“I actually wanted to go back to northern Macedonia, but I heard that Rotterdam was very cool and dynamic, so I wanted to try that first,” Aleksander says. He followed his girlfriend from his homeland to The Hague in 2017. “At the time, Holland had a lot of cool positions in cybersecurity. So I moved with her, but it was not set in stone, I just wanted to try it. And after a month, me and my girlfriend broke up.”
Still, he decided to stay in the Netherlands. “I heard Rotterdam was very dynamic and cool with many kinds of events, exhibitions and art. Especially I am interested in art so I wanted to give Rotterdam a chance.” Fortunately, he was able to find a job here and has been living here for seven years since then. He quickly felt at home because Rotterdam resembles his hometown, the capital of northern Macedonia. “For example, the nightlife and the port. But so in Rotterdam there are more art events. And of course more nationalities; in Skopje you have mostly Albanian, Turkish and Serbian. All the different nationalities in Rotterdam are fun. It’s like a puzzle, each nationality is a piece and if you put them all together, it fits.”
On that puzzle he plunged fully into. “I decided to be open, get out of the house and meet new people with the same interests. That is fortunately very easy to do here. Rotterdam has a lot to offer” He used the internet and apps to find the best events. “For instance, I went to a meeting to talk about philosophy but I also went to a Christian event. And I also regularly go to the Witte de Witstraat, you meet new people that way too.”
And so Rotterdam was the only city he wants to live in in the Netherlands. ‘I also spent a few days in Amsterdam and that was okay, but Rotterdam is better.’
Sinterklaas and the New Year’s Dive
Meanwhile, he also indulges in Dutch traditions. ‘Sinterklaas!’ he exclaims enthusiastically. “My girlfriend put sweets in my shoes last year. I thought that was really funny haha.” The New Year dive is also in his diary. ‘And I love syrup waffles and herring,’ he says.
Northern Macedonian traditions
And with that, going back every year becomes increasingly unlikely for Aleksander. Although he still tries to be in his homeland every early part of the year. “Then it’s Christmas there. And we are a Christian Orthodox country so that’s important. We already have a day off two days before Christmas. Then we get together with family and friends. In the early morning, we walk around the neighbourhood with empty bags and sing songs. Then everyone is supposed to fill our bags with some nuts and goodies. I don’t do that in the Netherlands, only there. It reminds me of my childhood.” One Macedonian tradition he does plan to bring to the Netherlands: slava. “That’s when everyone opens their house on a specific date to everyone they know. I haven’t done it in Rotterdam so far, but I actually want to do it soon. When my father officially hands it over to me,” he laughs.
He sees his future in Rotterdam, where he lives with his girlfriend. ‘So I want to stay here and learn the language,’ he says. He can already speak a little Dutch: ‘Real Rotterdammer, yeah right!’ he laughs.