8x facts about Nijmegen as a student city

"I came here initially for one semester but liked it so much that I requested the exchange to be prolonged for another one. During that time, I met my partner, who is German but has done his whole studies here."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Dagmara, Poland

"Despite Nijmegen being quite a small city, there is loads of stuff going on. I couldn’t believe that I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Goffertpark. You almost feel like you’re living in a capital city but you don’t have the craziness of a capital city."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Hannah, United Kingdom

"I’m originally from Bucharest, so Nijmegen is a small town by comparison. But it’s very concentrated with things to do. I like that about the city. You will have an Irish Pub, a vintage store, and a community-run venue on the same street."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Dim, Romania

"The first time I visited Nijmegen I stayed at the Prince Hotel in the Lange Hezelstraat. You can’t go wrong with that, it’s probably the nicest part of the city. Now I’m still here and I like it. No, actually, I love Nijmegen by now."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Elna, Germany

"What I really appreciate about Nijmegen, especially in comparison to larger cities in the Netherlands, is how calm it is. I’m extroverted, but I like coming home to a quiet place where you can just chill out, listen to some music, and study."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Lilla, Hungary

"I first arrived in Nijmegen in 2017, after a twenty-four-hour ride with a bus from Munich. Truth be told, when I first stepped out at the station, I thought: is that it? One of the things that changed my perspective on the city was getting a bike."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Martina, Croatia

"I didn’t know anything about the city before moving here. But it definitely turned out to be a good surprise. This probably sounds cliché, but I immediately felt welcome and at home."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Marian, Germany

"One of my favorite things is probably returning to the city by train. You are riding over the bridge, and Nijmegen’s skyline appears. It always feels like you’re returning home. And it’s how I see the city in general: it’s my home away from home."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Nanette, Germany

"Dressing for the Dutch winter was definitely something I had to figure out. I don’t have a stylish coat like most Dutch people. In the winter, I’m more likely to wear seventy-three jackets on top of each other. But I did acclimate quite well overall."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Eleni, South Africa

"When you arrive in a new country, everything looks pretty, and everything is new. The streets and buildings looked different; the weather was different. It’s crazy that I moved to the Netherlands without visiting the country before.

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Andra, Romania

"I originally wanted to study psychology, which is very difficult to get into in Germany. So, I applied to Radboud, a bit last-minute, paid the tuition fees as a birthday present to myself, and told my family: ‘I’m going to the Netherlands'."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Michèle, Germany

"Moving here definitely made me realize that Nijmegen is much bigger than the campus and the city center. But as a history student, I still have a soft spot for the historical center. I like the old vibes of the center and the busyness of it."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Mirell, Estonia

"Before I moved here, I didn’t have any expectations of this new place – and I’m glad I didn’t. I fell in love with everything here. I met so many good people in the last year – that definitely makes the experience of living in a new place better."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Hanna, France

"Nijmegen is my port, this is where I live, and it’s a marvelous place to live for me. I love the size of Nijmegen, its atmosphere, and the fact that the city is so progressive and has a lot of open-minded people."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Emilia, Poland

"When I first visited Nijmegen before moving here to live with my boyfriend, I wasn’t convinced. But over time, I saw that there are a lot of nice, cozy spots in the city and things to do. I fell in love with the country and the people."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Agnes, Lithuania

'Gezellig' is the first word I learned in Dutch when I came here. People have been telling me that it has been difficult to translate the exact meaning; however, I do believe that living in Nijmegen has made me experience the feeling of Gezellig.

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Maria, Pakistan

"The city feels full of endless possibilities. I’m already thinking about coming back to Nijmegen for my master’s. The city reminds me of home – but not in a limiting way."

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Holly, United Kingdom

Considering that I have lived in big cities my whole life, moving to a small city like Nijmegen was not an obvious choice. But, unexpectedly to myself, I like living here very much.

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Gleb, Russia

Before coming here, I had talked to many of my colleagues, and everybody spoke very highly of the city. But I still expected Nijmegen to be smaller and less vibrant – but, to my surprise, it’s been a really good nearly three years so far.

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Sharmishta, United Kingdom

I am originally from Rome, Italy. The first time I came to Nijmegen was six years ago as an Erasmus student. I chose Nijmegen because I wanted to experience a different environment and live away from my hometown for the first time.

Read more about Expat life in Nijmegen: Giacomo, Italy