Student Policies, Terms, and Conditions:
Philosophy & Credentials:
Amsterdam Creatief operates as a professional vocational institution dedicated to high-level creative mentorship. Our programs are designed and delivered under the supervision of Jacob Watrous, M.Ed., ensuring that every session meets rigorous pedagogical and professional standards.
The Educational Framework
Our curriculum is built on the principles of Backward Design and Understanding by Design (UbD). We begin by identifying the specific professional outcomes and visual goals of the student, then "work backward" to develop the specific instructional roadmap (The Creative Brief) required to reach those results.
Our Core Pedagogical Principles:
Funds of Knowledge: We recognize and integrate the existing skills, cultural backgrounds, and unique perspectives of each practitioner into the mentorship to enhance engagement and mastery.
Scaffolding & Practicum: Instruction is structured to provide foundational support that is gradually removed as the student gains technical independence during the field study.
Formative & Summative Assessment: Learning is measured through ongoing feedback during the session (formative) and a final professional review of the work produced (summative).
Professional Qualifications
Jacob Watrous, M.Ed. (Director of Instruction)
Master of Education (M.Ed.): Secondary Education and Instructional Leadership, University of Washington, Seattle.
Educational Consultant: Former trainer for the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the College Board, specializing in educator professional development and curriculum implementation.
Industry Experience: Professional news and documentary photographer and former educator for the Edmonds School District.
Exemption Policy:
As each mentorship is a bespoke, self-contained vocational course, no exemptions are granted for prior education,
nor do these courses provide credits toward other degree-granting institutions.
Commitment to Quality
As a provider of professional vocational education under the trade name Amsterdam Creatief, and as a Master of Education (MEd), I am committed to the highest standards of instruction. All training is conducted with due care, transparency, and reliability. Amsterdam Creatief operates according to a strict pedagogical and ethical framework. We are aligned with the CRKBO (Centraal Register Kort Beroepsonderwijs) standards.
Continuity of Education & Financial Security
Amsterdam Creatief guarantees the continuity of its vocational programs to ensure students achieve their learning objectives. In the unlikely event of the long-term illness or incapacity of the Lead Mentor, Amsterdam Creatief maintains an emergency replacement protocol with qualified guest lecturers to ensure the seamless continuation of instruction.
To protect the student’s investment, all pre-paid tuition is held in a dedicated business account and is not utilized for institutional operating expenses until the Field Study component has been successfully delivered. Should Amsterdam Creatief be unable to fulfill its educational obligations (e.g., due to force majeure or insolvency), all pre-paid tuition for unrendered services will be refunded to the participant in full within 14 days.
1. Informal Resolution
I encourage participants to voice any concerns during the course or mentorship so that adjustments to the curriculum or delivery can be made in real-time.
2. Formal Complaint Filing
If a concern is not resolved informally, a formal written complaint may be submitted via email.
Acknowledgment: You will receive a formal confirmation of receipt within 48 hours.
Confidentiality: All complaints are treated with total discretion and handled confidentially.
3. Handling and Response Timeline
Response Period: A substantive response will be provided within 4 weeks of the date of receipt.
Extensions: If a longer period is required to investigate the complaint, the participant will be notified within the initial 4-week period. This notification will state the reasons for the delay and provide an estimate of when a final conclusion will be reached.
4. Independent Mediation (Appeal)
If the internal response does not lead to a satisfactory resolution, the participant has the right to appeal to an independent third party.
Independent Party: For this purpose, Amsterdam Creatief is affiliated with Stichting Geschillencommissie. Their ruling is binding for both the provider and the student.
Binding Nature: The decision made by this independent third party is binding for Amsterdam Creatief. Any resulting consequences or required actions will be handled by the institute within the established time limits.
Legal Recourse: The right to seek ultimate judgment through the Dutch court system remains open following this process.
5. Record Keeping
Complaints and the manner in which they were handled are recorded in a central registry. These records are kept for two years after the resolution of the complaint.
Privacy Statement (GDPR/AVG Compliance)
Last Updated: February 9, 2026
Amsterdam Creatief, led by Jacob Watrous, operates under the guiding principles of due care, transparency, and reliability. As a registered training institute, we are committed to protecting the personal data of our participants and the proprietary business information shared during our vocational studies.
