Penn State Summer Abroad Program Maastricht 2008 Pre-departure Information Dear Penn State Student, You are about to embark on a great adventure…a summer abroad in Maastricht! This requires many preparations: buying a ticket, getting a passport, filling out forms, arranging your finances, giving farewell parties ☺, planning trips in Europe. We have prepared this pre-departure information, to help you with your arrival in Maastricht. It contains the information which you will need right before, during and immediately after travelling to Maastricht. Upon arrival, you will receive a program guide, which contains more information about the CES, Maastricht University, addresses and phone numbers, information about the program, courses, study trips and rules and regulations. This document contains information on: 1. About the Center for European Studies (CES) 2. Getting to know Maastricht 3. The summer in Maastricht program (general outline) 4. Classes 5. Study trip 6. Travelling to Maastricht 7. Housing 8. Keeping in touch 9. Food options during the program 10. Various practical information (money matters, electricity, weather/clothing etc) 11. Travelling in Europe 12. A map of Maastricht with locations We hope that this information is helpful and we are looking forward to welcoming you in Maastricht! Please feel free to email or call us in case you have any questions.

Have a safe trip, kindest regards,

Monique van Reij Program Coordinator

Yvette Froeling Head of CES

1.

About the Center for European Studies (CES)

1a. Meet the staff Penn State Professor Zaryab Iqbal will accompany you during the first week in Maastricht and on the study tour. Ms Monique van Reij is your program coordinator. Ms Laura Marley (back-up coordinator) and Ms. Yvette Froeling can also be contacted in case of an emergency. Monique van Reij Coordinator Penn State Summer 2008 & Coordinator Study Europe Summer program Room B 0.31 Phone: +31 (043) 3885285 Cell Phone: for EMERGENCIES outside office hours +31 (0)6 - 48175226 Email: [email protected]

Laura Marley Back up Coordinator & Coordinator Xavier 2008 program Room B 0.33 Phone: +31 (0)43 3885283 Cell Phone: for EMERGENCIES outside office hours +31 (0)6 - 41622080 Email: Lj.Marley @SSC.unimaas.nl

Séverine Dufour Coordinator Meiji Gakuin Summer 2008 Program Room B 0.33 Phone: +31 (043) 3885289 Email: [email protected]

Jorg de Vette Coordinator Pre-Academic Training Program Room B 0.31 Phone: +31 (043) 3885286 Email: [email protected]

Bianca Scheepers Secretary & Coordinator Introduction Program and Study Trips Room B 0.31 Phone: +31 (0)43 3885282 Email: [email protected]

Yvette Froeling Head of CES Room B 0.23 Phone: +31 (043) 3885278 Cell phone: for EMERGENCIES outside office hours +31 (0)6–44317903 or +32-484-906534 (Belgian number) Email: [email protected]

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1b. CES Address The Center for European Studies is located at the Bonnefantenstraat 2 in downtown Maastricht, in the same building as the Visitors’ Centre of Maastricht University. We encourage students to use the address below in case they want to have mail sent. It is possible to store luggage at the CES offices but only at your own risk. Maastricht University Center for European Studies (CES) /Student Services Center (SSC) Name student Bonnefantenstraat 2 6211 KL Maastricht THE NETHERLANDS

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2.

Getting to know Maastricht

2a. The city of Maastricht Maastricht, located on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, which is reflected in the beautiful old architecture, from the medieval town ramparts, to the cobblestone paving of alleys and streets, seventeenth century facades and a Roman bridge. Maastricht has everything a student could wish for: a beautiful historic city centre, countless numbers of inviting sidewalk cafés, pubs (more than 365!) and restaurants, sports facilities, shops etc. Film, music and theatre fans will find a wealth of opportunities in Maastricht. There is also ample opportunity to take long, leisurely walks or to go mountain biking in the low green hills surrounding Maastricht. Oh yes… and 99% of the people speak English so it is easy to make yourself understood. So..where to go, what to see? The main square, the “Vrijthof” square is flanked by two beautiful churches, the Saint Servatius basilica (SintServaasbasiliek) and the Saint Johns church (Sint-Janskerk) with the characteristic red tower. Other beautiful squares which offer outdoor seating are the recently renovated Market square and the more intimate “Onze Lieve Vrouwe” square. Maastricht still has parts of its old city wall with several ancient gates. The wall is flanked by a beautiful city park with a statue of one of the Musketeers, d’ Artagnan, who died in front of the gates of Maastricht. ‘t Bassin, a recently renovated beautiful little city harbor offers various restaurants and good Latin music. Maastricht’s 2000 year old past also shines through in several fortresses and underground defense systems (the Kazematten) which are certainly worth a visit. In the limestone hills surrounding Maastricht, you can take a tour of an immense network of man-made caves. On the other side of the Maas river, “Wyck” offers local stores, an organic market and authentic bars… This part of Maastricht is lovely and not overrun by major chain stores. Look for more information on the website of the Maastricht Tourist Office. It’s a little outdated, but offers an overview of things to do in Maastricht: http://www.vvvmaastricht.nl/index2.php3 or see what Wikipedia has to say: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maastricht . For live pictures of Maastricht, check out the site http://www.maastricht360.nl/ . Maastricht is truly a European city. Not only was the important “Treaty of Maastricht” signed here in 1992, the city itself is located at an international crossroads and cities such as Brussels, Liège, Aachen, Cologne and Düsseldorf are within an hour’s journey. Other major cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris and London are just a little further away. In fact, ‘abroad’ is right next door, because it is easy to fly out to other major destinations in Europe for sometimes as little as €25. Please check your CES Travel Europe document for more information on where to go and how to get there. During the program, you will have plenty of opportunity to travel. Not only will we take you to some of Europe’s oldest and most treasured cities during the study trip (Brussels, Strasbourg, Paris etc.), you will also have 3-day weekends during the period in which you have classes, offering you lots of time to discover cities like Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Prague or Rome with friends.

2b. Maastricht University Established in 1976, Maastricht University (UM) is the youngest university in The Netherlands. It is also one of the best universities in the Netherlands and has ranked number 1 for the last several years. UM currently educates over 12,000 students and employs more than 3,000 people. It is a general institution of scientific schooling and research that offers numerous programmes within its six departments or “faculties”: the Faculty of Life Sciences, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, the Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, the Faculty of Psychology and the Faculty of Law. Next to that there is the University College Maastricht, Maastricht University’s own liberal arts college, and the Maastricht School of Governance. Maastricht University has a so-called “urban campus”. All faculties are housed in beautiful historic buildings in down town Maastricht on walking distance from one another. Only the Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences and Psychology is located on the other side of the river, next to the main hospital. Having your classes in Maastricht’s historic centre will make it easy to really get to know the city.

