Geographical Field Course: Urban Geography of the Netherlands – Rotterdam & Amsterdam (2025/2026: Semester 2 – Summer)

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Cursusdoel

After completing the course, students are able to:
  1. Identify and interpret urban challenges in the Netherlands:
  2. Conduct fieldwork based on integrating theoretical and historical sources
  3. Reflect on interdisciplinary approaches to urban and socio-cultural issues
  4. Analyze and reflect on intercultural encounters
  5. Communicate effectively in cross-cultural settings

Description of assignment Assesses which learning goals?
  1. Presentation subtopic preparatory week (team)
  2. Active participation fieldtrip (individual)
  3. Fieldwork paper (individual)
  4. Reflection paper fieldtrip (individual)
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Vakinhoudelijk

Cross-listed with Humanities, with a special interest for students pursuing Arabic L&C. Course counts towards either SSC or HUM major.
Also recommended for students in Earth&Environment and Sustainability Science, but does not count towards Science major.

Destination Summer 2026: Netherlands

This field trip provides students with the opportunity to explore socio-spatial patterns and urban processes in two of the Netherlands’ most dynamic cities: Rotterdam and Amsterdam. By applying core concepts from urban, social, development and critical geography, students will examine how global processes and local strategies shape urban life in the Dutch context. We will do so through a diverse range of theoretical and interdisciplinary lenses, for example, Feminist, Queer, Marxist, and Postcolonial theory.

Key themes include migration, ethnicity and diversity; housing and gentrification; sustainable transport and food transitions; gender, sexuality and the city; and the interplay of inclusion and exclusion in public space. Students will engage with neighbourhood-level transformations as well as broader strategies of urban planning, city branding, and governance. Through fieldwork, discussions, and project-based learning, they will develop the skills to interpret urban change within economic, political, and socio-cultural frameworks.
The course will be open to Humanities and Sustainability Sciences students. Therefore, the course will examine urban processes through interdisciplinary approaches. Arabic studies will offer critical insight into ethnicity and migration, and sustainable sciences will offer
critical insights into urban sustainability.

Format
Phase 1: Preparatory Module (on campus):
- Lectures and student-led seminars on urban theory, the urban Dutch context and contemporary challenges.
- Desk research on themes such as migration and diversity; housing and gentrification; sustainability transport and food; gender and sexuality; and public space.
- Preparation of group presentations on selected topics relevant to the fieldwork.

Phase 2: Field Trips (Rotterdam & Amsterdam)
- Guided field walks through selected neighbourhoods focusing on themes such as food, gentrification, housing policy, and multiculturalism.
- Conducting field observations to analyse urban processes
- Visits to local institutions, NGOs, and/or municipal organisations to gain insight into how public, private, and not-for-profit sectors address urban challenges.
- In-class presentations to reflect on field notes and refine ideas.
- Students develop Urban Walks in specific neighbourhoods, combining field observations with academic debates.

Course admission, costs & deadlines
For initial selection, upload a motivational letter through the course admittance procedure in Osiris Case. Pre-enrolment is through the regular summer procedure, and starts after the midterm break.

Initial selection closes early for adequate activity reservations; with a down-payment for the field trip costs. The cost of the course is 75 euros per person. This includes activities, tours, museum access, and some refreshments/snacks. This does not include transport and other food.

  • Field course information meeting: Wednesday, 11 March 2026 13:00-13:45 in Locke-D2
  • Expression of interest to coordinator (via course admission procedure on Osiris Case): Friday, 20 March 2026. Upload a 200-word motivation letter and confirmation that you meet the prerequisites.
  • Deadline for down-payment: Friday, 3 April 2026. Use this payment link.
Selection will be based on the timely registration of participants, and the way the requirements are met. If interest turns out to be larger than the maximum number of participants, selection will be done through lottery. If any places remain free, use the regular summer pre-enrolment procedure.

Werkvormen

UCU level 3 SSC course

Toetsing

Active individual participation field trip

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

Individual field work paper

Verplicht | Weging 35% | ECTS 2,63

Individual reflection paper field trip

Verplicht | Weging 25% | ECTS 1,88

Presentation Student-led Seminar & Urban Walk

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Je moet minimaal 7,5 punten voor categorie 2 (Bachelor Verdiepend) hebben behaald en er moet voldaan zijn aan de cursus:

  • [SEE_BELOW]

Voorkennis

Recommended for students in Geography: UCSSCGEO11; and one of the GEO level 2 courses; or another relevant level 2 course, in SSC, HUM or SCI. Recommended for students in Humanities: UCHUMARA11, and a relevant level 2 course, in SSC, HUM or SCI. Recommended for students in Science: UCSCIEES12 and one of the EES level 2 courses. For pre-enrolment and selection, upload a motivational letter through the course admittance procedure in Osiris Case

Voertalen

  • Engels

Competenties

  • Internationale en interculturele oriëntatie
  • Interdisciplinariteit
  • Samenwerken

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • DIVERSE
    Activities, tours, museum access. Travel and meal costs are not included in the pre-paid fee.

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Opmerkingen

Cross-listed with Humanities: counts towards SSC and HUM major. Early enrolment deadline.

Coördinator

dr. C.A. Bonner-Thompson c.a.bonner-thompson@uu.nl

Docenten

M. Bao PhD m.bao@uu.nl
dr. D.S. van Lierop d.s.vanlierop@uu.nl
dr. C.A. Bonner-Thompson c.a.bonner-thompson@uu.nl
dr. R. Dittgen r.dittgen@uu.nl
W. Sayed Semida Mohamed Abbas w.sayedsemidamohamedabbas@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

Naar OSIRIS-inschrijvingen
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