During your time in the Netherlands, you will live with a host family and attend a local high school.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Fall Year | Mid-August | Late July | $17,095 |
| 2025 Spring Year | Early January | Early November | $17,095 |
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Dutch high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a Local Coordinator while on program
- Comprehensive insurance
You will be enrolled in either HAVO (senior secondary education) or VWO (pre-university school), where you’ll find a relaxed atmosphere and will be expected to study just as hard as you do here in the US. Students will most likely be placed in either 10th or 11th grade and choose subject tracks focused on culture, economics, health, or technology. All students will study Dutch, English, another modern language, math, science, social studies, art, and physical education, in addition to other optional electives like philosophy, Latin, or computer science.
Students will be provided a bicycle to travel to and from school. Rain or shine! There is also an extensive public transport system throughout the country.
Please note: Students may not be able to receive a transcript or a record of grades. Some schools are able to issue a certificate of attendance. Placement in a particular grade level, credit, or graduation cannot be guaranteed.
All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July or early to mid-December (Spring programs). This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online, dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
Upon arrival in the Netherlands, students will attend a 6-day arrival orientation. During this orientation students will meet other exchange students, have Dutch language classes, and learn about Dutch traffic before they embark on their first bike ride in the Netherlands!
Dutch schools usually don’t offer extracurricular activities, but YFU students are definitely encouraged to get involved in sports, clubs, or teams offered by their host communities in order to pursue their passions and make new friends outside of school.
- 2025 Fall Departure: Students born February 19, 2007 – August 19, 2010
- 2025 Spring Departure: Students born July 6, 2006- January 6, 2010
- Students who have graduated are welcome to apply. However, those who do not meet these age requirements will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Dutch. Students should be motivated to learn Dutch and are encouraged to begin learning Dutch as soon as they apply. Students will be provided access to an online language training platform before departure to aid in learning.
Students are placed throughout the country, but it is rare to be placed in big cities like Amsterdam or Rotterdam.
