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Students must complete their registration before January 3rd, 2022

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HOLY INNOCENTS' EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

Amsterdam 2022 Understanding Dutch Life: Literature, History, Art

Overview
Itinerary
Dates & Prices
FAQ

Lenses of Inquiry

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LITERARY CONNECTIONS

Students’ experience is grounded in their reading of two key texts: Amsterdam by Russell Shorto, and, while in-country, The Assault, by Harry Mulisch, acclaimed Dutch author.

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ART AND SOCIETY

What does art teach us about the social fabric of a culture? In what social conditions can Art thrive the most? What is the difference between formal and informal art in Amsterdam? What can we learn from ancient artists like Van Gogh and Rembrandt, and from modern artists today?

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DUTCH IDENTITY AND HISTORY

What are the historical events that define Dutch culture and Dutchidentity today? What is the legacy of World War II in the national identity of Holland today? What is the power of ideals, of values, in a social fabric?

DOES ENVOYS OFFER TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE, TRIP CANCELLATION OR CFAR INSURANCE?

Envoys is not a licensed insurance broker. However, families can easily request a quote and purchase insurance through our partner, Trawick International. Click here to get a quote.

Itinerary

The below itinerary provides one projection of the daily schedule. Changes may be made to improve the program quality, based on the logistical and educational needs of enrolled students.

DAY 1: INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL ARRIVAL

We fly into Amsterdam, checking into our local hotel and freshening up before departing to explore the city! 

We start by splitting into small groups undertaking a custom-designed Amazing Race that pushes students to develop a “sense of place” of the city through explorations and interactions with locals. 

We close the day with an evening stroll to dinner, taking in the nighttime transformation of Amsterdam.

DAY 2: HISTORY AND MEMORY A TAPESTRY OF PERSPECTIVES

  • Breakfast Market
  • Guided Tour of Amsterdam
  • Lunch
  • Delft Afternoon Excursion
  • First Impressions Workshop
  • Dinner

We begin the day by indulging in Amsterdam’s culinary delights. Well sated, we continue on a historical walking tour of Amsterdam, seeing the ‘living history' of the art and architecture of this remarkable city of canals. After lunch, we rest up along the way on a one-hour excursion to Delft. There, students have time for exploration and an ice cream cone. We convene in a public park for a guided reading and reflection of our trip text before returning to Amsterdam fordinner.

DAY 3: FAMED HISTORY UNDERSTANDING MOMENTS IN TIME

  • Breakfast
  • Van Gogh Museum
  • Lunch
  • Visit to the Anne Frank House
  • Exploration time along the canals
  • Dinner

We have a nice breakfast at our hotel before transferring to the van Gogh Museum. Through Envoys’ guided museum inquiry activity, students consider one piece deeply and then prepare to represent that piece to the broader group after our visit. What does this piece tell us about the context Van Gogh was living in? How do we understand history if there can be variance in perspective between individual people and entire countries?

Afterwards, we have lunch and get into some ethical questions before a well scaffolded visit to the Anne Frank Hous

DAY 4: ARCHITECTURE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE ZAANSE SCHANS, VOLENDAM

  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Transfer to Zaanse Schans
  • Exploration
  • Lunch
  • Volendam
  • Dinner

This day will engage us with the topic of architecture, as we journey outside of Amsterdam proper into both Zaanse Schans and Volendam to see the iconic windmills and explore the juxtaposition between urban and rural architecture in this country. After returning to the city, we end the day with an evening musical performance and dinner, another lens into Dutch culture at a moment when our focus has been on history

DAY 5: SOCIAL FABRIC & PUBLIC LIFE DUTCH URBANIZATION

  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Public Transit Empathy Interviewing
  • Workshop on Literature, the War, and Dutch History w/ Historian
  • Lunch
  • Bike Rental
  • My Carbon Miles Activity
  • Dinner

Having gained perspectives of Dutch history from tours and museums, we get an informed human perspective with a seasoned historian at a local university. We also focus our day on the role of public transit in Dutch life, experiencing it ourselves while also comparing it to life back home. How do our national values showup in our everyday actions

DAY 6: CITY PLANNING AND URBANIZATION LEARNING FROM EXPERTS

  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Asking Great Questions Exercise
  • Workshop w/ City Planning Officials
  • Lunch
  • City Planning Activity and Simulation
  • Explorations & Ice Cream
  • Dinner

We spend the day immersed at the offices of local city planning officials who introduce us to the intentional design of Amsterdam to benefit the environment, prevent flooding, and promote tourism and economic development. After understanding these foundations, we embark on an afternoon simulation to design a new city with these principles in mind. Students work in teams and present to officials at the end of the visit.

After the visit, we convene a ‘check in’ workshop with all students to synthesize and process their distinct learnings thus far on the program and how they might weave together

DAY 7: PUBLIC ART AND MULTICULTURALISM THE AMSTERDAM OF TODAY

  • Breakfast
  • Street Art Tour w/ local artist
  • Transfer to de pijp market•Lunch in Market
  • Small Groups explorations & Empathy Interviewing
  • Dinner
  • Daily Reflection

Today, we focus on the young and diverse voices shaping the future of Amsterdam. We embark on a street art tour with a local artist, as well as dive into the sights, sounds, and smells of the DePijp Market.

Students explore the culinary traditions alive and well here in this market, and connect with various vendors and market shoppers through an Empathy Interviewing exercise.

DAY 8: OF COLOR AND CONNECTION OUR FINAL FULL DAY

  • Breakfast
  • Travel to Keukenhof Gardens
  • Guided Reading from Trip Text
  • Picnic Lunch
  • Return to Amsterdam
  • Canal Cruise Dinner
  • Daily Reflection

On our final full day on the program, we travel to the iconic and beautiful tulip fields in the Keukenhof Gardens. We learn about how cut flowers help the Dutch economy thrive, and have a picnic lunch outside.

In the afternoon, we return to Amsterdam for our final celebratory canal cruise dinner.

DAY 9: INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS THE END IS THE BEGINNING

  • Breakfast at Hotel
  • Program Closing Workshop
  • Transport to Airport
  • International Flight home to Atlanta

Dates & Prices

The program dates are June 14 - 22, 2022

FAQ