Question. How different is it to design and manage events and experiences in an international location? There's only one way to find out...
Creating Experiences Worldwide: Netherlands 2026
The aim of the Creating Experiences Worldwide is to explore and examine the social phenomenon (e.g. culture, socio-economic, linguistic, geographical) that impact event/experience design and management practices (managing people and resources) for events and experiences through an international and interdisciplinary lens.
**In other words, how culture influences the design and management of experiences**
The focus for the program, CEW: Intents26, is the Netherlands, including three cities: Breda, Amsterdam, and Oisterwijk.
Must Register for Tethered Course Spring 2026
To participate on the CEW: Intents26 Spring course-Maymester Travel, students must register for one of the following Spring 26 courses: RPTM 310, RPTM 415 or RPTM 395A. In addition, students must apply for the program.
- RPTM 310: Events Management and Experience Design
- RPTM 415: Management in Commercial Recreation
- RPTM 395A: Meeting and Events Management Certificate Internship
- RPTM 120: Leisure and Human Behavior
- RPTM 470: Recreation and Park Management
Talk to your academic advisor about how one of these courses fit into your schedule.
Application Process & Application Fee (i.e. Deposit)
The application fee must be turned in to Lissa Neese (lrn3@psu.edu) in the 804 Ford Building in the RPTM Main Office. Lissa is in person Mondays through Wednesdays from 9AM to 5PM (out for lunch from 12pm to 1 PM).
Forms of payment include:
- Major Credit Card
- Money order written to RPTM Penn State University, with a note CEW26 1st partial deposit
- Check written to RPTM Penn State University, with a note CEW26 1st partial deposit
- NO Cash. Cash will not be accepted
Note that checks and money orders will not be deposited immediately. They will be held until after the student has been accepted to the program. If the student has not been accepted to the program the check or money order will be returned to the student.
Spring Course Registration
To participate on the program students must be enrolled in one of the following.
- RPTM 310 - Events Management and Experience Design
- RPTM 415 - Management in Commercial Recreation and Tourism
- or RPTM 395A Meeting and Events Management Internship
If you are not already in one of these courses, please reach out to Dr. Kristin Thomas ASAP.
Notable Dates & Deadlines
Please note the dates and deadlines below.
- October 22: Application opens. $250 due at submission. Student receives full refund if not accepted to the program. The $250 is Non-refundable if student is accepted to the program. This is because of the cost to reserve housing. An application can be started anytime before the deadline; however, to be considered in the selection process, $250 must be received by December 1.
- December 1: Application closes
- January 15: Students receive an acceptance or non-acceptance email from the Faculty Program Coordinator
- February 1: Confirmation of Acceptance sent to Faculty Program Coordinator (remaining $250 deposit due to confirm space in the program)
- February 28: (90 days out from travel. 90 days before departure, students will be billed 25% of the program fee plus the EA administration fee)
- March 1: Final list of participants on the program due to the Education Abroad Office. If the program is under-enrolled, it will not run; committed students will be refunded 50% of the total deposit (The total deposit was $500 (Application ($250) + Confirmation ($250). Thus, the refund (if the program does not run due to low enrollment) would be $250.
- March 28: 60 days out from travel. 89-30 days before departure, students will be billed 50% of the EA Program Fee plus the EA Administration Fee if the student cancels or withdraws from the class/program.
- April 28: 30 days out from departure. Students will be billed 100% of the program fee plus the EA administration fee if the student cancels or withdraws from the class/program.
As with any type of travel there is some financial risk due to voluntary or involuntary cancellations or withdraws. If a student withdraws from an EA Program after the due date for students' commitment forms and deposits it may not be possible to obtain a refund. Penn State (Global Programs or RPTM) cancels or suspends the program for unforeseeable circumstances, the department and university will make reasonable efforts to make alternative enrollment arrangements for the students, although, it may not take place during the current term.
Program Description, Program Costs, and Info about Scholarships below
How Much Will It Cost?
Cost that can be applied to students' bursar accounts are:
- Maymester Tuition: $200 flat tuition fee
- Program Fee: $1800 (based on the exchange rate in September 2025)
Please note that the cost of the program is based on approximately 17 students.
Out-of-pocket costs include:
- Transportation from State College (or departing city) to Airport
- Flight from U.S. to Netherlands (estimates are around $1500)
- Personal spending
Inclusive Program Fee
The program fee is $2000 (an increase in original quote due to fluctuations in the exchange rate). There is a deposit in the form of the $250 application fee and a $250 program confirmation fee (i.e. total deposit $500).
Inclusive fee covers the following. Note items included subject to change.
- Hotel or Hostel: 9 nights (likely breakfast included)
- Transportation from Amsterdam airport to hotel in Amsterdam
- Transportation from Amsterdam to Hotel in Breda.
- All program-related transportation
- All educational programming (speakers, teachers, classrooms
- Any educational or leisure excursions
- Welcome Dinner
- Dedicated Local Educational/Program Coordinator for the week
Airfare
Current prices for airline tickets to Amsterdam are approximately $1500 round trip (tax and fees not included).
RPTM Financial Coordinator will work with Penn State's partner Anthony Travel to find group rates that could be cheaper. Airline tickets or personal travel to an airport are out-of-pocket expenses.
Personal Expenses
Students should budget expected costs for personal purchases (shopping, souvenirs), and meals that are not included in the program fee.
Extra notes about fees:
- Contracts are still being negotiated, cost will be finalized by mid-January 2026
- The program fee is $1800 (based on the exchange rate in September 2025)
- The program fee could change depending on the number of students who participate on the program.
- Deposits must be paid by check or money order made out to "The Pennsylvania State University" and given to the RPTM Financial Coordinator.
- Program fees may be billed to the bursar account.
Financial support information below.
check out these funding resources.
- Also, begin looking now at financial resources and funding. Check out The Easy Guide to Study Abroad Scholarships
- Don't forget about the Penn State Student Engagement Network (SEN) Grant Program. Ignite Your Curiosity!
Education Abroad Embedded Programs Scholarship
"Students participating in embedded programs are eligible for the Education Abroad Embedded Programs Scholarship. Starting fall 2023, no additional application is required to be completed by students to be eligible for the award. However, in order for students to be considered, the proposer/program leader MUST submit the final student roster by the appropriate deadline.
Please note: Due to an increasing number of participants in embedded programs, this scholarship is considered highly competitive. Therefore, the likelihood of students obtaining this scholarship has dramatically decreased and students should not have the expectation that they will receive this award. Students need to make realistic financial arrangements with their current economic situation in mind and to research other funding opportunities (i.e. college or departmental awards, external funding, etc)"(Education Abroad Website, 2023)
What Will We Do
In addition to seeing three Dutch cities, Breda, Amsterdam and Oisterwijk...
The exact program plan is still under development. Information below is subject to change. Faculty and Program Coordinators balancing educational quality and cost.
The program may include:
- Informal lectures and guest speakers covering the events industry, programming, culture, and design experience
- Sessions with local professional festival organizers, event tourism programmers, Intents Festival employees and local volunteers, local educators, and sociologists
- Volunteer/"work" at the Intents Music Festival
- Visit to Breda University of Applied Sciences and experiences with local students from the Leisure and Events Management Program
- Self Guided Exploration
More to come!
Credits: Creating World Wide Events
- Kristin Thomas, Ph.D., Associate Teaching Professor, Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, RPTM Faculty Coordinator for the Meeting and Events Management Certificate
- EduTravel, Ruben Boers and Koos Narold Founders and Operators