“Rotterdam has many hidden places that you slowly discover,” says Sien. She was born in Leuven, Belgium, but her desire to study abroad eventually brought her to Rotterdam. “During the coronavirus pandemic, Rotterdam seemed like a safer option to me, closer to the border than Sweden or Scotland, for example.” She chose to study social inequality at Erasmus University.
At first, Sien felt a bit lost in the city, which was empty due to COVID-19. “In the beginning, I really thought: what have I done? Rotterdam was quite a dark, rough city, full of concrete and industrial heritage,” she says. “I come from a village surrounded by nature, so it took some getting used to.”
But after a while, she began to appreciate the city more and more. “I fell in love with Rotterdam. It was the combination of the friends I made here and learning to appreciate the unexpected in the city,” says Sien. “Rotterdam has many hidden places that you slowly discover. It’s a bit like a puzzle that eventually falls into place.”
Imperfections
She liked this puzzle so much that she has been living here for four years now. “Rotterdam has a unique atmosphere that reminds me of Belgium. It has something of those ‘rounded corners’ that you often see in Belgium,” she says with a smile. “It’s the small imperfections that are allowed to be there. It doesn’t all have to be perfect and efficient. It’s okay to be a little different.” She doesn’t experience that in other cities in the Netherlands.She does not experience this in other cities in the Netherlands. “Like Amsterdam. Rotterdam has more freedom and space to experiment, especially with alternative projects.”
The power of diversity in Rotterdam
Despite the similarities, Sien also sees differences between Leuven and Rotterdam. “Leuven is a student city and has many of the same residents. Rotterdam is home to a more diverse population, from students to working people from all kinds of backgrounds,” she says. “In Rotterdam, you can shape your own identity much more because you don’t feel like you have to fit a certain profile.”
Sien considers Rotterdam’s multicultural society to be an enormous asset. “It’s fantastic to learn from each other and grow together as a city. Rotterdam is truly a place where you can discover and develop yourself.”
Frigo instead of refrigerator
Still, she doesn’t want to ‘develop’ her language too much. “I do my best not to completely Dutchify my language,” she says. “For example, I use words like ‘frigo’ instead of ‘koelkast’ (refrigerator), which I think is typically Belgian. I want to retain my own identity and not change everything. It’s important to stay true to yourself,“ she says, ”but it’s also nice to use your own words, even if that sometimes causes confusion.”
However, there is one characteristic of Rotterdam that she finds difficult to resist. “I have always been a direct Belgian, but in the Netherlands I feel even more encouraged to be direct and critical.”
From Kralingse Plas to Delfshaven
Sien is now well settled in the city. She knows and has lived in various neighborhoods. “I used to live between Kralingse Plas and the Maas, near the Willemsbrug and Erasmusbrug bridges,” she says. “In the evening, I often went for walks to a viewpoint where I could see the White House. On the other side was Kralingse Plas, a beautiful piece of nature where I often went swimming with my housemates. I think that’s the most beautiful part of Rotterdam.” Nevertheless, she moved to Delfshaven. “I did that deliberately, because it’s a part of the city that hasn’t changed much, and that makes it very special.”
Future
Sien has now graduated and found a job in Rotterdam. She feels at home in the city. “I’m not sure if I want to stay in the Netherlands forever or if I might want to return to Belgium someday. But for now, I feel very good here,” she says. “Rotterdam has a lot to offer me, especially when it comes to working on social issues such as justice and equal opportunities. That’s one of the reasons why I stayed here.”
Find the similarities
She definitely encourages other Belgians who want to come to Rotterdam. She hopes they will visit her, just like other Belgians do. “It’s easy to blend into Dutch culture as a Belgian, but it’s good to keep in touch with other Belgians. It helps you feel at home,” she says. She also encourages people of other nationalities to look for similarities. “You have so much in common with others; that makes it easier to connect.”