This statement complies with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the Dutch Uitvoeringswet Algemene verordening gegevensbescherming (AVG).
1. Data Controller
The data controller responsible for your personal data is:
Watrous Guides / Amsterdam Creatief Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Contact: information@amsterdamcreatief.nl
2. Confidentiality of Business & Work Processes
Amsterdam Creatief treats all information provided by participants as strictly confidential. This protection extends beyond personal identity to include:
Business Strategies: Proprietary goals, market positions, or commercial plans.
Work Processes: Internal methodologies, creative workflows, or technical hurdles.
Intellectual Property: Specific narrative theses or artistic concepts developed during the study.
All employees, teachers, or subcontractors engaged by Amsterdam Creatief are legally bound by non-disclosure agreements to ensure this information remains protected.
3. Personal Data Collection
We only collect information necessary to provide high-end creative mentorship and manage our educational relationship:
Identity & Contact Data: Name, email address, and phone number.
Session & Goal Data: Information regarding creative objectives and skill levels provided via inquiry forms.
Financial Data: Payment details processed through secure third-party providers (e.g., Stripe) for tuition fees.
4. Purpose and Legal Basis for Processing
We process your data based on the following legal grounds:
Contractual Necessity: To perform the initial consultation, assessment of skill levels, and the bespoke curriculum design.
Consent: When you voluntarily submit an inquiry or register for a study.
Legal Obligation: To comply with Dutch tax and accounting requirements regarding financial records.
5. Data Retention & Security
Retention: We retain personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, or reporting requirements (typically 7 years for financial records under Dutch law).
Security: We have implemented appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used, or accessed in an unauthorized way.
6. Your Legal Rights
Under the GDPR/AVG, you have the right to access, correct, or request the erasure of your personal data. To exercise these rights, or to inquire about our confidentiality standards, please contact Jacob Watrous directly at information@amsterdamcreatief.nl.
Terms & Conditions (Algemene Voorwaarden) – Amsterdam Creatief
1. The Agreement & Scope
By completing a booking and paying tuition, you enter into a binding Agreement of Instruction with Jacob Watrous, trading as Amsterdam Creatief (KVK #____________) (hereinafter referred to as "Amsterdam Creatief"). These terms apply exclusively to all vocational training, short courses, and mentorship residencies. As the residency is a holistic vocational process, the curriculum is structurally non-severable. No pro-rata refunds, credits, or fee exemptions are granted for prior experience, skipped components, or partial attendance. Participation does not grant legally recognized degrees or ECTS credits.
2. Information & Transparency
2.1 Truthful Representation: All information regarding course levels, instructional content, and educational objectives is a fair, accurate reflection of the professional vocational training offered.
2.2 Study Load: Tuition covers the entire study load across all phases (Onboarding, Intake, Roadmap Design, Field Study, and Synthesis). Any physical materials, films, or specialty papers to be purchased independently by the participant will be fully disclosed in advance.
2.3 Response Times: Amsterdam Creatief strives to answer administrative and logistical questions within forty-eight (48) hours. If an inquiry requires extensive research or scheduling confirmation, an acknowledgment of receipt will be transmitted within that time alongside an estimated resolution date.
3. Payment & Registration
3.1 Tuition: To secure a residency calendar window, 100% of the tuition is payable at the time of enrollment. This payment ensures the immediate commencement of the Bespoke Curriculum Design phase. Execution of payment constitutes absolute, unreserved acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.
3.2 Installments: For advanced, multi-month mentorship programs exceeding €2,500, a structured payment plan may be requested and granted at the sole discretion of Amsterdam Creatief.
3.3 Refund Processing: All valid reimbursements (e.g., in the absolute event of an instructor-led cancellation) will be processed back to the original payment method within fourteen (14) days.
4. Right of Withdrawal (14-Day Cooling-off Period)
4.1 Standard Rule: In accordance with Dutch and European consumer protection laws, individual consumers residing in the EU have a statutory 14-day cooling-off period to cancel an online registration without penalty, provided performance of the service has not yet commenced.
