“Rotterdam immediately felt very open and friendly,” says Harris from Thailand. He came to the city in 2019 to study, but ended up staying. “I actually hadn’t planned to stay after my studies. But the atmosphere and charm of the city really touched me. Now I work here, and Rotterdam feels like home.”
Harris grew up with different cultures. “My mother is Thai, and my father is Australian. I was born in Malaysia but mostly grew up in Australia. We often visited my family in Thailand.” During his teenage years, he moved with his family to Italy. “That’s how I gradually became more connected to Europe. Eventually, that brought me to the Netherlands.”
In Rotterdam, he found the study he was looking for. “I studied philosophy, politics, and economics. Not many universities offered that program, but Rotterdam did. Still, it wasn’t just the program that drew me in. The city seemed very open and multicultural. That was important to me.”
Multicultural home
His first impression was positive. “I’ve lived in Melbourne, Bangkok, and Rome. Those are all large, busy cities. Rotterdam is smaller, which makes it much cozier and more manageable. Everything is well connected, and it’s easy to get around. I see that as a big advantage.”
What Harris values most is the diversity. “In Rotterdam, you really feel multiculturalism. Walking through the city, you encounter different communities: Turkish, Polish, Moroccan. That makes the city lively.” For him, diversity is essential. “Everyone brings their own culture and traditions. It’s important to keep those, yet still come together. That’s the strength of Rotterdam.”
Identity and connection
Feeling at home didn’t come instantly. “Many of my friends left after graduation. I had to find my place all over again. I did that by building routines and actively participating in the city—not as a visitor, but as a resident.” For Harris, home is flexible. “Because I moved a lot, home feels like something you create for yourself.”
Food helps him stay connected to his background. “I often cook Asian and Thai dishes. They remind me of my mother. Thai rice dishes especially make me happy.” Still, he has also adopted Dutch habits. “Here, people eat almost everything with bread. At first, I found that strange, but actually, I do the same with rice.”
He sees identity as something fluid. “We often try to put ourselves into boxes. But life is beautiful because of diversity and movement. You don’t have to be just one thing. You can have many sides.”
To new Rotterdammers, he offers a tip: “Don’t be afraid to show who you are. This city is for you too. So step forward—you’ll see how much beauty there is to find.”