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2c. Student life Students in Maastricht come from all over the world. Most of them are Dutch, but since one in four students is from an international background, you will meet students from Germany, Belgium, Spain, Australia etc. In the month of June, the regular students of Maastricht University are still there, taking their last classes, doing exams etc. Your classes will be with other Penn State students, but Dutch students from the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) will help you to find your way in Maastricht and introduce you to Dutch student life. ESN organizes an international student night every Tuesday at the “Twee Heeren” bar and you are invited to join the party! See for more information on Maastricht: http://www.studentenstad.maastricht.nl/default.asp?taal=en

2d. Shopping Downtown Maastricht offers a bustling shopping environment. There are plenty of clothing stores, shoe stores, boutiques etc. There are many well known chain stores like H&M and Esprit located in Maastricht. However there are also dozens of locally operated, family-owned shops which are worth a visit. It is good to know that prices are often higher than the US for certain products like shoes, swimwear and clothing. Shops are open on Monday between 1-6 PM, Tuesday-Friday between 9 or 10 AM-6 PM and on Saturdays until 5 PM. Sundays shops are closed, except for every first Sunday of the month when shops open between 12 PM till 5 PM.

2e. Going out Maastricht offers plenty of opportunities for having a good time. There are two movie theatres. Minerva Cinema shows mainly blockbuster movies (in English with Dutch subtitles) while Lumière Cinema shows mainly independent movies from the U.S. (in English), Europe, Mexico, Japan and China (in the original language with Dutch or sometimes English subtitles). There are lots of places offering outdoor seating and the Dutch take every opportunity they have to sit outside. Going out for dinner can be a lengthy process. Slow food is still the norm in Europe, so depending on where you go you can easily sit 2-3 hours in a restaurant. Expect to pay more than the US, but tipping is not required. Going out for drinks is easy in Maastricht. There are more bars here than there are days in the year. Popular student hotspots are the Highlander bar, the Shamrock, the Twee Heeren, the Meta (on the Market square), the Alla and the Feestfabriek. Wednesday night salsa at the Kadans is another popular event. There is also a very lively jazz scene in Maastricht and especially on Mondays, various bars offer live jazz (and sometimes blues). Check out Quiz Night at “Mullin’s Irish Bar” in Wyck on Tuesdays. Good to know: the legal drinking age is 18, but the Dutch do not regard being drunk as a requirement for having a good time. Loud and crass behaviour is considered rude as is excessive drinking. The basic Dutch rule for going out is: have a good time, as long as you don’t infringe on other people’s ability to do likewise. You are responsible for your own actions, so make sure you keep your wits about.

2f. Events in Maastricht There is always lots of stuff going on in Maastricht, from live music, to exciting theater and more. Have a look at: http://www.maastrichtnet.nl/english for things to do. CES makes a monthly to do calendar which highlights the main events in the city.

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3.

The Summer in Maastricht Program

3a. Program content The Penn State Summer in Maastricht Program is a 6 week summer abroad program for Penn State students who want to learn more about politics in the European Union or the economic policies within the European Union. Each year, a group of 25-35 students participate in the program. Half of the participants have a background in political science or international relations and the other half studies economics, international business or a related subject. The common focus of the two groups, learning more about Europe and European integration, forms the backbone of the program. The Summer in Maastricht program has two days of introduction. This will give you the opportunity to get to know your way around Maastricht, make friends with the other students and learn more about taking classes at CES. The introduction program starts on Monday June 9, so the day that you arrive, with a practical tour to the nearby mall. The official opening ceremony takes place on the second day of the program. The introduction program includes: • Information meeting • Historical city tour • MENSA lunch • Various activities with Dutch students from the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Your classes start in week 1, with two Intercultural Communication classes, a lecture about the EU and a preparation session for the Study Trip. In week 2 and 3, we will take you on a 10-day tour to all major European insitutions in interesting cities like Frankfurt, Strasbourg, Brussels, Paris and Reims. You will have to hand in assignments during and right after the tour. In week 4, 5 and 6, you will take a class here in Maastricht. Students participating in the Economics track will take the course “Economics of European Integration”. Students following the Political track will study “Political Aspects of European Integration”. The two classes cover the same topic (European Integration) from two different viewpoints (political vs. economical).

3b. Program Schedule The Penn State Summer Program runs in 2008 from June 8 until Friday July 20. The calender is as follows: Summer Abroad Program – 2008

Week 1

Week 2

Sunday 8 June

Departure from U.S. to Brussels National Airport

Monday 9 June

Arrival in Maastricht / Start of program

Tuesday 10 – Wednesday 11 June

Opening Ceremony + Introduction activities

Thursday 12 June

Intercultural communication class 1 + Introductory lecture about the EU

Friday 13 June

Intercultural communication class 2 + Preparation study trip

Sat 14 – Sun 15 June

Days off

Mon 16 June

Start European Study Tour: Frankfurt: European Central bank

Tue 17 June

Strasbourg: European Parliament

Wed 18 June

Strasbourg: Council of Europe + European Court of Human Rights

Thu 19 June

Drive to Paris

Fri 20 June

Paris: OECD, Louvre

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Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Sat 21 June

Paris: sightseeing tour

Sun 22 June

Reims: champagne tasting

Mon 23 June

Brussels: European Commission, city tour

Tue 24 June

Brussels: Committee of the Regions

Wed 25 June

NATO, drive back to Maastricht (hand in last assignments)

Thursday 26 June

Day off

Friday 27 June

Hand in Intercultural Communication assignment at CES before 5 pm

Sat 28 – Sun 29 June

Days off (time to travel)

Monday 30 June – Thursday 3 July

Classes (9 AM – 12 PM)

Friday 4 – Sun 6 July

Days off (time to travel)

Monday 7 – Thursday 10 July

Classes (9 AM – 12 PM)

Friday 11 – Sun 13 July

Days off (time to travel)

Monday 14 – Tuesday 15 July

Classes (9 AM – 12 PM)

Wednesday 16 July

Classes (9 AM – 11 AM)

Thursday 17 July

Exam (9 AM – 11 AM)

Friday 18 July

End of program / Departure to the U.S. from Brussels National Airport Students staying longer will have to pay for the extra nights in the Guesthouse, please contact you coordinator in time!

3c. Cancellation policy CES has a strict cancellation policy to cover any loss of expenses.

When students withdraw

Cancellation fee

No later than 6 weeks before the start of the program

The cancellation is free of charge

Between 3 and 6 weeks before the start of the program

€ 100 (euro)

Within 3 weeks before the start of the program

€ 250 (euro)

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4.

