MSUD CJC Study Abroad

Luis’s activities on March 25 were as follows:

Today is the last day to write our daily reflection journals, and I just want to take a moment to thank everyone for making this trip so enjoyable. It’s been a great experience, and I’ve really appreciated meeting new people along the way. This morning we got breakfast from a shop called Coffee Cafe, where I had a cappuccino drink and a slice of a Red Velvet cake. Then meeting everyone in the lobby of the hotel at 9:15 AM. From there, we headed to the House of Representatives. I learned some interesting facts, like the chamber having around 15 seats. It was surprising to discover that at times, political parties split off from their original groups to form their own party. After the visit, we had lunch, where I had a sandwich and a drink whose name I can’t recall, but it was pretty refreshing. Following lunch, we went to EuroJust, an organization I hadn’t heard much about before. We learned that EuroJust collaborates with different jurisdictions worldwide, helping to coordinate legal efforts across borders. One striking fact was how they operate on limited government funding, with only a fixed budget to manage their operations. Meanwhile, criminals apparently finance their activities with billions of dollars each year. Despite these challenges, EuroJust handles around 14,000 cases annually, which seems like an enormous workload given their relatively small staff and facilities. After our visit, we caught the train back to the hotel. Once there, we headed out to eat some Korean food. It was really good, especially the Fried Chicken plate, then returned to get ready for the last stop of our journey, Paris. Now, I’m just waiting for the clock to hit 8:40 PM so we can meet in the lobby and make our way to the bus station for our trip to Paris.

The following is what Gabriel did on our final scheduled day (aside from the free day) on March 25:

Today I woke up and felt pretty upset that it was our last morning in the Netherlands together as a group. I don’t want to be home right now and wish this trip was longer. We started the day at the Dutch House of Representatives, which was honestly a pretty cool experience. Learning how their system works compared to the U.S. was really interesting especially seeing it in action. We were able to sit in on a proceeding, and I thought it was interesting that only a few people were there during the proceeding. The idea of a parliamentary democracy felt a lot more tangible after that. After that, we rode on the bus to Eurojust, which ended up being one of the most interesting parts of the day. The way Europe handles cross-border and organized crime is built so heavily on trust and cooperation, and that stood out the most. It’s kind of wild to think about how many moving parts there are when multiple countries are involved, but they’ve built this system that helps connect everything whether it’s sharing evidence, coordinating investigations, or just making sure everyone is on the same page despite different laws and procedures. It made it clear how important relationships are in law enforcement on a global level. Once everything wrapped up, it really hit that the academic part of the trip was done. Back at the hotel, my friends and I gathered in the lobby, taking pictures as a group since so many people are splitting up to travel before heading home, it felt like a quiet goodbye in a way. A group of us ended the night with dinner and somehow had some of the best Korean food ever, which felt like the perfect way to close things out. I think this was the best study abroad trip out of the 3 that I have been on and I hope there is some way i can come back to another one even after I graduate.

On our final scheduled day (aside from the free day) on March 25, here is what Amairany did:

Today was a great day, we started at the Dutch House of Representatives and it was an amazing tour and we got to see senators I would say debating about something which I thought it was pretty cool, we also learn some history of the house of representatives and we saw a painting that was made by two brothers Dann & Koen Van Velsen and it had the rights of the constitution like freedom of expression, and always say what you think at loud, and the freedom to vote, to equality which I thought it was pretty nice. After that we went to the Eurojust and we had a presentation and I thought it was an amazing experience I personally did not know about this agency and the work that they do it’s amazing, they are in charge of maintaining crime control around Europe and also maintain the political relations between the countries, they help to investigate crimes and sometimes countries would ask about what they should do even if they don’t do what Eurojust says regardless they actually can just say that they thick in the most non-boast opinion. After this we went back to the hotel and we hang out with some of the Dutch students and we had a great afternoon together, we were having a great time together just talking about their school and our school and at the end we went to get some ice cream they were super nice and we actually got to bond more with them and now we got friends for life. Overall the day was pretty nice and the company was even better it is amazing how fast we can make mew friendships and can last for years just by a little moment together that is one of my biggest take away from today.

