Amsterdam
Some infos from A'dam..
Who is/was there?? In Session 2006/07 ->
SoFi number
If you go to Amsterdam, sooner or later you will need to have a SoFi-number (social security number). Especially if you want to open a free bank account. :-)
How to get a SoFi number (Ext.page)
You have to call the number: Telephone number: (055) 538 53 85 (some automatic machine will answer, asking you to press some buttons - that is unfortunately just in dutch, but try to listen to "sofi nummer" and you will find out; you will be forwarded to a person, and they speak English, too) You have to ask for an appointment. They will then call you back and establish an appointment with you (yes, they don't do that immediately but insist in calling u back). Then, you have to go to the Belastingsdienst, it is in front of the train station Sloterdijk. You can go there by train (see http://www.ns.nl, by tram http://www.gvb.nl or also by bike - making a nice trip through the wester park, but it's quite far) ;) Important: Bring your valid passport with you. That's all.
Opening a Bank Account in Amsterdam
When registering at UvA, you will get a letter with which you can open a bank account at the ABN-AMBRO bank. You will need the letter and the passport. The bank account should be for free (I'm not sure, they may charge a small amount per month, but the opening is for sure for free; but: with sofi number it might be possible to get a free account). But pay attention, you have to go to the bank at a very specific time (ask at the service and information centre for the up-to-date time).
You can also try to open a bank account at one of the other banks: Postbank or Rabobank. But in that case you will need your sofi number. Postbank is complicated, you need to be subscribed at the IBG-group study financing, which is nearly impossible. If you have some form of financing you can open a free student bank account (Studentenrekening) at the Rabobank (free to open and no monthly fee). You need your passport, sofi number and proof of scholarship. Rabobank is nice. And at the moment you get even a nice discount at the Van Gogh Museum (friday night) if you have a Rabobank Europas card. :-)
When opening a bank account, usually a "Giropas" (pin card) is included. Try to ask whether the Giropas has a Chipnik on it. It is a chip on which you can load small amounts of money, and which you can use in the cafetteria or mensa or even fotocopy machines at the university. Absolutely nice to have! Don't forget to ask for chipnik, not all banks include it automatically on the giropas, but in any case you can get it for free.
The Uva (Universiteit van Amsterdam) buildings
Most of the courses you will have on Roeterseiland, where the Wiskunde en Informatica, Psychology buildings are. But the university buildings are spread around the city. Some professors have their office closer to the city, a few also more outside in the Science Park (at Kruislaan).
Here some pictures about Roeterseiland (taken Dec 22, 2006):
The I building (diamantsliperij):
The Euclides (Plantage Muidergracht) which is also called the P building – the balconies are nice!
The B building:
Courses
The courses are basically listed here (the courses come mainly from the Master in AI): Course catalogue
Housing
If you apply early enough (before April), housing is provided through the faculty. The housing company is called De Key. For the facilities see: http://shortstay.dekey.nl but note, housing is expensive (single room shared facilities 400 Euro per month, single room private facilities 520 EURO)