Classes

4a. Brief description of the courses You will take 2 courses during the program. The first one takes place during the study tour; the second one after you come back to Maastricht. 1) Week 1-3: Study tour During the first week of the program, you will take a short class on Intercultural Communication. The aim is to prepare you for the cultural differences you will encounter during the study tour. You will have to hand in a paper at the end of the study trip which will be graded by Maastricht University professor Russ Kent. This grade will count for 30% of the total grade for the study tour and needs to be handed in at CES before Friday, June 27, 5 pm. During the 2nd and 3rd week of the program, you will go on a 10-day study tour. You will receive questions about each site visit before you leave. The questions are constructed by Professor Michael Bernhard and Professor Austin Jaffe from Penn State University. You will have to hand in your answers after each visit to Professor Zaryab Iqbal. This grade will count for 50% of the total grade for the study tour. During the study tour, the Penn State representative will also grade you for your participation during visits and general behavior. This grade will count for 20% of the total grade for the study tour. 2) Week 4-6: Economics of European Integration or Political Aspects of European Integration When you get back to Maastricht, you will start your second class. You can either take “Economics of European Integration” from professor Math Heckman or “Political Aspects of European Integration” taught by professor Sjoerd Claessens. Both teachers are very accomplished in their respective fields. Besides teaching for CES, Mr. Heckman also gives classes at the Maastricht School of Hotel Management and Hogeschool Zuid (A College in the South of Limburg) while Mr. Claessens does research and teaches at the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University. Both courses provide a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the historical development, institutions and policies of the European Union and examine the key issues and debates surrounding European Economic or Political Integration. In order to strengthen the connection between the site visits and the subsequent classes, some classes will start with a short (5-10 minute) presentation by a group of students about the institution. This presentation will be part of the final grade for the class. All your classes will be with other Penn State students. The main teaching method will be lectures with some case studies. However, active participation from all students will be expected.

4b. Class schedules Both Economics of European Integration and Political Aspects of European Integration are scheduled to take place in the morning from 9 AM to 12 PM, from Monday to Thursday. You will receive detailed class schedules upon arrival in Maastricht.

4c. Grading The Dutch grading scale runs from 1 to 10, the American system from F to A. Our CES teachers are used to teaching American students and will grade appropriate to Penn State practices.

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4d.

Conversion scale (CES course)

Dutch grade 9.5- 10.0 9.0- 9.4 8.5- 8.9 8.0- 8.4 7.5- 7.9 7.0- 7.4 6.5- 6.9 6.0- 6.4 5.5- 5.9 5.0- 5.4 4.5- 4.9 Rest:

US letter grade A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D F

4e. Attendance Classes require students to participate actively (some courses give bonus points for active participation). For all classes 100% attendance is mandatory.

4f Other class related issues Books will be provided by CES at the start of the class. You can buy notepads and pens in down town Maastricht, for example at the “Hema” department store. You will get access to the university library where you can look up articles, books and use the computer (for internet, printing etc). There are no printing facilities at the Guesthouse. There is wireless internet in the Guesthouse so it pays off to bring your laptop.

4g. Cultural differences (in the classroom) Even though both teachers are used to teaching American students, it is good to keep in mind that teaching practices and expectations will differ compared to what you’re used to in the US. This is mainly due to cultural differences between the Dutch and Americans. The next section is meant as an introduction to the most noticeable differences between the Dutch and Americans and the most likely sources of misunderstanding in the classroom. Our experience is though that most of you will do fine and that you will get along great with the teachers and other students. Just in case though…here are some things you might like to know: One of the most noticeable characteristics of Dutch people is their openness and direct way of acting and speaking. You will notice that you can say what is on your mind. The Dutch aren’t offended easily and society is organized in a non-hierarchical way. Dutch people will openly and freely discuss potentially controversial topics like gay marriage, drug use and sex and ask for your explicit opinion. In the classroom, students are expected to participate in discussions and ask questions when they don’t understand something. In addition, some teachers will insist that you call them by their first name and that you tell them what you do and don’t like about their class. On the other hand, Dutch teachers do expect a certain sense of decorum in their classroom. In that sense you might feel more or less in a time warp back to the Fifties at times. Students in Maastricht tend to dress pretty fashionable for class and so you too will be expected to be dressed comfortably yet neatly: no sweatpants or hats/caps in class, preferably no ragged jeans or oversized pants or t-shirts, preferably no sneakers, no exposed belly buttons etc. To blend in with the Maastricht crowd, wear polo shirts, button-down shirts, well fitted pants, nice tops and skirts etc. Behaviorwise, teachers appreciate it if you do not chew gum, do not slouch in your chair and actively participate in class. Another Dutch trademark is offering what they call “constructive criticism”. This is part of the “openness” mantra. Dutch people (and teachers!) will openly give their (unsolicited) opinion about your work or what you’re doing with suggestions of how to improve. Please do not get offended. Dutch people absolutely mean well and have no idea how rude or discouraging this might seem to someone from a different culture. They are generally shocked and embarrassed when they find out that their “constructive remarks” have not been received well. From a Dutch perspective, feedback is only meant “for learning” and the more detailed it is and the more directly it is offered, the easier it is for the receiver to “improve”. This is of course very different from social practices in the U.S. where people will go out of their way to make one another feel comfortable and welcome. You might encounter this cultural difference in class when the teacher will tell you explicitly

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what you did wrong or if you find your paper covered with lengthy remarks. This does not mean you’re not doing well…it is just meant to help you “improve”. In Dutch society equality is valued above all else. The Dutch even have a saying about it: “Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg” or “If you act normal, you’re acting crazy enough”. Standing out from the crowd is not encouraged. Dutch students will downplay their achievements to make sure others don’t feel bad about theirs. In Dutch high schools, there are no valedictorians, no homecoming king and queen, no cheerleaders, no sports teams, no noticeable competition. Doing badly will attract encouragement and help, but doing well is for you and you alone. In class you might notice that words of praise might not be offered as often as you’re used to. The emphasis will lie on helping the ones falling behind to catch up. Then two things about Dutch humour. First of all, Dutch people tend to take everything literally so over-thetop sarcastic humour is often a wasted effort. The most common reaction will be incredulous stares accompanied by a loud “Noooo, really?” as they ponder whether what you just told them is possible at all. It is not that the Dutch don’t get irony at all, they are just used to a different kind for Dutch people love to tease one another. They will see somebody do or say something and try to make a clever remark about it. The other will then retaliate with an equally witty answer and so on. This playful bantering should not be taken seriously. In class your teacher might crack a joke by offering a mocking remark about something you did or said. Again, no harm is intended and so the best thing to do is either to ask whether he means it or to reply with an equally witty remark. A last word of advice: learning how to deal with cultural differences is probably one of the reasons why you chose to go abroad in the first place and one of the most valuable lessons you can learn from your stay in Europe. Remember that the other person probably means well and that your mannerisms at time seem as alien to the other as their customs seem to you. Talk about what you think and feel and things will work out… we promise!

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5.

Study trip

5a. Purpose of the trip The study trip will form one of the highlights of this program. During the 2-week study trip, you will get an opportunity to visit many of the European and International organizations and institutions which you learned about in class. In that sense the trip forms an extension of your classes about European Integration. We have organized speakers and tours who will help you gain a more realistic understanding of the workings of these institutions. There is also a cultural aspect of the study trip. By actually travelling through Europe, hearing the different languages, dealing with different customs and cultures, you will get a feel of what it means to be European. During the evening, you will have plenty of opportunity to explore these cities on your own.

