York School of Architecture Visits The Netherlands
Posted on Thursday 29 October 2026
From 7–12 October 2026, second-year students from York School of Architecture explored housing, mixed-use developments and urban regeneration in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Connecting directly with their Dwelling+ studio project, students examined how different approaches to housing bring together domestic life, shared spaces and the wider city. Visits to museums and to MVRDV architecture practice enriched a packed programme of walking, sketching and discussion, with students (and staff) returning inspired by new possibilities for dwelling and designing together.
Cyril Montoya, Co-President of York Architecture Student Society, said:
Oh my, what a week it was!
Our Netherlands trip was quite the experience! Visiting and experiencing Rotterdam cannot be replicated by simply googling and viewing photos online. The extravagant and flamboyant architecture, the culture, the people and the city’s music sounding like a siren’s song, calling us to stay forever in Rotterdam.
Every day was a highlight, to be sure. As soon as we docked, our trip and mission already started, and we went, we walked, we strutted, and we conquered the streets of Rotterdam. Our tutors and my course mates explored different buildings with varying themes and uses, such as museums with heart-moving exhibitions, mixed-use developments and peering through the works of one of the revolutionary architecture firms, MVRDV.
Aside from the academic side of our trip, Rotterdam created friendship and closeness that might not have been easily achieved. We bonded over the silliest things. We bonded over the rain that devoured us in the middle of the night, running through this unfamiliar-familiar city hand in hand. When in Rotterdam.
This trip not only gave us the knowledge and experience to understand our studies, but it also allowed us to create new friendships and bonds. I am grateful for the opportunity, and I cannot thank our tutors enough for supporting us on this trip. It was truly an unforgettable experience."
Sofie Stolk, Co-President of York Architecture Student Society, said:
"A priceless experience! Funnily enough I, myself, am from the Netherlands. But this trip will still stay with me forever. We went to places that I already knew about and had seen before, but saw these buildings in a ways I had not thought of before, seeing the friendliness and intentional design within these structures.
Visiting places like the MVRDV Headquarters in Rotterdam, extraordinary residential areas in Amsterdam and famous places like the Cube houses and the Erasmus bridge. Seeing these structures live is incomparable to anything else.We were given the opportunity to speak to multiple well-established architects. MVRDV Architects presented details on their work to us and showed us how they typically go about a design process which was honestly captivating. But we also visited many art museums.
Overall the trip has fuelled my inspiration for the coming years of architecture in my life. I had loads of fun with my peers chatting and messing about in this architectural themed excursion.