“In Rotterdam, you can be who you are—no one judges you,” says Shreya from Nepal. She moved to Europe in 2020 to do her master’s degree. She chose a special program that allowed her to live in four different countries over two years: the Czech Republic, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. “I also had options in the US or Singapore, but this European program was unique and I received a full scholarship from the EU. As a student from Nepal, that was a dream opportunity.”
During her studies, she spontaneously visited Rotterdam for a day. “Amsterdam was crowded because of a festival, so we went to Rotterdam instead. It was fun, but at the time I didn’t think: I’m going to live here.”
Nevertheless, she returned after completing her master’s degree. Not for a person, but for a professor. “I admired her work and wanted to write my thesis under her supervision. Now I’m also doing my PhD with her.” The choice to come to Rotterdam turned out to be the right one.
People who are like me
One of the first things Shreya noticed in Rotterdam was the diversity. “We are also diverse in Nepal, but during my master’s degree I lived in quiet, less diverse places. Rotterdam immediately felt different. I saw people who were like me, but also people who were completely different. I liked that. It makes the city accessible.”
In the same boat
Shreya quickly felt at home in Rotterdam. “In many European cities, it’s difficult to find your place. But in Rotterdam, I quickly found people who were in the same boat. New to the city, looking to make friends.” She built her own network through expat groups on Facebook, board game nights, university events, and chance encounters. “In Rotterdam, you may start with nothing, but if you are open to new people, you can really build a nice community.”
It does take a while, though, she wants to tell others who have just moved to the city. “Don’t expect everything to work out right away. Start small, with a hobby, a night out, or an introduction at the university. You’ll find that you’re not the only one looking.”
Honesty without embellishment
The Rotterdam mentality suits Shreya. “In Nepal, people sometimes found me too direct. Here, that’s normal. Honesty is appreciated – that feels liberating.” Just like the work culture. “There’s something down-to-earth about it. People are busy with their work and their lives, without much embellishment. I like that.”
Uncomfortable feeling
But not everything felt right straight away. When she first moved to Rotterdam, there had been elections. Some of the political results made her feel uncomfortable. “For a moment, I thought: do people here even want me here?” Fortunately, she has never had any negative personal experiences. “The people themselves are friendly and open. In this city, you can be who you are without being looked at strangely. I really appreciate that.”
She now feels very much at home in the city and is learning Dutch. “You can live here perfectly well without knowing Dutch, but I find that I feel more connected now that I’m learning the language. It’s also a sign of respect for the country you live in.”
Food as a sense of home
She sometimes feels like she’s still in Nepal because she cooks a lot. “Nepalese dishes give me a feeling of home. I can find many ingredients here—sometimes in Indian or Surinamese shops.” She also celebrates Nepalese festivals from time to time, but she is not very religious. “Most traditions are religious, and I feel less connected to that. But food? That’s something I hold on to.”
Shreya is currently working on her PhD research. She is not yet sure what will come next. “I am open to jobs anywhere in the world, but if I stay in the Netherlands, I would like to stay in Rotterdam. It has become my city.”