Personal Safety
Emerson College cannot guarantee your safety while abroad. Most cities in Europe are very safe and assaults are rare, however, the tourist is always a target, especially for pickpockets. We suggest the following to help improve your level of safety while abroad:
- Try to fit in; minimize your “foreignness” in your actions and appearance.
- Be vigilant in public areas that attract tourists and foreigners. Look out for anything suspicious and be aware of your surroundings.
- Do not leave luggage or handbags unattended anytime, anywhere, particularly in bus, rail, and subway stations, restaurants, and airport terminals. ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR VALUABLES! Assaults are rare, but pickpocketing is an “art form,” especially in large cities that are popular with tourists, such as Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, London, Madrid, Paris, Prague, and Rome.
- Purses should be kept securely fastened, and shoulder bags should be held against the body. Wallets should be carried in a front pocket.
- Guard your handbags, backpacks, phones, and laptops against pickpockets, especially on public transportation and in heavy tourist areas.
- All Schengen states use 112 as the emergency number.
- Pay attention to your body language. Cultural differences are often reflected in the way people move and carry themselves. Be aware of your hand gestures; they can have profoundly different interpretations from one culture to another.
- Leave valuable items, such as jewelry and cash not immediately needed, locked up in your room.
- Use common sense at ATMs; use ATMs located inside buildings or in busy public places where it is difficult for criminals to tamper with the machines. Do not use machines in isolated areas or at night.
- Travel in groups of two or more, if possible.
- Regularly check the travel advice of the country you will be visiting.
- Always carry the phone number to the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate for the place(s) you will visit.
- Always carry the Kasteel Well “RED CARD” with you.
- Avoid moneychangers on the street: they may pass off counterfeit U.S. dollars and local currency.
- Inform Kasteel Well staff of safety or physical or mental health issues that arise.
- Take a photocopy of your passport, credit and debit cards, and the numbers you’ll need to call if anything is lost or stolen.
- Learn to be an organized traveler. Keep documents safe, but readily available when on the move.
Liability Insurance
Included in the European Travel Package is third-party liability insurance. This insurance covers the insured’s personal liability for damages, loss of property, injury, or death caused or inflicted under the insurance period. The liability insurance period ends 30 days after the student's departure from The Netherlands.
Fitness and Extra Curricular Activities at the Castle
Fitness Center in the Village of Well
In addition to a small weight room at the castle, there is a fitness center located in Well (20 minutes by bike) that offers Emerson students discounted memberships. Students can apply for a two-month membership or pay per month to use the pool and fitness facilities once a week. The fitness center offers an indoor swimming pool, aerobics and Pilates classes, condition training, and various gym equipment and machines.
Rent A Bike for the Semester
Students can rent a bike for the semester. Cost: €90 (+ deposit of €40 that will be returned at the end of the semester if there is no damage to the bike). The bike comes with a lock, a light, and a bell. There are 20 bikes for rent. The Facilities Manager will explain the process to you during castle orientation weekend.
Other Sporting/Leisure Activities Close to the Castle
- Sports Night – a great stress reliever - students vote on what they want to do – sports night is held at de Bunn (a local building in the village of Well)
- Jogging trails – try the trails in the woods behind the “Rijksweg” opposite Café Vink
- Horse Riding – a couple of stables are located nearby Kasteel Well – one Riding School is a 20 minute bike ride from KW, another is 45 minutes away –your Castle Student Handbook (which will be handed to you during Castle Orientation weekend) will have more detail.
- Ping Pong Tournament – competition between staff and students
- Thermal Baths in Arcen – indoor/outdoor thermal pools, saunas, tanning beds, various massage treatments, fish foot spa! You can bike or take the # 83 bus. Open daily 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Taurus Adventure World – about 30 minutes by bus from the castle – laser tag, cosmic bowling, pool and billiards, arcade games.
- Leukermeer: close by lake where everything revolves around water sports. Swimming, kayaking, wakeboarding, banana boating, pedal boats, etc, and the option to relax on the sandy beach.