Although the housing shortage causes problems for many, Sanita from Latvia actually offered opportunities. “As a result, there are many jobs in architecture. And architecture is more interesting anyway than in Latvia because Dutch people dare to experiment with it.”
She took her master’s in architecture in Tilburg. Yet she chose Rotterdam in 2017. ” I was working in Delft. Rotterdam is in between those two cities. And it’s a big city. That normally offers a lot of opportunities.”
The right spots
Meanwhile, the city has captured her heart. “Rotterdam has a lot to offer, there are Meanwhile, the city has won her heart. “Rotterdam has a lot to offer, there are many places to have a drink and there are many other cities nearby. As long as you know where to go.” And Sanita, meanwhile, knows exactly where to find the right spots. “I love the skyline. Especially in the dark, this city is fascinating. I love the reflection of all the lights from the city on the Maas in the dark. So my favourite spot is the view at the SS Rotterdam of the Erasmus Bridge and Hotel New York in the evening.” She has no intention of exchanging this view for that in Latvia or Denmark, where she also lived for a while. ‘I am open to other cities but Rotterdam is best for me right now,’ she says.
Friends
She is therefore completely grounded here, not only in terms of work, but also socially. She has built her social circle mainly through volunteering in Zuid. “I love gardening, being outside in the sun. So I sought voluntary work where I can do that. That’s how I met interesting people like nurses and designers. I wouldn’t have met those if I hadn’t done the work.”
That is also her advice to other newcomers. “Make friends and build a network. Meet people who think the same as you.” Between her work, her volunteer work and her friends, she moves easily in the Netherlands. “You can go anywhere cycling, that’s really easy,” she laughs.