4.2 Waiver for Immediate Service & Pro-Rata Performance: If a residency is scheduled to begin within 14 days of booking, the participant must explicitly declare and acknowledge at checkout that they request immediate performance and thereby waive their statutory 14-day right of withdrawal. Upon booking, Phase 1 design labor begins instantly. If the participant subsequently exercises a valid right of withdrawal before the Field Study occurs, they agree to pay an amount proportional to the diagnostic and architectural services already rendered, calculated strictly based on the phase allocations detailed in Section 5.
4.3 B2B Exception: In accordance with Dutch commercial law, the statutory 14-day cooling-off period applies strictly to private consumers (B2C). It does not apply to any bookings, residencies, or contracts executed on behalf of a company, employer, or commercial ZZP entity.
5. The Three-Phase Instructional Model & Cancellations
5.1 Phases: To guarantee structural educational depth, a residency is executed as a unified process across three distinct phases: (Phase 1) Onboarding, Preparation, & Intake; (Phase 2) Roadmap Architecture & Refinement; and (Phase 3) The Field Study.
5.2 Customization Fee Allocation & Milestones: Because your residency is constructed entirely from scratch, intellectual labor commences upon enrollment. Tuition is structurally allocated across the design and implementation milestones as follows:
5.2.1 Phase 1 (Onboarding & Intake) — 25% of Total Tuition: Cancellations made by the participant prior to Amsterdam Creatief transmitting the initial customized intake curriculum framework or formal instructional contact via email will receive a 100% refund, provided the cancellation occurs more than 48 hours prior to the scheduled Phase 3 Field Study. However, the moment Amsterdam Creatief transmits this initial digital intake contact via email (provable by the email sent timestamp), Phase 1 is deemed 100% executed. From that exact milestone onward, this 25% allocation is strictly non-refundable, as the initial diagnostic and administrative design phase has been delivered.
5.2.2 Phase 2 (Roadmap Architecture) — An Additional 25% of Total Tuition: This phase covers the progressive, collaborative refinement of your technical protocols and local route mapping. Once the finalized digital Creative Brief detailing your specific learning goals and tailored itinerary has been transmitted to you via email (provable by the email sent timestamp), Phase 2 is deemed 100% executed. At this milestone, an aggregate 50% of the total tuition fee becomes entirely non-refundable.
5.2.3 Phase 3 (Field Study) — The Remaining 50% of Total Tuition: This phase represents the live, synchronized, in-person instructional execution window. Phase 3 is contractually deemed 100% commenced, executed, and non-refundable the exact minute the scheduled session start time arrives. Because this instructional window has been exclusively reserved for the participant to the exclusion of all other business, the financial boundaries of the Field Study are absolute:
Late Arrivals: Client-initiated delays do not extend the instructional window or push back the scheduled conclusion time. The session will end precisely at the hour specified in the Creative Brief.
Early Departures / Interruptions: If the participant chooses to conclude the session early, steps away, or terminates the Field Study due to fatigue, personal schedule conflicts, or standard environmental weather preferences, no pro-rata refunds or make-up hours will be issued.
No-Shows: Failure to arrive at the designated meeting point within thirty (30) minutes of the scheduled start time without prior written notification will be treated as an unannounced client cancellation, resulting in the immediate forfeiture of the entire Phase 3 tuition allocation.
5.2.4 Milestone Refund Summary: For cancellations made by the participant more than 48 hours prior to the Phase 3 Field Study, any refund will be calculated strictly based on these completed phase milestones. If Phase 1 is complete but Phase 2 is mid-iteration, a 75% refund is issued. If Phase 2 is complete, a 50% refund is issued.
5.3 Short-Notice Cancellations: Cancellations made by the participant within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled Phase 3 Field Study are 100% non-refundable, as the custom curriculum is finalized and the instructional window has been exclusively reserved to the exclusion of other clients.
5.4 Weather as Opportunity: Sessions proceed in all weather conditions. Amsterdam's maritime climate and changing ambient illumination are treated as structural instructional assets. Sessions will only be rescheduled or refunded if the KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) issues an official Code Orange or Code Red weather warning for the region. The Participant is solely responsible for providing adequate weather and moisture protection for their personal equipment and dressing appropriately for the day’s weather. Jacob Watrous/Amsterdam Creatief carries zero liability for any equipment damage due to environmental exposure. If Amsterdam Creatief cancels a session due to acute safety hazards, a full reschedule of the Field Study or a 100% refund of the Phase 3 allocation (equivalent to 50% of the total tuition fee) will be provided.