5b. Places to see The study trip will take us to cities which house the most and interesting European and International institutions. You will receive a detailed description of the study trip later on, but here are some of the highlights: Frankfurt – Germany Frankfurt is the 5th largest city in Germany and one of the largest financial centres of continental Europe (the other one being Paris). The city is home to famous institutes like the European Central bank (which we will visit), the German Federal Bank and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Frankfurt was severely bombed during WWII and its medieval city centre was almost completely destroyed, which is why the city has a modern skyline today. Strasbourg – France

Strasbourg is one of the two capitals of Europe. It is located at the top of the Alsace wine region on the border between France and Germany. Strasbourg houses several important European institutions like the European Parliament, the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe, which we will hopefully all visit. Strasbourg’s city centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. We will stay in Obernai, one of the typical villages along the famous Alsace wine route.

Paris – France Ahhh…Paris. What can we say about this captivating capital of France? We will take you to the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), but also to see Eiffel tower and the Louvre museum which houses world art like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. You will have plenty of time to discover Paris on your own… ☺.

Reims – France The city of Reims is the commercial center of the Champagne wine region of France. The region is a historic province in the northeast of France and best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region’s name. One of the great and oldest Champagne houses is located at the Pommery Estate where we will get a guided tour of the cellars and afterwards there’s the chance to taste the Pommery Brut Royal.

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Brussels - Belgium The French-speaking capital of Belgium is also home to the headquarters of most of the European Union’s institutions, making it the other capital of the EU. The city itself has a wonderful historic downtown, centred around the main square called the “Grand Place”. We will take you to NATO headquarters, the European Commission and the EU Committee of the Regions. Don’t forget to visit the Atomium or “Manneke Pis”, check out the many local stores selling artisan chocolates, taste one of the famous Belgian beers or try some Belgian fries.

5c. About the visits During the day you will be visiting some of the most renowned institutions in Europe. It is maybe good to know that our contacts have done a lot of effort to organize your visit. Sometimes only a tour was possible, but at other times they have gone to great lengths to arrange interesting speakers. Since students from the economics and the political track will go to all institutions together, not all visits will be equally interesting to all students. Nonetheless, we ask you to behave respectfully at all times. There is a dress code during the visits (business attire) and participation will be part of your final grade. You will also receive questions about the visit before you leave which you will have to answer and hand in on the same day of the visit.

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6.

Travelling to Maastricht

6a. Expected arrival date All students should arrive at the International Student Guesthouse in Maastricht on Monday 9 June 2008 between 10AM and 4PM. Your CES coordinator will be at the Guesthouse to welcome you. The introduction program will start at 4 PM and your attendance is required.

6b. Which airport? When booking a flight, we request that you to fly into Brussels National Airport (also called “Zaventem”) on Monday morning 9 June 2008. This means leaving the U.S. on Sunday June 8. Since Maastricht is located on the border of Holland and Belgium, Brussels airport is much closer than Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. You will also fly out from Brussels airport on Friday July 20.

6c. Passport, Temporary Residence Permit & Visa (“MVV”) Students from the United States, Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, Monaco, New-Zealand and Vatican City State do not need a visa to enter The Netherlands. The only thing you need to take with you is a passport valid for at least a month after your departure from the Netherlands! Non-EU students from other countries need an entry-visa or “MVV” (€ 250). IMPORTANT! Students who do not have a US passport should contact the Penn State office as soon as possible, since you will need to organize a separate entry visa (“MVV”) before you can come to The Netherlands. Make sure you start in time with this procedure!

6d. Airport pick-up If enough students arrive at Brussels airport on Monday morning June 9, CES will arrange for a convenient airport pick up. Below you will find information on how to get to Maastricht in case you arrive outside pick up hours or at a different airport. IMPORTANT: You will receive more detailed travel information right before you start traveling to Maastricht. Always check websites for the latest information. 6e. Traveling from Brussels National Airport (“Zaventem”) to Maastricht There is a train station in the basement of Brussels airport, just follow the signs. You can buy a ticket to Maastricht there and you can ask for a printed itinerary. There is a range of cheap fares for traveling to Maastricht from the Belgian station of your choice. This includes the Brussels Airport station. A one-way ticket to Maastricht now costs about €16, a return-ticket just €18. To book your ticket online or for exact timetables look at: http://www.b-rail.be/int/E/offers/border/tickets/maastricht/index.php or at the website of the Belgian Railways http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/ . The website will ask you to choose from a list of possible departure sites: choose “BRUXELLES-NAT-AIRPORT” (also sometimes listed as: “Brussels-NatLuchthaven” or “Brussels-Nat-Aeroport”) as your point of departure and “Maastricht” as your destination (NOT Maastricht Randwyck). For alternative transportation from the airport to Maastricht look at the website of Brussels Airport http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/airportinfo/toandfrom/ .

For those of you with a Eurail pass: remember that your Eurail Pass is set to expire after a certain number of days or months after validation. It might be better to wait with using your Eurail pass until you actually start traveling and to buy a single train ticket to go to Maastricht.

You can also book a shuttle to Maastricht from Brussels airport.This is a good option if you are traveling with a small group. You have to make reservations in advance. There are 2 good services: All Airport Services (Belgium) www.allairport.be A one way pick up from Brussels Airport (“Zaventem”) costs about €80 (euro) for one car. You can split the costs between you (depending on how many people fit in the car/van). Make sure to tell them how much

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luggage you have as well as with how many people you travel. Email them at: [email protected] to make a reservation (their online reservation form is in Dutch). You can pay cash or with Visa. Brull Airport Service (Maastricht) www.brull.nl Brull offers a shared airport shuttle for €36 (euro) per person. This means that they might have to drop off people at different addresses once you arrive in Maastricht. The good thing is that you can pay with cash or credit card upon departure and that this option is also open if you travel by yourself. They give a 25% discount for the 3rd person in the group, so you can split the costs and all pay less than €36 euro if you travel with more people. Make sure you tell them how much luggage you have when you make a reservation: [email protected] Meeting Point Zaventem : VENDING CORNER in the arrival hall ( on the right side of the Forum)

6f. Taking the train from Amsterdam Airport (“Schiphol”) to Maastricht For a train from Amsterdam airport (“Schiphol”) to Maastricht Central Station ("Maastricht Centraal") check out the website of the Dutch railways “NS” at www.ns.nl (click on English). Fill in the “Train Planner” (stations, date, time of departure or arrival) and click on “give journey advice”. The train planner will display costs, all possible trains, departure times and platform numbers which can be easily printed if you choose “print version”. It is not possible to book your ticket online and unnecessary to make reservations. Buy a ticket in the main hall of the airport (follow the train signs) at the NS ticket desk. There are automatic booths, but it will be far easier to go to a desk. A single way (“enkele reis”), second-class ticket (=good comfort, 1st class tickets aren’t worth the cost) will cost about € 27 Euro (make sure you have cash on you, although I think that they take credit cards now). You can also ask for a free itinerary at the desk (V="vertrek"=departure and A=arrival). The platforms ("spoor") where the trains depart are below the arrival hall. Important: To open the train door from the inside, you have to push a button next to the door. To open a train door from the outside, pull the handle. Make sure you get off at “Maastricht Centraal” station.

