Amsterdam: Law, Politics, and Policy in the Netherlands

River and boats with buildings at dawn in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

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Amsterdam: Law, Politics, and Policy in the Netherlands

This study abroad program will introduce students to law, politics, and public policy in the Netherlands. In addition to visiting important political, historical, and cultural sites in Amsterdam, the class will visit The Hague and the International Court of Justice, which is considered the home of international law and arbitration.

Coming soon! We’re planning to offer this program again for Spring Break 2026. We’ll add more information to this page as we receive it, and you can also alert your Education Abroad Advisor of your interest so we send you an email reminder.

Location

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Term

Spring Break

Housing

Hotel

Program Highlights

Gain a greater understanding of international law and politics by spending just over a week in Europe with your classmates on a guided, organized trip.
Visit the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which is often referred to as the "International City of Peace and Justice" due to its concentration of international organizations.
Gain insights into the complex world of international relations, diplomacy, and global governance while exploring two of the most important cities in The Netherlands.
Explore Amsterdam’s system of canals, public transportation, and famous sights such as the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and the house where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during WWII.

Program Contact Information

Desiree Dube

Sr. Education Abroad Advisor

Email: ddube1@kent.edu

Office Phone: 330-672-7989

Application Process

You will need to complete a ��ѿappEducation Abroad application. These quick steps will help walk you through the process.

1. Start an Education Abroad Application

When you click the "Apply Now" button (located towards the top and bottom of this page), you will be brought to the Education Abroad application system where you can view program costs and start an application. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline!

2. Guest Application (If applicable)

Are you a student at another university? To apply for a ��ѿappeducation abroad program, you will first need to apply for admission to ��ѿappUniversity as a “Guest Student”. Please apply as either an “Undergraduate Guest Student” or as a “Graduate Guest Student”, depending on your course level.

Once you have applied and been accepted as a ��ѿappUniversity student, you will receive an email with your FlashLine login credentials. Activate your account and then proceed to the next step, which is to apply to the Education Abroad program of your interest. You can return to this page and follow the “Apply Now” button to start that application.

You can also refer to the FAQs for Guest Students if you need further help.

3. Wait for Acceptance

Once you have submitted your study abroad program application, it will be reviewed by the faculty leader. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. You should hear back from us within one month.

4. Commit to the Program

If you are accepted, you need to log back into your application by going to and clicking LOGIN. Once you see the name of your program, you need to click on it and commit (i.e., accept your offer of admission).

Academics

Course Information

Course Name and CRN: POL 40589 Amsterdam: Law, Politics, and Policy in the Netherlands

Number of Credit Hours: 3

KSU Sponsoring College: Arts and Sciences

Course Description: This study abroad program will introduce students to law, politics, and public policy in the Netherlands. In addition to visiting important political, historical, and cultural sites in Amsterdam, the class will visit The Hague and the International Criminal Court.

Program Language of Instruction: English.

Faculty Contact Information

Professor's Name: Anthony D. Molina

Title: Associate Professor and Chairperson

Email: amolina4@kent.edu

Phone: 330-672-8928

Eligibility

Minimum 2.5 GPA
Undergraduate students of any major can apply

Tentative Itinerary

This program is designed to take place over Spring Break.

Below is a tentative itinerary; however, the exact sequence and sites are subject to changes in availability and cost.

DAY 1

Depart for Amsterdam. You should arrange and purchase your own flight to Amsterdam’s Schiphol International Airport (AMS) and back to the U.S. at the end of the program.

DAY 2

Lunch (stipend); Dinner (stipend).
Make your way to the hotel to check in.
Explore Amsterdam! Full of quirky sights, charming canals, and a relaxed atmosphere, this city is known for being gezellig, a unique Dutch quality that means convivial or cozy. Bicycling is a way of life for Amsterdammers, so if you’re brave enough to maneuver through tourists, locals, cars and cycle lanes, then rent a bike and cycle along the many canals that lace their way through the city.

DAY 3

Breakfast; Lunch (stipend); Dinner (stipend).
Amsterdam City Tour with Canal Cruise: Follow your guide on a walking tour during which you will see Amsterdam’s canals, boats, and spectacular buildings.
Amsterdam "Alternative" Tour: Now that you’ve seen the typical highlights of the city, get to know a different side of Amsterdam. Discover how the city became the hippie capital of Europe, specifically looking at ‘Bike Culture’, learning about the fight for soft drug tolerance, exploring the Jordaan neighborhood, and discovering the origins of the street art craze.

