Smart Cities & Sustainability
Summer '25 Applications Open
The Take-Aways
Real-World Experience
Investigate Amsterdam’s smart city initiatives and try your hand at designing local initiatives that mitigate climate change. Come home with innovative strategies to apply in your community.
Credentials for Your Future
Topics for your college essays, experience to inform your future career, and a Project that addresses a climate change challenge.
Life Skills and New Friendships
Return with greater self-confidence, independence, and improved communication skills. Enjoy a broader worldview and friends of different backgrounds from across the U.S.
45
HOURS OF EXPERT INSTRUCTION
3
WEEKS PURSUING YOUR PASSION
1
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE
The Destination
Welcome to vibrant Amsterdam, to its forward-thinking mindset and diverse culture.
Loaded with charm and architectural gems, Amsterdam has more bicycles than people and more canals than Venice. Living six feet below sea level, residents have always had to be water conscious, mitigating flood risks and promoting water quality. Climate change awareness is in this capital city’s DNA, making it the perfect place to learn how a city works to ensure that its people and the planet thrive.
One of the most picturesque capitals in Europe, Amsterdam is also the perfect place to enjoy outdoor music, art, theater, and food festivals. Wherever you go, you’ll find inviting green spaces and all kinds of museums from those housing masterpieces by Van Gogh and Rembrandt to quirky collections dedicated to cheese or cat culture.
Amsterdam is considered one of the most multicultural cities in the world with more than 180 nationalities represented. Centuries of respect, collaboration, and community have made it a safe, open-minded, and healthy place to live, one where you’ll quickly feel at home.
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Amsterdam.
Weekly Learning Goals
Sample Activities
Just Imagine All the Fun You’ll Have!
- Enjoy a canal side meal and then hop on a boat ride for spectacular views of Amsterdam’s unique urban landscape, including its narrow, gabled houses that stand shoulder to shoulder along the canals.
- Traverse Amsterdam’s canal belt, the heart of the city. Step inside the famous Albert Cuyp market, the largest open-air market in Europe, and try a yummy stroopwafel.
- Take a day trip to Almere, a city reclaimed from the sea in the '70s and '80s. Discover Dutch innovation and the architecture and sustainability of a planned city.
- Soak in the beauty of Catharijnesingel, a restored canal reclaimed from a motorway in the smart city of Utrecht. Visit the 2000-year-old tower Domtoren.
- On your excursion to modern Rotterdam, climb the Euromast observation tower for unparalleled views of a city that was completely rebuilt post-World War II.
Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Weekend Getaway in Rotterdam!
Students and PL's embarked on a 1 hour train ride from Amsterdam to Rotterdam to explore a new city strategically focused on sustainability. Everyone was immediately captivated by how different... keep reading
Adventure to Rotterdam
This past weekend was a whrilwind! On Thursday we traveled from our beloved Amsterdam to Rotterdam, a more modern city south of Amsterdam. Our visit included a trip to the... keep reading
Cultural Experience: Stamppot
A to Z, Stamppots are Tasty We recently had the unique opportunity to immerse ourselves in Dutch culture by learning how to cook a traditional Dutch dinner—Stamppot. The delightful Caro... keep reading
Eligibility
- Participants must be 14 years old and above.
- Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
- For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our Scholarship page.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Dates & Fees
Application Fee
$25
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.
More Questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us!
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Session I 2025 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $6,650 | |
| Program Summer Session II 2025 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $6,650 |
Ready to change your life?
What's Included
Interactive Classes
Housing
3 Meals/Day
(Dietary Needs Accommodated)
All Ground Transportation
(Once In-country)
Optional Flight Chaperone
(Flight Cost Not Included)
Pre-departure Advice and Orientation
Access to WIFI
(No international data plan or SIM card included)
All Cultural Activities and Excursions
Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection
24/7 Emergency On-site Support
Our Staff
Gildas Fresneau
Senior Manager Housing Procurement
Gildas holds a master’s degree in European Law from the University of Rennes (France). He worked in many roles within international higher education before joining CIEE as Center Director.
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