6g. Travelling from Maastricht-Aachen Airport to Maastricht The local airport near Maastricht is called “Maastricht-Aachen airport”. You can find lots of transport information on it’s website: http://www.maastrichtaachenairport.nl/en/html/. You can take a taxi from the airport to the Guest House. Taxis are waiting outside the terminal. If there aren’t any, call “Taxi Frenske” (043-3636362). The ride will cost you approximately €25-30 euro, so share with other students if you can. You can also wait for a bus. Bus 420 (from “Veolia” bus company) stops right in front of the airport and will take you to Maastricht Central Station in about 20 minutes. Bus 420 goes twice an hour, 14 minutes and 44 minutes past the hour.

6h. How to get from Maastricht Central train station to the Guesthouse? You can take a taxi from Maastricht Central station to the dorms. Taxis are parked in front of the main entrance of the train station. The 10-15 minute drive will cost you about €15 (cash!). Alternatively you can hop on a red and white city bus, route 1, 2 or 5 which will cost you about €2 when you buy the ticket in the bus. You can also buy a ticket valid for multiple rides, the so-called “strippenkaart”. Each strip represents a zone, and each city and region is divided into travel zones. Every time you travel, you will use up one basic strip + the number of zones you are travelling in. So each ride amounts to a number of strips

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('strippen') depending on the distance. Although you can buy a single ticket (2 or 3 “strippen”) on the bus, it is much cheaper to buy a blue "strippenkaart" at the city bus station ('stadsbusstation'), at the central railway station, post office or supermarket. It costs € 6.70 for 15 strippen or € 19.80 for 45 strippen. Make sure the bus stops at “St. Annadal”. From St. Annadal it will take you 5 minutes to walk to the Guesthouse.

6i. A word of caution Please beware of thieves and pick-pockets (“zakkenrollers”) at airport, train and bus stations. This is a very common problem in Holland/Europe and should not be underestimated! Don’t lose sight of your luggage wherever you are. Ladies, use a purse with a zipper; guys, do not put your wallet in your back pocket! Everyone: put your important documents and most of your money in a small travel purse that you can put around your waist or hang around your neck and wear it underneath your clothes. Keep a little cash at hand in a separate wallet. If you need to get more money from your travel purse, don’t do it in plain sight, but go to a bathroom for example. Note down information on how to cancel your bank/credit cards should anything get stolen and keep the information separate. Make sure you bring two copies of your passport with you, in case your passport gets stolen or lost.

6j. Emergency contact information On the student information form, you are asked to list your emergency contact information. It is important for us to know who to contact in case something happens, but it is just as important to leave important information with your family back home. Before you go, make an information sheet which includes your itinerary (flight number, arrival time), important phone numbers (CES coordinators, the Guesthouse, your air carrier and bank account - in case your bank/credit cards are stolen). Also include information about your health/travel insurance and photo copy your passport and birth certificate. Keep the number of your home emergency contact with you at all times. You will also receive a CES emergency information card when you arrive. It is the size of a credit card and fits in your wallet.

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7.

Housing

7a. Rooms All CES students stay at the International Student Guesthouse for the duration of their stay in Maastricht. The Guesthouse offers a total of 350 furnished 1 or 2 person rooms, either with or without private kitchen. Students in this program will be housed in double studios in the “Pbuilding” wing of the Guesthouse. All studios are furnished with a bed, desk, wardrobe, wash basin, book case, reading lamps, table and chairs and wireless internet. Showers and toilets are always shared. All studios have their own TV and a private kitchen that is fully equipped and comes with a fridge and an electrical stove.

7b. Location The Guesthouse is located at walking distance from downtown Maastricht behind the Court of Justice (also known as “Annadal” this is also the name of the appropriate bus stop). This beautiful white building with the characteristic light blue tower houses the judicial court of Maastricht. Walk left around the palace to get to the Guesthouse at the Brouwersweg.

7c. Address The address of the Guesthouse is: Guesthouse Universiteit Maastricht Brouwersweg 100 6216 EG Maastricht The Netherlands Reception Guesthouse UM Phone: +31 (0)43 3467220 or 3467210 Monday-Friday from 8.30 AM to 5 PM

Reception Security/Teikyo Phone: +31 (0)43 3467300 Monday-Friday from 5 PM to 8.30 AM + during weekend/ holidays

7d. Key and housing contract You will receive a key and a housing contract upon arrival at the Guesthouse. You will find the Guesthouse reception desk at the main entrance of the Guesthouse (see right). The second reception on your left is the Guesthouse reception, the first one is the Teikyo University/security desk. The Guesthouse reception desk is open from 8.30 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. After 5 PM and during weekends and holidays you can go to the Teikyo/security desk.

What to do when you are not arriving on the official arrival date or outside regular Guesthouse office hours! Firstly, please notify your CES coordinator as soon as you can! We will make sure your room is ready for you and your key is waiting at the first (Teikyo/security) reception desk which is open 24/7. If no one is at the desk it means the guards are making their rounds, so you’ll have to wait. You can sign the housing contract later during normal office hours at the Guesthouse reception desk. Your room at the Guesthouse has been reserved and paid for from June 9th until July 20th 2008. We will have to check whether your room is available for extra nights if you want to extend your stay, so let us know as soon as possible. Costs: €14-€22 per night, depending on the type of room. Please pay in cash to the CES secretariat!

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7e. Bed linen The following items are provided by the Guesthouse: mattresses, cover sheets, pillow, pillow case, blanket and blanket cover. If you want, you can bring an extra sleeping bag for traveling through Europe. Do not bring your own linen as standard sizes in the U.S. are different from those in The Netherlands. 7f. Welcome package You will receive a backpack which contains a blue program guide, a social guide and information about the city of Maastricht (including a map). Please read the program guide carefully and make sure you bring it with you during the introduction program.

7g. Calling facilities in the Guesthouse There are landlines in every hallway. Calls to the Guesthouse (011-31-43-3467210 from the U.S.) will be transferred to your hallway by stating your extension number, which you will receive upon check in. Please inform people who might call about your extension and room number.

7h. Internet in the Guesthouse There is Wifi wireless internet service throughout most of the Guesthouse (and in the buildings of Maastricht University). You can log in with your UM Student ID account, which you will receive upon arrival. What do you need? • a notebook with an 802.11g compatible wireless network adapter (to find out if your network adapter is 802.11g, consult your product's hardware documentation). • the wireless network adapter needs to support 802.1x wireless security • administrator access on the local computer (you need to change settings on the PC) • an employee or student account with the Universiteit Maastricht • an installed version of Windows XP Professional Edition • Windows XP needs minimum Service Pack 1 installed • Windows 2000 needs minimum Service Pack 4 installed (no manual). Students with a MAC Notebook (Apple) can also get access to the wireless network. You will receive more information upon arrival. If your computer doesn’t support wireless: Wireless cards are available for rent at the Guesthouse reception desk (€50 deposit) or you can buy them at a local computer store. You can also rent a computer at the Guesthouse for € 1 a day.

