You can find a study group in Amsterdam through four routes: your own programme (course chats and study associations), international student communities, the library and café study scene, and a real-time app that matches you with people nearby. Most groups are free to join. The fastest way to get a regular session is to combine one structured group with one flexible way to find a partner on short notice.
This guide covers where the groups are, who can join, what to check before you sign up, and how to start your own in a week.
TL;DR
- Start with your own programme: ask in your course chat or at the first tutorial, and look at the study association for your faculty.
- International students can use exchange-student communities such as ESN Amsterdam to meet people, then turn those contacts into study partners.
- Most informal groups cost nothing. Memberships (study associations, an ESNcard) are optional and the price varies, so check the official page.
- Starting your own group takes three people, one fixed slot, and one clear goal per session.
- For spontaneous sessions, an activity app like Conppi lets you find a nearby co-working or study partner without building a profile.
Table of Contents
- Why a study group works better than studying alone in Amsterdam
- Where to find a study group in Amsterdam
- Who can join, and what to check first
- How to contact a group, or start your own
- Are study groups free, and where and when do they meet?
- Materials and tools for studying together
- Our perspective
- Find a study partner nearby with Conppi
- A simple plan for your first month
- FAQ
- Sources
Why a study group works better than studying alone in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a large international student population, and many newcomers arrive without a network. A group fixes two problems at once: it gives your study time a fixed shape, and it gives you people to talk to in a city where friendships often start with a shared task rather than a shared neighborhood.
The practical gain is simple. A fixed Tuesday session with two classmates is harder to skip than a plan you made with yourself. Explaining a concept to someone else shows you quickly what you have not understood. And if you are an exchange student, the group often becomes your first real social circle.
The catch is that the search results for this topic are mostly university pages, program brochures and community pages, not a list of groups you can actually join. So here is how to build that list yourself.
Where to find a study group in Amsterdam
Start with your own programme
The most reliable groups form around a shared course. Three places to look in the first two weeks:
- The course chat. Most programmes have a WhatsApp or Teams group for each cohort. Post a short message: the course name, the days you are free, and where you would like to meet. Specific offers get answers; "anyone want to study?" usually does not.
- The first tutorial or seminar. Stay five minutes after class and ask the person next to you. Tutorials are small enough that people remember you.
- Your faculty's study association. Dutch universities have study associations (studieverenigingen) tied to a faculty or field. They typically run study sessions, borrel (social drinks) and sometimes exam preparation. Membership usually carries a fee, which differs per association, so read the association's own site before paying.
Use international student communities
If you arrived as an exchange or international student, a community built for newcomers is a good second route. ESN Amsterdam, part of the Erasmus Student Network, organizes events for international students such as pub quizzes, speed-friending nights, networking over coffee and city trips. These are not study groups, but they are where you meet people who are in the same position as you. Ask the person you are talking to what they are taking, and a study partner is often one conversation away.
Many cohorts also run WhatsApp groups before arrival so students can meet early. If your university offers one, join it before you land and use it to find people on your course.
For a wider look at settling in socially, our guide to expat networking in Amsterdam shows where to start in your first weeks.
Study in public places with other people around
You do not need a formal group to study alongside others. Amsterdam has libraries, university study halls, and cafés and coworking spaces where laptops are normal. Studying near other people, even without talking, makes it easy to start a conversation, and a regular spot gives you a natural "see you tomorrow" with the same faces. If you want to turn that into a routine, read about how to find English-speaking coworkers in Amsterdam within an hour.
Use a real-time app for flexible sessions
Formal groups have a weakness: they meet on a fixed schedule, and your timetable changes. A real-time matching app fills the gaps. With Conppi you pick an activity such as co-working, set a time and see who nearby wants the same, with no profile to build and no swiping. It is designed for interest-based connection, not dating, so the conversation stays on what you want to do together. We cover this below in the promo section.
Who can join, and what to check first
Most informal groups are open to anyone who turns up with the same course or goal. Formal organizations have rules, so check these before you commit:
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the group tied to a specific university or faculty? | Study associations are often built around one faculty; some activities are for members only. |
| Is there a membership fee? | It varies per association. Read the association's own page for the current amount. |
| Do you need proof of student or exchange status? | Some student networks ask for it before you join. |
| What language is used? | Many groups work in English, but some sessions run in Dutch. |
| How often and where does it meet? | A group that meets across the city at 8 p.m. is hard to keep up. |
The ESNcard, if you are an exchange student
The ESNcard is the membership card of the Erasmus Student Network and comes up often for exchange students. According to the ESNcard FAQ, it is valid for 12 months from the date you get it, it is not a valid student card, and its cost varies from one ESN section to another. To get one you need a printed colour passport photo, your ID or passport, and a document proving your mobility status.
The FAQ also notes that ESNcards are distributed only by ESN sections, and that because of legal requirements, getting one from a section not registered at your destination university is not always possible. In practice: get it from the section at the university where you are enrolled, and check that section's page for the current price and how to collect it.
How to contact a group, or start your own
Reaching out to an existing group
A good first message is short and specific. Try something like this:
Hi, I'm in the second-year statistics course and looking for people to go through problem sets on Wednesdays after class. I'm free from 2 to 5 p.m. Anyone interested?
