Dates
May 20 – June 17, 2026Subjects
Fashion Design & Merchandising, Graphic Design, New Media, Education, HonorsDeadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
The Netherlands are a group of provinces located in north-western Europe. The region is below sea-level and is best known for its many canals, picturesque windmills, colorful flower fields, and an abundance of art, culture, and history. It is equally renowned for its cutting-edge transportation network, urban design and merchandising, and the associated areas of place branding, sustainability, commercial and social responsibility, international criminal court, and global multicultural hotspot. Open to all majors, the KIIS Netherlands 4-week program focuses on Fashion Design and Merchandising, Graphic Design and New Media, and Education. The program will be based in the cities of Rotterdam, The Hague, and Amsterdam.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
Program Director
As a professor of retail and tourism management, I view educational travel as integral for preparing students to become future professionals in a globalized world. I’ve traveled extensively with students, both domestically and abroad. Observing the transformative impact of these experiences on my students has been the highlight of my career, and I can’t wait to lead KIIS Netherlands next summer!Dr. RayeCarol Cavender
Photo Gallery
-
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
Courses
All courses are taught in English and are 3 credit hours. You may enroll in 1-2 courses.
This course provides a survey of trend forecasting for fashion and related industries. Students will become acquainted with the guiding frameworks that are employed to understand and predict fashion change and the integral role that social, cultural, and contextual indicators play in the forecasting process. Students will put learning to practice through the completion of assignments that will require the identification, analysis, and interpretation, of existing and emerging fashion trends.
In this course, students will explore the art of creating Zines and capturing meaningful images using cameras or phones. The aim is to move beyond simple snapshots and use photography as a tool for investigating various aspects such as places, ideas, colors, moods, perceived cultures, and personal reflections during our visits to specific cities.
Posters promote or commemorate events, posters inform and educate, posters make political statements. Posters can be hand-painted on cardboard or highly crafted and produced. Regardless of their purpose or production method, a posters purpose is to quickly and powerfully communicate their message. In this class we will both observe and create.
This study abroad course offers a dynamic, comparative exploration of educational foundations in the United States and the Netherlands, focusing on the intersections of history, philosophy, policy. Anchored in both theory and immersive experience, you will examine how differing cultural, political, and social values shape educational systems and goals. This course is ideal for students interested in education, international studies, public policy, sociology, and civic leadership.
This interdisciplinary study abroad course invites you to explore the powerful connections between education and democratic citizenship within an international framework. Set in the Netherlands - a country renowned for its high-performing and pluralistic education system, this course offers a unique opportunity to examine comparative models of civic learning and democratic engagement between the Dutch and U.S. context.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
-
Gouda Cheese Farm
-
Rotterdam Cube Housing
-
Amsterdam Noord
-
Utrecht
-
The Hague
-
Rotterdam RDM
Group Flight
ESTIMATED COST $1,650 – $1,750
The Netherlands program offers a group flight option where you can travel to/from Amsterdam with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a roundtrip flight ticket for you. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on April 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.
If not selecting the group flight, you are responsible to purchase your own roundtrip airfare.
The flight to Amsterdam is overnight arriving the following morning. On the return, the flight from Amsterdam to the USA departs and arrives on the same day. Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.