Overview

Hallo!

Get a first-hand look the three principles of the Dutch school system: independence, cooperation and problem-solving as a high school study abroad student. You’ll ride a bike to your local Dutch high school, make life-long Dutch friends and learn about European art and history with the museum pass that gives you access to any museum in the country!

Program at a glance:

  • Host family accommodation provides full language & cultural immersion.
  • You can choose between short-term, trimester, semester or academic year lengths – short-term programs available upon request!
  • Students staying three months or less can choose to be placed in bilingual schools for an additional fee (ease into the Dutch language!)
  • A straightforward online application process
  • Start dates in spring or fall.
Program Details
Support and budget Eligibility Request More Information
Back to all Countries

*Video courtesy of Italian Tourism

Program Dates

Application Deadline:  September 15th

  • Trimester school dates: January – April
  • Semester school dates: January – July
  • Academic Year school dates: January – October

Exact dates of arrival and departure depend on the host family and school you are placed in, as each school has a different start date. You will know your exact dates once you are placed in a school and host family!

Arrival and Departure 

All students are required to book flights on their own. An airport transfer upon arrival is included in the cost of the program. You will be provided your exact arrival and departure dates after acceptance, as well as the exact timeframes you should arrive/depart, so that you can start to search for possible flights. Prior approval of a proposed itinerary is required before you purchase any flights.

Inclusions

Packaged into the Price:

  • Airport pickup upon arrival
  • Host family accommodation and 3 meals per day
  • High school placement and enrollment fees 
  • Comprehensive medical/accident insurance
  • Online Dutch language course (20 hours before arrival + 12 weeks during the program)
  • 6-Day arrival orientation with Dutch local coordinators for semester and year-long students, 4-day orientation for short-term programs (sightseeing, Dutch language, cultural training, etc.)
  • Certificate of Completion upon successful completion of the program for use on college applications
  • Your own personal bike during your time in the Netherlands to use to get around or to school every day.
  • Local outings organized by your local coordinator (one per semester included)
  • Museum pass valid in all museums throughout the country.

Payment Details:

  • $1,500 Application Fee due by the program deadline to formally apply
  • $5,000 Commitment Payment due 14 days after acceptance
  • Remaining balance is due 16 weeks prior to your start date. If your program starts within 16 weeks of acceptance, the remaining program balance payment will be due at the same time as the commitment payment. 

Please note there is a non-negotiable $450 late application fee for any applications received after the stated application deadline.

Academic Info

So, what about credits? 

Your host school abroad will not provide credit. All credit must be granted through your home school in the U.S. or Canada. All U.S./Canadian schools have different policies. 

In the Netherlands, we cannot guarantee your host school will provide you an official transcript. If your school will not, some host schools will provide documentation, letters, and any other materials you require upon request. You must have good behavior, attendance, and performance in order for the school to fulfill this request.  

Then, you should take this documentation back to your home school as proof of your participation in the program. Your home school is responsible for awarding you credit for this program or not.  

Before You Go Abroad

You should meet with your U.S./Canadian high school before you leave and share the general curriculum guidelines for The Netherlands with your guidance counselor and/or teachers.  

Because the curriculum will vary by school and we cannot guarantee you’ll take any specific classes, it is important that you arrange the required classes required for your graduation, such as U.S. History, before or after your time abroad.  

You will be provided information about the general curriculum for your age level in the Netherlands, but you will not know your course schedule until after you arrive in country and start attending school.  

Once You’re Abroad

Please keep in mind that the grading system in other countries is different than the US and most host schools will not grant grades or transcripts as it is too difficult to evaluate your work due to the language barrier. If your host school is able to award you grades, they won’t be an exact match to what you would get in the US.

However, the team of local coordinators in the Netherlands works hard provide proof of attendance and record of courses and evaluations of your performance. Many U.S. high schools of past students have accepted this for credit.

Support and Services: 

  • Visa Assistance upon arrival. Local staff will have already submitted your application and will take you to finish the process during orientation!
  • Extensive pre-departure advice and support from your US-based program coordinators! They will be with you from your first inquiry, all the way through preparing to leave and your arrival in the Netherlands.
  • Support from in-country staff upon arrival to the Netherlands.
  • Online pre-departure cultural and logistical orientation before you leave.
  • 24-hour in-country and emergency support for the duration of the program, including 24-hour emergency phone numbers to reach a program manager at any time.

Additional Expenses to Budget For:

  • Airfare to/from Netherlands
  • Visa fees and expenses to travel to apply for the entry visa if required for your start date (290 euros + travel costs)
  • Simple start-up costs if you need anything upon arrival ($500)
  • Souvenirs, entertainment, personal travel, meals outside the home, optional school trips, extracurriculars, club sports, etc. ($300-500/month)
  • Request for placement in a bilingual school (EUR 1000) (optional)

Eligibility

In researching a study abroad program, you have already shown you are a leader and open-minded in your academic pursuits. These are just a few of the traits that our exchange students possess. You’re motivated to immerse yourself in another culture and flexible enough to live outside your comfort zone. You should also:

  • Be between 15 and 18 years of age (at the time of your program start date, not when applying)
  • Be from the United States or Canada
  • Possess a high school cumulative GPA of at least 2.75/4.0
  • Be in great mental* and physical health
  • Have a genuine interest in becoming a part of your host family and community.
  • Be willing to study and learn the Dutch language.
  • Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before departure

*What does it mean to be in good mental health?

Moving to a new culture and staying in unfamiliar surroundings without your normal support structure can be very stressful, even to a well-adjusted student. Sending a student with pre-existing conditions on a long-term exchange program could exacerbate whatever challenges the student was previously facing. In order to ensure the safety of our participants, we must be rigorous in our pre-screening of all high school abroad applicants.

Therefore, we may not be able to accept students who have struggled with any kind of mental illness, specifically within the last 2 years and/or are reliant on medication to address their existing mental health condition. Each student will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and ultimately it is the in-country partner who holds the right to accept or decline a student based on their individual policy.

These include, but are not limited to:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Eating disorders
  • Chronic debilitating migraines
  • Bipolar Disorder

All students who currently experience one or more of these conditions will be required to submit an addendum to the terms and conditions as well as a letter of support from their current mental health specialist. If the student’s mental health issue has been managed (post-medication) for over 2 years, we will still require a note from his/her relevant practitioner (psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, etc) as part of the application process.  We encourage you to discuss your specific situation with us directly, before securing these documents.

Please note that students who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD will not be guaranteed any academic accommodations plans by the host school abroad.