Observations from the Netherlands

I’m about halfway through my semester of study abroad in Amsterdam and I can not believe how fast this semester has gone. I have had so many opportunities that I feel so grateful for, but it has not always been easy. I was sad to leave my friends and GW behind, but I’m so glad I pushed myself to come here. I signed up for study abroad without knowing anyone else, which was a little scary. But now I have met people from all over the world and gotten to experience Dutch culture for the first time! So here are some observations and recommendations coming from someone solo traveling while abroad.
I did not know much about Dutch history or culture, so I enrolled in a class called “Imagining the Dutch.” This class is aimed at international students, so I was able to meet other American students and even some fellow GW students. We learned about the Netherlands through a variety of guest lecturers who each specialize in different fields. I have been learning some Dutch in my free time, but fortunately, many people in Amsterdam speak English. I think this helped me adjust quicker to an entirely new culture.
The only thing that I feel caused some culture shock for me was the lack of variety in grocery stores. I struggled to find products that are easy to find in the United States. Little things like grape jelly and honey mustard are very difficult to find in the Netherlands. I was excited to try all of the new food, but sometimes you just want something you are used to.
While I have traveled to other countries, I think it is so important to explore the country you are studying in, too. I have gotten to see the iconic canals, visit the windmills in Zaanse Schans, and see the beautiful tulips at Keukenhof. The public transportation is amazing in the Netherlands, so I have been able to visit so many cool cities, like the Hague and Utrecht. My biggest recommendation for the Netherlands, specifically, is to buy a Museumkaart. After you buy this card, you can visit almost any museum in the Netherlands for free! And if you love history and art like me, it will be worth your money. I have gotten to see so many iconic pieces of Dutch art, including works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and of course van Gogh.
Another great thing about the Netherlands is how central it is to other European countries. I have been able to take day trips to Paris, Antwerp, and Cologne throughout my time abroad. The thing that shocked me the most was the lack of border control. Coming from the United States, I was used to going through border control before I entered any other country. But because I was coming from a country within the European Union, I could simply walk off the train into Paris. While trains are inexpensive ways to travel, make sure to book your tickets in advance! I have always felt pretty safe solo traveling as a woman, but you always need to be aware of your surroundings, especially pickpockets. Thankfully I have not had any issues yet, but there have been a couple of times where the train announced that there were pickpockets on board.
I came to this country without knowing a single person. It was intimidating, but it was something I knew I wanted to do. So if you are scared to travel on your own, I hope that this blog can help you feel more confident in your travels. Living in the Netherlands has been an extremely positive experience and I am so excited for the rest of my time here.