Housing & Dining

• Fall & Spring
• Summer

Fall & Spring

Housing

There are four room options for students who attend the program:

1. single rooms (9)
2. double rooms (7)
3. triple rooms (18)
4. quads (2)

Room requests are assigned by seniority in descending order (by credits earned and cumulative GPA). We do everything possible to assign compatible roommates. However, the best roommates are those who are considerate of others and understand the challenges and benefits of community living.

• Each room is different, but nearly all rooms have “high beds” (bunk beds) that you must climb into by ladder (except for single rooms, which do not).
• Each bed is a twin long (same as Emerson twin beds); you need to bring your own set of twin (long) sheets and pillowcases.
• Two blankets and a pillow will be provided for you. If you want a duvet or extra bedding, you should plan to buy it in Well.
• Every bunk bed has a desk and wardrobe underneath.
• In each room, there are one or two sinks with a small wall mirror and shelf for standing toiletries. 
• There is no air-conditioning at the castle and each room may not be heated as warmly as you are accustomed. Be sure to consider this when you are packing.
• Any student with a documented physical disability who cannot climb up the ladder into bed should contact David Griffin to discuss housing options.

Most rooms at the castle are triple rooms. This room has a fireplace and is decorated with an antique mirror. All rooms have windows that look onto castle grounds.

Bathroom Facilities

Individual shower and toilet rooms are located on each dormitory floor. Look for the male and female symbols on the door. The number of facilities on each floor depends on the number of students. There is capacity for everyone. Some of the facilities are newly renovated and quite nice.

• Each private shower room has a door with a lock on the inside. It is important to note that the showers may be considered “narrow” for some students, as they are built to Dutch standards, not American.
• Individual toilet rooms for women
• Individual toilet rooms for men

Individual toilet rooms are located on each dormitory floor. Look for the male and female symbols on the door. Some of the facilities are newly renovated.

On-Campus Housing Requirement

The Office of Housing and Residence Life (OHRL) will contact students who will be enrolled at Kasteel Well during their semester abroad. OHRL will provide information to students about housing options and preferences for their next semester back in Boston. View information about on-campus residency requirements for your return semester to the Boston campus. For more information, contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life directly via email at reslife@emerson.edu or by phone at 617-824-8620.

Meal Plan

There is no meal service on Fridays and Saturdays.

The castle serves buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Thursday and brunch and dinner on Sundays (14 meals/week). Meals mainly consist of meat, fish, potatoes, eggs, bread, cheese, soup, salad and deli bar, crepes, french toast, and sandwiches. Most of the food is boiled or fried. Vegetables and fresh fruit are served on a daily basis; however, it may not include the variety you are used to. There are the occasional pizza, taco, spaghetti, and mac n’cheese nights. There are no snacks served between meals. There are small fridges in most of the hallways that you are free to use to store small amounts of food. We recommend that you take advantage of this to store snacks and light meals that you can buy in town.

We have had hundreds of vegetarians and vegans who have participated in the program; they always found food to eat. The catering staff will do their best to accommodate your needs, suggestions, and requests. Those students with special medical concerns or food allergies should note them on the Student Information Forms we will email  after the mandatory information session.

The village of Well has a bakery, butcher shop, fruit and vegetable shop, and a grocery store within a 10-minute walk from the castle. There is a pizza place, a pancake restaurant, and a cafe within walking distance. Please note that shop hours are limited in Well.

• Monday through Friday: most shops close at 6:00 pm.
• Saturday: most shops close at 4:00 pm and will not re-open until Monday morning at 8:30 am.
• Sunday: most places are closed for business.

Due to strict fire laws, students are not allowed to have hot plates, refrigerators, or any sort of incendiary fluids (including candles and incense) in their possession at the castle.

Dining Hours

Meal times are consistent and strict. Each meal is served for one hour, and mealtime ends about ½ hour before classes start. Dining hours are centered on class times and will not fit every student’s schedule. There is no food served after 7:00 pm at night, and only candy and soda are available from the vending machines, although Sophie’s Lounge sells snacks. Most students tend to be hungry a few hours after dinner so we highly recommend using the hall fridges to store your snacks.

• Breakfast is served 8:30–9:30 am
• Lunch is served 11:30 am–12:30 pm
• Dinner is served 6:00–7:00 pm
• Sunday Brunch is served 11:00 am–12:00 pm
• Sunday Dinner is served 5:00–6:00 pm

Summer

The housing and dining during the summer program are different than the meal plan and housing offered in the fall and spring terms.

Meals

The catering staff will do their best to accommodate your needs, suggestions, and requests. Those students with special medical concerns or food allergies should note them on the Student Information Forms we will email after the mandatory information session. There are small fridges in most of the hallways that you are free to use to store small amounts of food. We recommend that you take advantage of this to store snacks and light meals that you can buy in town.

Lunch/Brunch

The castle serves buffet-style breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday in the dining hall at the castle. There is also a brunch on Sunday in the dining hall.

Dinner

Monday through Thursday plus Sunday evenings you will have dinner at 6:00 pm at the Grote Waaij Restaurant (10 minutes walk from the castle). The dinners at the Grote Waaij Restaurant are part of your meal plan; you do not have to pay for them.

Housing

There is only one type of room possible during summer term: a double. Each double room is different, but nearly all rooms have “high beds” (bunk beds) that you must climb into by ladder. Each bed is a twin (long) and every bunk bed has a desk and wardrobe underneath. Each room has a sink and wall mirror in the room. Two blankets and a pillow will be provided for you. However, each student needs to bring his/her own set of twin (long) sheets and pillowcases.

It is best to work out roommate choices ahead of time. If two of you want to live together, you must write each other’s names on the housing form we will send to you. Participants who don’t request specific roommates will be assigned roommates. If you don’t know whom you want to room with, we will try to match you with someone compatible, based on answers to questions asked on the housing form.

Any student with a documented physical disability who cannot climb up the ladder into bed should contact David Griffin to discuss housing options.