Important: Bringing your laptop has advantages and disadvantages. It will be easier to keep in touch with family and friends and to write papers. You can keep it safely in your room at the Guesthouse. During the study trip, you can keep it in your hotel room or in the bus (which will be locked when nobody is in there). Please realize thought that there is always a risk involved and that your laptop might get damaged or stolen. Please consider this when deciding to bring it or not.

7i. Other Guesthouse facilities There are free laundry facilities. You can also borrow a bicycle pump, vacuum cleaner, iron, telephone books and a tool box at no cost (you leave your UM student identity card as security); fax and make copies; play tennis or basketball (you can borrow a tennis racquet or basketball at the security desk).

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8.

Keeping in touch

8a. Calling the Dutch The Netherlands is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (US): EST +6. Dutch phone numbers often include country code, city code or standard cell phone precursor to be as comprehensive as possible.

How to ‘read’ Dutch phone numbers?

Landline phone number = +31 (0)43 3885283 breaks down as: Country code +31

Area code (0)43

Phone number 3885283

Cell phone number = +31 (0)6 41622080 breaks down as: Country code +31

Standard precursor for Dutch cell phones (0)6

Phone number 41622080

Phone numbers, be they land lines or cell phones, are dialled according to where you are calling from:

Dutch landlines, e.g. +31 (0)43 3885283

Dutch cell phones, e.g. +31 (0)6 41622080

• • • •

• • • •

From U.S.: 011 31 43 3885283 From rest of Europe: 00 31 43 3885283 From rest of Netherlands: 043 3885283 In Maastricht: 3885283

From U.S.: 011 31 6 From rest of Europe: 00 31 6 From rest of Netherlands: 06 In Maastricht: 06

41622080 41622080 41622080 41622080

To call from The Netherlands to a landline in any other country in the world (including the U.S.) dial

00 + country code (1 for U.S.) + city/area code + addressee’s telephone number

To call from The Netherlands to a U.S. cell phone, be sure to add the U.S. country code

“+1” (from another cell phone) or “00-1” (from a landline) + cell phone number

8b. Public phones For public phones you can use either coins or a Dutch telephone card. Telephone cards can be purchased at the post office and many other places. Note: different companies operate public phones, so at train stations use a Telfort card and all other public phones work with a KPN card. You can always call collect via the operator. You cannot be called back on a public phone.

8c. Cell phones It is possible to use your current cell phone when it has a tri-band feature. Do not make calls abroad with your current cell phone however, for it is outrageously expensive. A cheaper option is to buy a Dutch “simcard” (a chip which slides into your cell phone) which will give you a Dutch cell phone number. You will be able to make cheap local calls and (while in The Netherlands) you don’t have to pay for incoming calls! Check out offers from various phone companies (see your student social guide upon arrival). One of the cheap options is to get a prepaid Lebara Mobile sim-card with which you can call abroad. You can buy the sim-card at Fars Net and Grand Net, two internet cafés at the Bosschstraat (near the Market). See for more information: www.lebara-mobile.nl. A very cheap option for calls within the Netherlands is “Simyo” (€0.15 per minute). Calls abroad with Simyo are expensive though. You can get more information from your CES coordinator. You can also leave your current cell phone at home and just buy a Dutch cell phone with a prepaid sim-card.

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8d. Calling from the Guesthouse To call home, you can buy KPN phone cards at the reception desk of the Guesthouse. There are several public phones in the dormitories. It is expensive though to call with a KPN phone card. It is much cheaper to call with an international calling card (like Eurotel) which can be purchased at Fars Net and Grand Net at the Boschstraat or at Toko Wens near the train station (Stationsstraat 5). Fars Net and Grand Net also offer telephone services, but Fars Net has more competitive rates and longer opening hours (Mon-Sat 10 AM-11 PM; Sun 12 PM-11PM. Another option is to get an “ekit-account” ( www.ekit.com). Ekit offers travellers email and cheap phone services. Charge your account with your credit card and make cheap phone calls from almost anywhere in the world via a local number or toll-free number and your personal access code.

8e. Calling via internet Another option is to bring a laptop. There is Wifi in the whole Guesthouse so you can easily call and receive calls with Skype (www.skype.com) for example (all you need is a headset). You will get your login information from your coordinator. Wireless internet cards are available for rent at the Guesthouse reception desk for a €50 deposit. You can find more information about internet services in your program and social guide. There are also wireless hotspots all over town: in some places you have to consume a beverage, others charge you to use their wireless services.

8f. Sending a package from the U.S. to the Netherlands We encourage students to use the address below in case they want to have mail sent. Universiteit Maastricht SSC/CES/Name student Bonnefantenstraat 2 6211 KL Maastricht THE NETHERLANDS For sending a package from the U.S. to the Netherlands, US Postal Services and Dutch Customs have the following regulations: • USPS: http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immicl/immiclnr_004.html#vnameref_1 (Also shipping rates can be found at this location) • Dutch Customs: http://www.douane.nl/particulier/internetaankopen/en/internetaankopen-03.html DUTY ISSUES: When sending some personal items with a value of less than € 22,-, you don’t have to worry, as no additional taxes or import duties will be charged. This goes for gifts as well, as long as the value is below € 45,-. Only be sure to mention the fact that the package contains a gift on the box/parcel! If you want to send something to the Netherlands with a higher value, you will be charged duty! On the following site you can calculate the tariff (import duties) for importing certain goods to the Netherlands from the U.S.: • http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/en/tarhome.htm You can use one of the tricks below in order to give your package a low profile. Keep in mind that CES does not take any responsibility for you using these tricks! • Do NOT write on the form that there is an expensive item (like a camera or computer) inside the package. Be as vague as you can. • If you feel you must, at least add the word ‘USED” or “(5 YEARS) OLD” or anything that will indicate that the item has been around for a while. • If the item is actually used or old, send a copy of the old receipt with it in the box. • If possible, do NOT write any large amounts on the form (e.g. insured for $300 dollar). You will arouse suspicion and you will be taxed on the amount written on the form, not the ACTUAL value of the gift.

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9.

Food options during the program

9a. General idea During this program you will have to provide for your own food. When you are in Maastricht you’ll have to do groceries and either cook (the cheapest option by far) or go out for dinner. The university student restaurant “Mensa” has limited opening hours compared to the U.S. It is closed on Friday afternoon and in the weekend. During the study trip we will take care of breakfast and there will be plenty of opportunities to get lunch and go out for dinner.