Gabriel's visit to Oranjehotel and Prison Gate was as follows:

Today we started in the morning by visiting the OranjeHotel. I liked it because not only is orange my favorite color, but I found the activity they had us do interesting. We were split into different groups and were assigned different words and needed to find synonyms for those words that we think of while touring the prison. The word that my group had was ambiguous and we found that the prison had a lot of inconsistencies when we are looking at sentencing and the reasoning for incarceration. We went around specific parts of the prison learning about how people were treated/tortured in the prison. After the Oranjehotel we went to the beach where everyone looked around and got lunch. We were searching for restaurants and found that most of them were closed and got McDonald’s before meeting back up with everyone. After that most of the class headed to the International Criminal Court while a couple of us went to the Prison Gate Museum. At the museum they showed us many torture devices that were used and the different type of cells that prisoners were and how being upper class/rich meant you got a better cell. Some parts we interactive for example you could put a shackle with a heavy block chained to it and also there was this game where we can see what the sentences were back in the old times. After that I hung out with Daisy the rest of the day just running some errands, going to the grocery store for many snacks and in the mean time we managed to find a store that sells vinyl’s and she bought Random Access Memories by Daft Punk and I told her that if she didn’t buy it I would have as its one of our favorite albums. Today was a slow day but nevertheless important.

The following is what Kayla did at Oranjehotel and Prison Gate:

Today we visited the Oranjehotel. We started off with a short lecture about the history of the Oranjehotel and then we watched a video of those who were imprisoned and listened to their stories. We then walked around visiting different cells learning more about prisoner’s experiences while incarcerated. It was a very interesting and meaningful experience even just seeing the cells where many people were held. After the Oranjehotel we went to the beach where everyone got lunch. Gianna and I did some souvenir shopping and got mcdonald’s before meeting back up with everyone and then splitting up again. Some people headed to the International Criminal Court while others went to the Prison Gate. I went to the prison gate where we looked at torcher devices and more. Some parts we interactive for example you could put a shackle with a heavy block chained to it to understand what many prisoners have to grab around during their incarceration. I also got to see a guillotine for the first time which was really cool and we took a selfie next to it at the end. After we all went our separate ways, Gianna and I headed to get some dollars exchanged into euros because we are going to Paris tomorrow and we’re going to be doing a lot of shopping! After that we headed back to the hotel and took a nice long nap and chilled at the hotel do the rest of the day. We ordered some burgers from a local restaurant and we’ve been watching Rick and Morty since. As much as I’ve loved being in the Netherlands i’m excited to go home and see my cat, family, and friends.

This is what Eliana did and thought on March 24 when we visited the Nationaal Monument Oranjehotel and the International Criminal Court:

Today, on March 24th, we first went to the Oranjehotel. This hotel was a prison used by the N***s as a German detention center during their invasion of the Netherlands in World War II. I learned that between 1940 and 1945, over 25,000 people were held in the detention center. These included Jews, political prisoners, and anyone who broke laws set by the N***s. Some of these laws included something as minor as obtaining an “illegal newspaper.”
Next, we went to the ICC, which stands for the International Criminal Court. When we arrived, I noticed that the building was very large and mostly made of glass, and the surrounding buildings were also made of glass. The tour guide explained that the glass was meant to show transparency and make it seem like nothing was being hidden. I learned that the International Criminal Court in The Hague was the first permanent international court established to prosecute genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression. It was established in 2002 and relies heavily on the voluntary cooperation of states to enforce sentences for these crimes.
We got to see what the courtroom looks like, and it was very big and interesting. There was also a presentation that gave us with more information about how the court operates. I found it interesting how they capture and prosecute criminals from all over the world. One thing that stood out to me was that the entire building is surrounded by water, which serves as an extra security measure to prevent people from breaking in.
After we were done, we went back to the hotel, and I went shopping for souvenirs and snacks. Later, we went to dinner and had sushi, which was probably the best meal I’ve had here so far. Tomorrow, I plan to go shopping again and hopefully visit more stores, since they tend to close early here in the Netherlands

This is what Sarah did and thought on March 24 when we visited the Nationaal Monument Oranjehotel and the International Criminal Court:

Today we had 2 amazing visits that made it my favorite day of the trip. First, we went to the Orange Hotel, a commemorative museum of a building that used to be a prison that held captives of the n***s during World War II. We divided into groups and received a prompt with different rooms to visit, audio clips to listen to, and questions to answer. My group got the prompt “remembrance”. I really liked this activity because I was able to connect with the victims and see them trough the traces and loved ones they left in this world.
I think history is really important because everyone who doesn't know their history is condemned to repeat it, we need to understand the past and be able to link it to current events, and I believe that this museum should not be considered a touristic attraction but a learning center.
Then we went to the pier, the wind was blowing really crazy and shreya and I got very cute new jackets, we walk to the end of the boardwalk and took a look at the sea. Then we had lunch at one of the restaurants on the beach.
For the afternoon visit I was part of the group that went to visit the International Criminal Court, we got to see the courtroom first and then we got a presentation on the purpose, activities, challenges and future of the organization. I really like this place because it was not only a beautiful building but it was also the center of international justice, a value in which I believe and find great interest on.
We talked about active and past cases, which includes two cases related to Venezuela, the country in which I grew up. I felt connected and inspired by the work on the ICC.