6. Confidentiality, Privacy & Copyright
6.1 Confidentiality: All proprietary creative workflows, personal visual files, and business strategies shared by participants during the intake or field study are treated with strict confidentiality by Amsterdam Creatief.
6.2 GDPR: Personal data is collected, stored, and used solely for session design, internal communication, and logistical coordination in strict compliance with Dutch and European privacy laws.
6.3 Intellectual Property: Amsterdam Creatief remains the sole copyright owner of all physical and digital course materials, curriculum frameworks, and written briefs. Participants receive an exclusive, non-transferable, personal-use right for their individual instructional copies.
7. Use of Participant Work & Vocational Case Studies
7.1 Consent-Based: Following the completion of a residency, Amsterdam Creatief may request permission to utilize specific visual records (sketches, photographs, or portfolio progress files) produced during a session for educational "Case Studies" or digital documentation. These materials will only be published with the express, voluntary written consent of the Participant.
7.2 Anonymization: To protect the professional identity of our corporate and private clients, all published case studies utilize the Participant’s first name and last initial only. Consent may be revoked by the participant at any time via written notice to email.
8. Complaints Procedure & Binding Appeal
8.1 Internal Resolution: Complaints regarding the execution of the training must be submitted in writing to jacob@amsterdamcreatief.nl. Amsterdam Creatief will formally acknowledge receipt within 48 hours and provide a detailed written proposed resolution within four (4) weeks. All complaint records are kept securely on file for a minimum of two (2) years.
8.2 Independent Third Party: If a dispute cannot be resolved satisfactorily through internal channels, it will be referred to an independent, qualified mediator (e.g., Stichting Geschillencommissie).
8.3 Binding Decision: The ruling or decision of the independent third-party mediator is contractually binding on both parties. However, if the Participant is a consumer (B2C), they retain the statutory right to opt for settlement by a competent civil court in the Netherlands instead, provided they invoke this right in writing within one month after Amsterdam Creatief has invoked this clause.
9. Liability & Indemnification
9.1 Standard of Liability: Jacob Watrous and Amsterdam Creatief carry zero liability for any damages, loss, or theft of the Participant’s property, nor for any personal injury, unless caused directly by the intentional gross negligence (opzet) or willful recklessness (bewuste roekeloosheid) of Jacob Watrous or Amsterdam Creatief.
9.2 Insurance & Financial Limitation: Any proven liability of Amsterdam Creatief is strictly limited to the amount actually paid out under the professional liability insurance policy for the specific claim in question. If, for any reason, no insurance payment is applicable, the maximum aggregate liability of Jacob Watrous or Amsterdam Creatief for any claim arising out of or in connection with the residency shall be strictly limited to the total fee (excluding VAT) paid by the Participant for that specific assignment.
9.3 Environmental & Third-Party Risk: Amsterdam Creatief operates in public urban environments, historic architectural spaces, and third-party venues. Amsterdam Creatief carries no responsibility for the maintenance, safety, or physical accessibility of these external environments. Participants are solely responsible for their own physical safety, navigation of the walking components of the residency, and the security of their personal gear.
9.4 Third-Party Indemnification: The Participant shall fully indemnify and hold Jacob Watrous and Amsterdam Creatief harmless against any and all third-party claims (including, but not limited to, claims from venue owners, municipal property managers, or members of the public) arising directly from the Participant’s actions, conduct, or negligence during the residency.
9.5 Professional Outcome: While Amsterdam Creatief provides professional, high-level vocational training, creative mentorship is an intensely subjective creative process. Amsterdam Creatief is not liable for the Participant’s failure to achieve specific external professional, commercial, or creative milestones following the completion of the training.
10. Termination for Cause
Amsterdam Creatief reserves the absolute right to terminate a residency or field study immediately, mid-session, and without any refund if the Participant engages in illegal activity, verbal or physical harassment, or behavior that threatens the personal safety or dignity of Jacob Watrous, venue staff, or members of the public. In such extreme cases, the full tuition fee remains entirely earned by Amsterdam Creatief.
11. Applicable Law
This Agreement is governed exclusively by Dutch Law. All disputes shall be submitted exclusively to the competent court in the district where Amsterdam Creatief is officially registered (Amsterdam, Noord-Holland).