“I immediately felt at home in Rotterdam,” says Ahmed. He was born in the small Egyptian town of Malia. He worked for a large company, which involved a lot of traveling. “At one point, they asked me to come and work at their head office in Rotterdam as a project manager.” He couldn’t pass up the opportunity. He was already familiar with Rotterdam as a tourist. “I also visited Amsterdam, but Rotterdam felt special. The atmosphere, the people, the buildings—it just felt right. I felt that this was a place where I wanted to live someday.”
Discovering the city by bike
So in 2020, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, he moved to the Netherlands with his wife. “Of course it was difficult, everything was closed. But I didn’t feel locked up. I did everything together with my wife; we were two expats in a foreign country. That makes everything easier.” Together they often went cycling and discovered the city that way. “You see so many beautiful places that you would never see by car.”
Cycling was not new to Ahmed. “But in Egypt, cycling is mainly something you do in your free time. Here, it’s really a way of life. It’s nice that the city is so well equipped for it. Whether you cycle, walk, or drive, there’s room for everyone.”
Diversity and work culture
Although it was a difficult time to move, Ahmed is glad he took the step. “During such a period, you learn a lot about yourself and the people around you.” And in Rotterdam, there are quite a lot of different people around Ahmed. He likes that diversity.
“I knew it was a multicultural city, but I didn’t know that 170 nationalities live here! That’s what makes it so lively. You can be yourself and become part of the community. There’s room for everyone.”
Ahmed also appreciates the Dutch work culture. “In other countries, work was everything. Here, there is balance. You have time for your family, for friends, for yourself. That really helps you feel good.” But people also work hard in the city. And Ahmed likes that. “Rotterdam is a place where hard work is rewarded, but where you can also really be yourself.”
From soccer group to community
Ahmed made his first friends through his work. “It was an international organization, so I wasn’t the only expat.” But he wanted more contact outside of work. During the second lockdown, he missed soccer and posted a call on Reddit. “We started with a small group of expats. Now we play every Friday with a group, including other Egyptians I’ve gotten to know. It’s more than soccer—it’s become a community.”
The Dutch language and youth
Although Ahmed works in an international environment, he would like to learn Dutch. “I appreciate the culture and want to give something back. I feel welcome here, and by learning the language, I show respect. I understand Dutch well and am speaking better and better. I’ll keep practicing.” He therefore enjoys passing on Dutch traditions to his two young children, who were born here. “I want to give them a taste of a typical Dutch childhood.”
Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr together
Although Ahmed now lives in the Netherlands, he also maintains Egyptian traditions. “During Ramadan, we often get together to break the fast. I enjoy celebrating Eid al-Fitr with other Egyptian families. The mosques also play a major role in this.”