DAY 4

Breakfast; Lunch (stipend); Dinner (stipend).
Rijksmuseum: Discover over 800 years of Dutch history, from fine art by the likes of Vermeer and Rembrandt to historical objects and crafts.
Anne Frank House: Visit the house where for two years during World War II, the Frank and Van Daan families, both Jewish, hid until their betrayal to the Nazi’s. In 1957, the Anne Frank Foundation took over the house to carry out “the ideals set in the “Diary of Anne Frank.”

DAY 5

Breakfast; Lunch (stipend); Dinner (stipend).
Train to The Hague.
International Criminal Court: Visit the first ever permanent, treaty-based international criminal court. It was established to promote the rule of law and to ensure that the gravest international crimes do not go unpunished.
Academic Visit to the Center for International Legal Cooperation.
Train to Amsterdam.

DAY 6

Breakfast; Lunch (stipend); Dinner (stipend).
Van Gogh Museum: Explore some of Vincent’s earliest Dutch works as you visit the Van Gogh Museum. Discover how his approach changed in Paris when he met modern artists and see how he developed his famous individual style in the south of France.

DAY 7

Breakfast; Lunch (stipend); Dinner (stipend).
Academic Visit to Mainline Foundation.
Visit to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

DAY 8

Breakfast; Lunch (stipend); Farewell Dinner.
Free day.

DAY 9

Breakfast.
Check out of the hotel and make your way to the airport.
Depart for the U.S.

Location & Transportation

Amsterdam and The Hague, Netherlands

This program takes place in the beautiful European country of the Netherlands. Students will get to know the country’s capital, Amsterdam, and the country’s administrative and royal capital, The Hague.

The Netherlands has a population of approximately 17.5 million; 822,000 live in Amsterdam and 515,000 live in The Hague, approximately. The country’s official language is Dutch, and its currency is the euro since it’s part of the European Union.

The city of Amsterdam is famous for its elaborate canal system, unique architecture, its 17th-century narrow houses, and the many cycling paths that give the city its character. There are many interesting places to visit, including museums like the Van Gogh, Body Worlds, Anne Frank House, and Rijksmuseum. You can easily wander along its pretty streets and neighborhoods, marveling at the beautiful building facades or stop in a canalside cafe for a coffee. There are also plenty of easy opportunities to catch a boat ride along the canals, or enjoy a picnic in the spacious Vondelpark.

The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government as well as the capital of the South Holland Province. The city is just as exciting as Amsterdam, and it is considered the international city of peace and justice, with the Peace Palace in the center of the city. It is also the home of the United Nations’ International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Students might enjoy spending their free time at the Mauritshuis Museum, the Madurodam Model City, the Drievliet theme park, the Landgoed Clingendael Park, Palace Noordeinde, and much more! Nearby stunning locations include the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens (32 miles from Hague), and Bollenstreek, a region of cultivation of flower bulbs which is simply amazing.

Transportation

A 7-day public transportation pass will be provided for use in Amsterdam. Students will also take a train to and from The Hague.

Although both cities are major international hubs, they are both very walkable and have well-networked tram systems. Of course, if you want to embrace a true Dutch lifestyle, then cycling is the way to go!

Airports

Students will need to arrange and purchase their own flights to Amsterdam’s Schiphol International Airport (AMS) and back to the U.S.

Details on when to arrive and depart will be provided soon!

Financial Aid & Scholarships

There is a financial aid counselor specifically for Education Abroad. You can schedule an appointment with them on KSU Advising (Group Name: Education Abroad) or email finaideducationabroad@kent.edu.

It is possible to use your federal financial aid to go on ��ѿappUniversity-approved education abroad programs. You can learn more on the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center website.

It is also possible to use most ��ѿappscholarships for education abroad costs. You can find education abroad scholarships on ScholarshipUniverse.

Health & Safety

Pre-Departure Orientation

Prior to your study abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Office of Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:

international travel procedures;
in-country resources;
health and safety resources and information;
culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.

All students are encouraged to register with the prior to departure.

You can also review a wide variety of resources we’ve pulled together for you on our “Before You Go” page.

Country Profile

You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the .

In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for for traveling to your destination(s).

If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center.

Costs and Funding

Costs for the program will differ for every student. You can use our Cost Calculator to get an estimate of what you might expect for your program.

We also encourage you to meet with your Education Abroad Advisor and the Financial Aid Counselor for Education Abroad to see how your aid may apply to an international program by emailing finaideducationabroad@kent.edu.

Your Journey is Just Beginning

Before You Go

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