities, whether it be a spontaneous day trip or a catch up at bruin cafe, compounded to even more opportunities, friends, and recommendations.

So here is my rapid-fire advice for anyone considering a semester in Amsterdam. Noordermarkt? Gezellig. De Wallen? Ongezellig. Het Begijnhof? Gezellig. Flower Market? Ongezellig. Kriterion? Gezellig. Going out without rain gear? Ongezellig. Street music outside the Rijksmuseum? Gezellig.

 And the Netherlands? Definitely gezellig.