Our study abroad group in the Netherlands spent the morning learning about Dutch politics at the House of Representatives. In the afternoon, we explored European judicial cooperation during our visit to Eurojust. This is our last day for learning activities. Students will have a free day tomorrow and we will fly back!

Daisy's visit to The Hague University of Applied Sciences was like this:

My morning started off by getting ready at 6:30AM to have enough time to walk around the city, and get myself some caffeine. It was quite challenging because apparently Dutch people don't like to have an early breakfast, because I struggled more here in the Hague than I did in Amsterdam. I took a 5 minute walk into a cafe, and they only had hot drinks, I wasn't really feeling coffee so I wanted a matcha but unfortunately there was no matcha. They had chai but I could only get it hot and sadly I can't compromise, I need an iced beverage. Afterwards I walked to a different cafe and I found a delicious matcha, I walked back to the hotel to meet my classmates and make our way down to The Hague University of Applied Science. We were met with many professors and students that greeted us, gave us presentations, and worked on case studies with us. I was very intrigued by the second presentation which was presented by a French professor. The topic was all about lying, and how detecting lies is harder than the average person thinks. We learned all about the myths such as people licking their lips as well as touching their nose are not always indicators of people lying. I thought I could identify a liar but I was a little over confident. After the presentations we headed to a bar and got to know some of the students and had great conversations. After that we went back to the original room and gathered in groups and discussed interesting case studies and we compared the experiences and challenges we face in the U.S. and compare it to things they see happen here in the Netherlands. After we finished we had some free time so I choose to relax before getting ready for the mixer the students had prepared for us. The mixer was the highlight of the day, It was so nice interacting with people from all over and getting to know everyone. Overall, it was a really nice day and my only complaint is I wish it was longer.

Wendy thought about her visit to The Hague University of Applied Sciences as follows:

Today, Monday March 24, 2026 I started the day off by grabbing breakfast with Lauren and having a nice and slow start to our morning! We agreed how something simple like lattes feel a little different, more relaxed and social than in the U.S. where everything is at a fast pace.
We then walked back to the hotel, met up with the rest of the class, and made our way to the University of The Hague. Both lectures gave me so much to think about. The lecture on spotting lies showed that while some techniques are universal, other methods like tone, eyes, and even behavior can vary which makes detection more complex than I initially thought,
Adding on, the discussion on policing and climate change was especially interesting because it's not something that I usually connect to law enforcement in the U.S. It seems like the Dutch system takes a more preventative and integrated approach, while the U.S. tends to be more reactive and decentralized. Their project, CO-COP provides an opportunity for law enforcement to be more investigative in the field, especially when it comes to pollution and environmental crimes which shows how policing responsibilities can go beyond traditional roles. Compared to the U.S, this showed me how much more integrated the Dutch approach feels, especially in connecting policing with broader environmental issues.
We then ended the night at a restaurant, La Patrona with students from The Hague which helped tie everything together! We talked about where they're from and we met so many people from Norway, Czech Republic, Italy, Iraq, Germany, New Jersey, Hungary and so much more. It was refreshing to meet such a mix of backgrounds and hear about their different perspectives. We all danced to a very diverse playlist consisting of reggaeton, Dutch traditional music, and white music! Overall, today showed me how culture and environment can influence not just everyday life, but also how systems operate in different countries. 100/10 BEST DAY!

The following is a story by Lauren after we visit The Hague University of Applied Sciences:

Our second day in The Hague was the best day yet. Wendy and I started off with our usual routine, getting ready and going to breakfast. We realized this morning that they value living in the moment and not being in a rush when they are working. While at the coffee shop, we noticed the workers socializing and taking their time, which is very different than in the United States, where we value proficiency and hustle. We then made our way over to The Hague University of Applied Science, where we got to meet amazing staff and students. We learned about how to detect lies, and learned about the correlation between climate change and police work, which is a research topic I have never heard of. We got to talk to different students about so many topics when it comes to their education system versus the United States. Here in the Netherlands, students take a placement test at age 12, where that tests places them in a “class” for the rest of their educational career. The class you get into after that test for high school also determines what colleges you get to go to. The lower classes are able to go to trade schools while the higher classes are able to get into better colleges. I was amazed by this because I feel as if that is such a big thing to put onto a child at 12 years old as it determines their entire life. I also learned that here, they are allowed to retake exams such as midterms and finals for a better grade. That took me by complete surprise, as in the United States the grade you get is simply just that. You can make some points up by doing other things, but never a retake. Later in the night, the students and staff held a mixer for us at a local mexican restaurant. We got to meet and mingle with so many students and we built so many connections. It was honestly the best time we’ve had so far. We all sang and danced all night long. Tonight, we unlocked new core memories that I am forever grateful for and look forward to telling these stories for the rest of my life.