In the series "Expat Life in Nijmegen", expats talk about their lives in the Netherlands' oldest city. How did they end up here? What do they do in daily life here and what do they think of the city and its surroundings?
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"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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.
"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'."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
Nijmegen has a lot to offer in terms of studying, working and business. The oldest city in The Netherlands is also one of the largest student cities in the country. The city presents itself as a leading global player in solving social issues and problems. With its significant position in the Health & High Tech sector, Nijmegen belongs to the international top when it comes to improving the quality of life, healthcare and the development of high-quality technology for various social applications.
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