9b. Grocery shopping Next to the Palace of Justice/Guesthouse is a small shopping mall called the Brusselsepoort. It contains a variety of services including a post office, ATM, 2 supermarkets (“C1000” and the more expensive “Albert Heijn”) and a Chinese restaurant. One of the cheapest supermarkets close to the Guesthouse is “Aldi” at the Volksplein 34. Expect to pay between €50-€100 in groceries each week. However you can easily reduce the cost of food by eating together with friends. Shopping hours: Supermarkets are usually open between 8 AM – 8 PM. The Turkish mini supermarket at the St. Annalaan is usually open until 10 PM (Mon-Sat). There is one mini supermarket (“Albert Heijn”) at the Central Railway Station which is open 7 days per week, between 8 AM - 10 PM on weekends and between 6.30 AM - 9 PM on week days.

9c. Going out for breakfast and dinner Breakfast/lunch It is not common to go out for breakfast in The Netherlands . There are however some places in the city which serve sandwiches and breakfast on Sundays. Go to the city center and ask around in “café’s” (bars) located around one of the main squares: “Vrijthof”, “Onze Lieve Vrouwe Plein” or “Plein 1992”. Most open around 10 AM. Other good options are: •

Délifrance: sandwichshop on main street (“Grote Staat”) in the city center with good French baguettes and pastries. Open on weekends from 9 AM to 9 PM.

•

‘t Witte Bruudsje: sandwichbar located in the city center on the “Platielstraat” off the main square (“Vrijthof”). Open on weekends from 10 AM to 2 AM. Good hot and cold sandwiches. Their meatballs are famous!

•

Blanche Dael Coffeelovers: lounge/espressobar for great coffee and even better sandwiches. Across the bridge in the part of the city called “Wyck”. Located on a square called “Plein 1992”. Open between 10 AM-6PM on the weekend and between 8 AM-6PM on weekdays.

•

Café Zondag: good music, good food, relaxed atmosphere. Located on the main street in Wyck (Wyckerbrugstraat 42). Open every day from 10 AM to 10 PM, on Sundays from 11 AM to 10 PM.

Dinner The student restaurant “Mensa” serves hot meals for about €5. Most bars (“café’s”) and restaurants serve a type of French cuisine. Prices are higher than in the U.S. (usually €12 and up, although most café’s have cheap daily specials for €5-7) and portions are smaller (no take away). Most restaurants serve dinner between 6 PM and 10 PM.

9d. Dutch fast food Dutch fast food options are a bit different than in the U.S. Most Dutch people will go for French fries with a fried meat snack, but there are other options as well. Fast-food restaurants are not open as long as in the U.S. (until 11 PM or 12 AM during the week and 2 AM during the weekend) and not all deliver! •

French fries: Dutch people LOVE their “frites” and will go to a “frituur” or “snackbar” to get a portion of French fries with mayonnaise (...you will pay extra for any condiments by the way) with a fried snack (usually some sort of fried beef or pork)

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on the side. Strangely delicious ☺. The most famous “frituur” is called “Reitz” on the Market square in downtown Maastricht. The closest ones to the Guesthouse are Grillroom Isis and Snackbar Scnackpoint at the Brusselsepoort. •

Pizza: all pizzeria’s deliver, just remember that Dutch pepperoni is NOT the same as pepperoni back home. The closest ones to the Guesthouse are: Da Roberto (St. Annalaan 6A, call 3436500) and Al Capone pizza (Emmaplein 18, call 3216747).

•

Chinese food: all Chinese restaurants have a take out section, but they do not deliver food! Luckily, there are two Chinese restaurants within walking distance from the Guesthouse (Brusselsepoort mall and on the Saint Annalaan). Look for cheap menus.

•

Kebab: with the influx of Moroccan and Turkish immigrants came also a wave of Arab style grillrooms where you can get kebab, shoarma, falafel, frites and pizza. Pretty good, pretty cheap, extended opening hours, plus…as an extra bonus…some grillrooms deliver! Isis Grillroom, located on St. Annalaan 3B is the closest. Phone number: 3217295.

9e. Tipping Giving tips in restaurants (and taxi’s) is not obligatory. All waiters/waitresses are paid a full salary with benefits so tips are more like token fees to thank them for good services (approx. 5-10% of the bill). Even if service is not that great, Dutch people tend to round up, e.g. they leave €35 for a €33.50 bill.

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10.

Various practical stuff

10a. Money matters It is not necessary to open a Dutch bank account as there are plenty of ATM’s where you can access your home bank account. Check your bank card before you leave to make sure you can withdraw money with it at a foreign ATM (Cirrus and Maestro are widely available here). You can withdraw money from any Dutch bank: ABN-AMRO, ING Bank, Postbank, SNS Bank, Rabobank… just look for matching symbols on the ATM machine and your card. Credit cards are not as widely used in Europe as in the U.S. Your best clue is to look for signs on shop doors and windows. Visa and Master Card are generally accepted. It is often not possible to buy groceries with your credit card, but most restaurants will accept them. Take out places like pizza restaurants and grillrooms generally do not take credit cards! Make sure you bring euros (cash) along, as you will need to pay cash for taxi, bus or train fares, as well as for small expenses. Don’t take too much money with you while travelling: between €150-250 for the first few days should be more than enough. If you need more, you can find ATM’s at almost every street corner. Do not bring Traveller’s Cheques, except maybe as emergency back up. Note that you cannot use these in stores, you will have to exchange them for cash at a bank or change bureau first. Important: some U.S. banks only allow you to withdraw money from a “foreign” bank once per day!

10b. Electricity In the Netherlands and continental Europe the electricity is 220 volts and plugs have two round pins. You will need a plug adapter and, in some cases, a voltage converter. Appliances with built-in electrical adapters, like laptops and camera battery chargers, might not need an additional voltage converter (check if it says 110230 or 240 ~V somewhere). If you bring your laptop, you can buy a European cord for less than €10. Devices like hairdryers and electrical toothbrushes will not work here without a converter and can therefore better be left at home. You can buy everything here.

U.S.

The Netherlands

Important: U.K voltage and plugs differ from mainland Europe voltage and plugs!

10c. Insurance Make sure you have enough liability and health insurance to cover any expenses you might have to make while abroad. Please contact your Penn State coordinator for advice or look at http://www.ace-ips-nl.com/ for cheap insurance options.

10d. Weather The program takes place during summer. In Maastricht, temperatures usually hover between 75-85F during the day and in the 60’s at night. Occasionally temperatures are higher (between 90-100) with high humidity. However, since the Netherlands is such a flat country, changes sweep through quickly when the wind starts to blow. Expect a few days of rain. Belgium has the same climate as the Netherlands, but temperatures in Strasbourg, Geneva and Paris are different. Basically, the further south one travels, the higher the temperatures. Geneva is located in the Swiss Alps at a lake side, so temperatures are generally a bit cooler than e.g. in Paris. Check the weather at www.bbc.co.uk/weather.

10e. Clothes It might be good to know that Maastricht fashion is not as laid back as in the U.S. People usually don’t wear sneakers, old jeans, caps or oversized clothing like baggy pants. Also sportswear is not a common sight on the streets of Maastricht. The most important advice is to bring some relaxed but nice outfits for class and plenty of business attire for all the official visits during the study trip (button down shirts, ties and nice pants and shoes, jackets / skirts, nice shoes and tops or blouses etc). Having your clothes cleaned in European

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hotels is expensive, so make sure you bring plenty of spare clothes. Also take a light jacket or vest for colder weather and night temperatures.

