When I was a young kid I learned that, in Amsterdam, people ride their bikes everywhere. That was all I knew of the Netherlands at the time, but from then on I kept a desire to visit Amsterdam in the back of my mind. For a kid like me growing up in the US, where cars dominate every part of our way of life, being able to bike everywhere would mean having freedom to go to friends’ houses anytime, without having to wait for someone to drive me. When the time came to choose a place for studying abroad, my inner eight-year-old reminded me of my desire to go to Amsterdam to ride my bike. I’m currently on an academic year exchange at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Biking in Amsterdam has exceeded my high expectations. From a purely practical perspective, riding a bike is the best way to commute and get around the city. Amsterdam is so bike-friendly that taking public transit or driving almost always takes longer than biking. For me, this means that my commute to school is a third shorter on my bike than it would be on the metro. Those extra 15 minutes make a big difference when I’m running late for my 9 am lectures!
While the practicality of biking is nice, the best part is getting to see so much of the city while commuting. My bike ride into the city center takes me right by beautiful public buildings and over Amsterdam’s famous canals. My ride to school takes me through a beautiful park and several different neighborhoods, each with its own charm. On numerous occasions, I’ve pulled over to the side of the road to take a photo of a picturesque street, which I wouldn’t be able to do from a train or a bus.
Cycling culture in Amsterdam has been one of the main sources of culture shock, in a good way. It’s one aspect of my life abroad that is most different from my life at home and at GW, and it’s one of my favorite things about my study abroad so far. I came into this past semester with high expectations, and my experience has, so far, exceeded them. I already know I’m going to miss biking everywhere when I return home next summer.
Leigh Schmidt
Academic Year 2025-26
GW Exchange - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major