Pre-Arrival Information for Kasteel Well

Mandatory Meeting for Accepted Students

Once students are accepted into the program, they will be required to attend an information session. Information sessions are held in mid-October for spring attendees and mid-March for fall term participants. Program staff will brief students about what to expect and answer any questions or concerns regarding the program. A packet of important information will be handed out. After the information sessions are held, housing forms will be emailed to students so they can begin the process of room and roommate selection.

Travel Arrangements

Every fall and spring semester the External Programs Office arranges a round-trip group flight from Boston to Amsterdam. The cost of the flight is included in the European Travel Package and will be part of the tuition bill for the semester. The advantage of booking the group flight is that students are met at the airport by castle staff and driven to the castle, some 2 1/2 hours drive from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Students on the group flight are also driven to the airport on departure. 

Of course, students have the option of making their own travel arrangements to the Netherlands. Participants making their own flight arrangements should refer to the term calendar for mandatory arrival/departure dates. When making your own flight arrangements, you must be aware of the parameters involved in the 90 day limit when traveling or living in a Schengen state. Please visit the passport and visa section for more detail. 

Independent Travel Excursions

In addition to the two group excursions, you will have one extended period of free time during the term when you may make a longer trip. Please see your term calendar for the dates. In most cases, you will start the independent travel break from the second group excursion city. This means you will need to plan ahead for overnight, food, and transportation costs during this period. Please budget for this expense.

Madrid, a new excursion city for spring semester students

International Student Identification Card (ISIC)

All participants are required to carry an International Student Identification Card. These cards will be provided as part of the travel package and should not be purchased individually. The ISIC cards will be handed out at the day of departure meeting. 

With the ISIC card, you receive reductions on all forms of transportation; in hotels and hostels; at museums, movies, galleries, and special events; and in many shops. You will also receive some travel insurance, some emergency assistance service, sickness and accident insurance, and access to a toll-free 24-hour traveler’s assistance hotline.

Let hostels know you have an ISIC card; it will get you discounts. Find out more about the ISIC card