“Rotterdam immediately gave me a feeling of freedom,” says Barbara from Andorra. This small mountainous country is located between Spain and France. Beautiful, but according to Barbara, it didn’t offer many opportunities. That’s why she moved to Rotterdam in 2019, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. “I came here without a job, without a place to live. Just my boyfriend and my curiosity. I was going to build everything here from scratch. I was looking for opportunities that Andorra didn’t have.”
The Netherlands wasn’t a crazy choice: she had worked in Amsterdam before. She is already familiar with our flat landscape and loves it. “In Andorra, there are only mountains. Here, you can cycle everywhere. I ride my bike to work, just like a real Dutch person!” Still, this time she chose Rotterdam. “There’s more space here, fewer tourists, and the city feels more relaxed. I love the architecture here. It’s really different from other Dutch cities.”
Barbara also loves Rotterdam’s diversity. “In Andorra, most people are from Andorra or Spain. Here, you see people from all over the world. Nobody cares where you come from or what you look like. People accept you. That feels very liberating.”
Looking for a home, work, and friends
In the beginning, she lived in five different places. “First in a house with international people. Then my boyfriend and I found our own apartment. And now the three of us live together—my boyfriend, me, and my Dutch cat,” she laughs.
Finding work was not easy. “It’s difficult, especially if you don’t speak Dutch yet. But once you gain experience and keep looking, you’ll succeed.” Now she has a job that suits her. “I definitely want to stay here for a few more years.”
Getting to know new people was also a step-by-step process. “It wasn’t easy to make Dutch friends. So I looked on a Facebook group. That’s where I met my first friend. She introduced me to others. Now I have a whole international group of friends—from India, Spain, Italy, and more. They feel like family. That makes me feel really at home in Rotterdam.” She now also has Dutch friends. “Once you have a Dutch friend, it’s for life. They are loyal and sincere. I really appreciate that.”
Wednesday Night Skate
To feel at home, Barbara set out to discover the city. “I visited museums, went to festivals, and started roller skating. In the summer, I participate in the ‘Wednesday Night Skate’. Everyone is cheerful and the atmosphere is so much fun!”
She now feels like a true Rotterdammer. “I love the directness. I’m also quite direct myself, so that suits me well. I work with Dutch people and I like that. You always know where you stand.”
Although it was an exciting step, Barbara looks back on it positively. “It was tough at first, but I quickly felt welcome here.”
Cooking instead of mountains
She had to leave many of her habits from Andorra behind, such as skiing and hiking in the mountains. Fortunately, she found new hobbies here. “I often walk in the Kralingse Bos to find peace and quiet. That’s the closest thing to the nature I know from Andorra. And of course, we sometimes cook Andorran food at home. My boyfriend even cooks better than I do!”