It names the course, the day, the time window and the task. That is enough for people to say yes or no.
Starting a group in a week
- Pick one goal. "Finish the week's problem set" beats "study together."
- Find two or three people. Four is the most that stays easy to schedule. Use the course chat, the tutorial, or an app.
- Fix a slot. Same day, same time, same place, for the first four weeks. After that, adjust.
- Choose a place with seating and a plug. A library or study hall is the safe option, a quiet café works for smaller groups.
- Set the format. For example: 10 minutes to say what each person is stuck on, 90 minutes of work, 10 minutes to plan the next session.
- Rotate a small job. One person books the table, another shares notes. It keeps everyone invested.
One-on-one or group?
A pair is the easiest to schedule and the easiest to keep going. A group of four covers more ground but needs more coordination. If you are not sure, try both for a few weeks. Our piece on group or one-on-one meetups in Amsterdam helps you decide.
Are study groups free, and where and when do they meet?
Informal groups made with classmates cost nothing. You pay for your own coffee if you meet in a café, and nothing if you use a university study space. Formal groups through associations or student networks may have a membership fee, and special events may charge separately. The prices vary per organization, so use the organization's own page for the current amount instead of relying on a forum post.
Times tend to follow the academic rhythm. Expect more activity in the first weeks of each semester and just before exam periods, and expect sessions to cluster in late afternoons and evenings after classes. Check the schedule of your own programme, since exam weeks differ by faculty.
A few habits make a group last:
- Meet in the same place, so people know where to find you.
- Send a reminder the evening before.
- Keep a shared note with what you covered, so someone who misses a week can catch up.
- Agree early on what happens when someone drops out or a new person wants to join.
Materials and tools for studying together
A shared plan needs shared material. If you are preparing for an entrance or admission exam, groups often split by topic and swap practice results. Students abroad often need to access prep materials abroad that were designed for a different country, and it helps when the whole group uses the same source so practice questions line up.
For regular coursework, a shared folder and a shared calendar are enough. Keep one person as the owner of the folder, and name files by week.
Our perspective
Most people looking for a study group are not really looking for a group. They are looking for one reliable person to sit down with, and then a second, and then a third. The group is what grows from that.
In a city like Amsterdam, where many students and newcomers arrive without a circle, the hardest step is the first message. That is why we built Conppi around activities, not profiles. You choose what you want to do, such as co-working, a coffee or a workout, set when and see who nearby wants the same. There is no swiping and no profile to polish, and you only see approximate distance, so your privacy stays yours.
We are opening in Amsterdam first because matching works best when many people are close together. A study session is a good example: it is a shared activity with a clear start and end, which makes it easy to say yes to a stranger. Use formal groups for structure and Conppi for the gaps in your week.
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Find a study partner nearby with Conppi
If you have a free afternoon and nobody to share it with, Conppi connects you with people near you who want to do the same thing right now. Set the activity, add a time and a level if it matters, and meet one on one or as a group. It is a free app for iOS and Android today, and it is built for friendships and activity partners, not dating.
For a study session, the closest fit is co-working: you work side by side, each on your own material, and take a coffee break together. See how finding people to co-work with in Amsterdam works, or look at the activity partner app for everything else you can do with it. If you want a quick break between sessions, you can also meet someone for coffee in Amsterdam.
A simple plan for your first month
Week 1. Join your course chat and post one specific message. Go to one international or faculty event and ask people what they are studying. Open Conppi and look for a co-working slot near you.
Week 2. Hold your first session with one or two people. Keep it short, 90 minutes is plenty. Agree on the next slot before you leave.
Week 3. Invite one more person. Try a second location so you know where the group works best.
Week 4. Decide whether to keep the group as is, add a weekly one-on-one with the person you click with most, or both.
If you also want to meet people outside of your course, our guides to weekend meetups in Amsterdam and expat meetups in Amsterdam give you places to start. And if you are heading toward a career after your degree, networking in Amsterdam lets you meet people in your field.
FAQ
How can I find a study group in Amsterdam?
Start with your course chat and first tutorial, then look at the study association for your faculty. International students can also meet people through exchange student communities. If you need a session on short notice, a real-time app such as Conppi can match you with someone nearby.
Are study groups in Amsterdam free?
Informal groups with classmates are free. Study associations and student networks may charge a membership fee, and the amount differs by organization. Check the organization's own website for the current price before you join.
Do I need an ESNcard to join a study group?
No, it is not required for informal groups. The ESNcard is a membership card for exchange students, valid for 12 months from the date you get it, and it is not a student card. Ask your local ESN section whether you need one for specific events.
How do I start my own study group?
Pick one goal, find two or three people, and fix a weekly slot in a place with seating and plugs. Keep sessions to about 90 minutes at first. After four weeks, adjust the group size and place based on what worked.
Where do study groups meet?
Common places are university study spaces, libraries, cafés and coworking spaces. Choose a place with seating and a power outlet that is easy for everyone to reach by bike or tram.
Sources
- Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.) | ESNcard
- ESN Amsterdam events and updates
- How Overseas Students Access Prep Materials Abroad