10f. Suitcases and other travel gear Every student is only allowed to bring 1 big suitcase and one small backpack or suitcase. More will unfortunately not fit on the bus during the study trip. CES tries to guarantee 3 day weekends, so you will have plenty of opportunity to travel and see Europe. A small backpack or suitcase allows for easy travel around Europe. Also bringing a small travel towel will be helpful.

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11.

Travelling in Europe

Once you come back from your study trip, there will be time to discover and explore the rest of Europe on your own! Fortunately, traveling within Europe is quite easy and doesn’t have to be expensive. We have collected some useful tips for you:

11a. Train If you want to explore Europe by train there are several options: For all high speed train options, check the following website: www.nshispeed.nl To see which ticket will be best for you: the European rail guide: http://www.europeanrailguide.com/ For general rail info in Europe check: http://ccl.kuleuven.be/~corn/railinfo.html Belgium The “Belgian Go Pass” is a cheap and efficient way for people under 26 years old to travel through Belgium. The Go Pass costs € 45,- and is valid for 10 single trips between any two Belgian train station. This is a good option if you want to travel in a small group, you can share the ticket! The Go Pass can only be purchased at Belgian train stations, so you should take the train from Liège and buy the ticket there: http://www.b-rail.be/nat/E/tarifs/passes/go/ Germany If you want to travel within Germany, take the bus from Maastricht to Aachen and then continue by train. Traveling by train is not that expensive in Germany, especially not when you travel during the weekend. In the weekend you can buy a “Schones Wochenende”-ticket, which will give you major discounts. When traveling in a group you can also purchase a group-ticket. http://www.bahn.de/S:PtVOSN:ecoDmNNNY8KXVNNNNVtM/p/view/preise/gruppen/gruppenpreise.shtml http://www.bahn.de/S:PtVOSN:ecoDmNNNY8KXVNNNNVtM/regional/view/bundesweit/bahnregional/freizei t/schoenes_wochenende_ticket.shtml Paris It is possible to purchase a TGV-Thalys high speed train ticket direct from Maastricht to Paris. These tickets are available at the train station or via www.nsinternational.com (check for offers!) www.thalys.com Switzerland If you want to travel to Switzerland, it is best to take the bus to Aachen, Germany and continue to Switzerland by train. www.bahn.de

11b. Plane Traveling by plane is often the cheapest and definitely fastest way to travel around Europe. There are a couple of websites which compare cheapest tickets: www.skyscanner.net www.lowcostairlines.nl www.cheaptickets.nl However, there are several low-cost airlines which you should always check when planning a trip: www.ryanair.com (Italy, Ireland, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Baltic states) www.easyjet.com www.transavia.com (Italy, Scandinavia) www.germanwings.com www.hlx.com (happy hour every Tuesday 6 PM till Wednesday 6 PM) www.vueling.com (Spain, Portugal) www.virgin-express.com www.skyeurope.com www.wizzair.com www.airberlin.com (a bit more expensive, but once in a while great offers!) When booking a flight with a low-cost airline keep in mind… …that the offered tickets are often one-way tickets and that you have to find a return flight plus the airline will add taxes, fees & charges to the ticket price. …to be flexible! Sometimes it is a lot cheaper to book a very very very early flight, so be willing to adjust your sleeping habits just for once. …that if a ticket is too expensive: wait with booking. Sometimes a couple of hours or a day can make a huge difference in price.

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…that sometimes airports are located outside the city (for example; flying to Barcelona with Ryan Air means you’ll fly to Girona, about 100 km from Barcelona city). So, check the means of transportation and the costs of traveling from the airports to your final destination.

11c. Bus Even though this is not always the cheapest way to travel, it is also possible to travel Europe by bus. “Eurolines” will take you from several cities in The Netherlands to almost all major European cities. They have a student discount! www.eurolines.com

11d. Hostels Good, clean hostels can be found at “Hostel World”. Check: www.hostelworld.com

11e. General Remarks ISIC –card For traveling outside the Netherlands your UM card will often not be enough to identify you as a student in order to get discounts. Therefore, it might be useful to buy an International Student card (ISIC). The card costs about € 15,- and is valid for a year. While traveling you can really get quite some discounts. www.isiccard.com Traveling with a residence permit Once you have obtained your residence permit (if you need one) you can travel between the Schengen countries (Belgium, Spain, Holland, Luxembourg, Greece, France, Germany, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria and Italy). If you don’t have a residence permit, always check if you need a visa before you are about to cross a border! When traveling to Great Britain check: www.usembassy.org.uk US Embassy, the Netherlands: http://thehague.usembassy.gov/ 11f. More travel tips Check these sites for more travel tips: http://www.attitudetravel.com http://www.visiteurope.com http://www.backpackeurope.com/ http://www.statravel.com/cps/rde/xchg/us_division_web_live/ http://www.eurotrip.com/index.html http://www.istc.org/sisp/index.htm http://student-travel.orbitz.com/study-abroad.html

11g.

European Hot Spots

European Hot Spots! Belgium – Bruges France – Paris Italy – Rome, Siena, Florence, Pisa, Venice Spain – Barcelona, Madrid, Ibiza Switzerland - Interlaken Sweden – Stockholm Czech Republic – Prague Great Britain - London Ireland – Dublin, Belfast The Netherlands - Amsterdam Austria – Salzburg (Von Trapp!)

Insiders tips for the more active and cultural minded travellers Spain – Seville, Granada (Alhambra!) Sweden – Kiruna (see the northern lights, the ice hotel and go dog sledging!) Czech Republic – Cesky Krumlov (small medieval city in Czech mountains, UNESCO heritage site) Italy – Cinque Terra (beautiful hiking trail in Northern Italy) Portugal – Lisbon Poland – Krakow + World War II Concentration Camp Auschwitz Hungary – Budapest Great Britain – Edinburgh, the Highlands - Scotland Germany - Schwarzwald

Even though we really do want you all to travel and explore the rest of Europe, don’t forget about your classes: classes are obligatory and travelling is not a valid reason for absence!

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12.

Map of Maastricht

Brusselsepoort Shopping Mall X Busstop

Palace of Justice

Market Faculty of

X

Arts X Main St Vrijthof X Faculty Language X of Law Center X

Guesthouse X CES Office X Faculty of Economics X X Library University College

This little map is meant to give you a first idea of downtown Maastricht. Maastricht University has a so-called “urban campus”: most university buildings are located in beautiful historic buildings in downtown Maastricht. When you arrive, you will receive a welcome package with information about the city of Maastricht and a detailed map of Maastricht. In addition, Dutch students will guide you around and show you the main university buildings, shops, banks etc. So, for now goodbye, but…

See you soon in Maastricht ☺☺☺

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