There is a unique recurring collaboration between students from MICA and Willem de Kooning Academie (WdKA) in Rotterdam. Before our collaborative workshops in Rotterdam, we will spend several days at the incredible Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. Participation in the international travel portion of this class requires registration in an additional travel course Unravel the Code FB 5425TR.01.

Itinerary

The international travel program in the Netherlands runs from Oct 23 through Nov. 1st.

10/19 Sat – 10/22 Tues MICA Fall Break
10/23 Wed Travel independently to the Netherlands
10/24 Thurs 5:00 – 10/28 Mon 2:00 Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven
10/28 Mon 6:00 – 10/31 Thurs 1:00International Intensive Workshop, WdKA, Rotterdam
11/1 Fri Return to US

Dutch Design Week

In October of each year, Dutch Design Week (DDW) takes place in Eindhoven. The biggest design event in Northern Europe presents work and ideas of more than 2600 designers to more than 350,000 visitors from home and abroad. In more than 110 locations across the city, DDW organizes and facilitates exhibitions, lectures, prize ceremonies, networking events, debates and festivities.

Although during the event every imaginable discipline and aspect of design is on offer, the emphasis is on experiment, innovation and cross-overs. Exceptional attention each year goes to work and development of young talent.

Workshop at WdKA

In the three-day intensive workshop at the Willem de Kooning Academy student collaborate internationally, working in teams to learn and apply new technologies to a poetic design challenge.

Cost and Scholarship Opportunity

The costs for this trip are estimated to be between $1,000-1,200. To offset travel costs, there is a special Travel Award of $500 that you may apply for. We will send application details after you have enrolled in FB 5425.01TR. Please note that undergraduate students must first fill out a registration permission form, in order to enroll.

Travel Logistics

passport and visas

All travelers will be required to have a valid passport that has at least six months of additional time from the end of the trip to the passport expiration date. Confirm this now and address it right away if your passport is not valid. Travelers on a US or European passport are not required to have a visa. If you are traveling on another passport check with your consulate. Visas can take an absurdly long time; do not wait on this. All students are required to make three printed copies of their passport. One will be given to the MICA, one will be kept by the professors, and one will be kept with the student in a safe location that is not the same safe location where their passport is kept.

flight

Students are responsible for booking their own flights. Note that you typically need to fly out the day before your intended arrival date (8-15hr flight +6hr time change). With fall break just prior to our trip, there is a great opportunity to arrive early and travel throughout the Netherlands or other parts of Europe prior to the travel class beginning. Arrival at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport should be no later than 1:00 on 10/24 to ensure attendance at the 5:00pm meeting in Eindhoven that day. Transportation by train from the airport to Eindhoven Central is easy and takes about 2 hours. Once you have booked your flight enter the information in this spreadsheet.

trains

Getting around in the Netherlands by train is great. The ease of hopping on a train to another city is more like taking the subway than traveling by Amtrak. You can buy tickets at the counter in any train station (including the Schiphol airport) or at one of the automated kiosks. A reusable OV-card is convenient for use in all public transit, but costs a little extra. You can also just by buy paper tickets per trip. Scan your ticket or card at the entrance to the train platform on your way in and then again on your way out. Google maps usually has pretty good info on the Dutch trains but NS-app from the national rail organization is even better.

lodging

Lodging in Eindhoven has been booked. It is necessary to get that early during Dutch Design Week.Students will pay for their room upon arrival. There are multiple options available with occupancy ranging from one to four people per room, with varying costs. Groupings will be determined ahead of time.

Lodging in Rotterdam is to be booked by students at one of two locations. Stay OK Hostel is a perhaps the most interesting architecture you’ll have a chance to stay in. It is also affordable and directly adjacent to the WdKA, Blaak train station, and market hall. The hostel has rooms with 1-8 beds. Get together with classmates and make your booking. If hostel life is not for you, then the CitizenM hotel across the street is your option. It is perhaps a little over-designed and over-branded, but it balances an efficient minimalist approach with attention to comfort that ensures needed rest.

We would love to have each student on this adventure and encourage all to enroll now.