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Expat life in Nijmegen: Khaoula, Morocco

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? 

Here's the story of Khaoula from Morocco...

"I was born and raised in Morocco, where I studied Mechatronics engineering. For three years, I worked for the only semiconductor company in Morocco and, eventually, felt like I had reached a stagnating point in my career, so I looked into working abroad.

First, I ended up in France. I really enjoyed it, but it wasn’t a complete match. I visited the Netherlands for the first time in summer 2019 and I really liked it. Culture-wise, what you see is what you get here. I’m like that too.

A year later, I saw an advertisement for a job at Nexperia in Nijmegen that seemed to be tailor-made for me. From the first interview, it was an instant sync. So, in early 2021, I moved to Nijmegen. Even though this was during the Covid lockdown period, the relocation process with Nexperia was very smooth.

I love it here. The city’s slogan says it best: Nijmegen is an old city with a young vibe. The buildings can tell stories from hundreds of years ago, but the people are young, fresh, and outgoing. I did not expect people to be this friendly and this open, so that was a positive surprise.

However, I think it’s important to distinguish between friendliness and wanting to develop a friendship. In my culture, when you are friendly with someone, it's a sign of starting a friendship and you can build on that. But here, I noticed that people can be very friendly with you, but it's kept at that level.

The work culture is also quite different here than in Morocco or France. I wouldn’t even say it’s a difference in work-life balance and more a difference in work-life integration. Balance means that one is weighed against the other. But here, I think it’s more about integrating your work life into your personal life.

For example, in Nijmegen, if you have a dentist appointment, you have the flexibility to just go for it and work later. In Morocco, I had to ask for permission and that was not always possible. I feel like people are more conscious and understanding of personal lives and they are encouraging you to give priority to that.

Of course, there are some challenges. It’s difficult to find a house, for example, and it is expensive, but at the same time, the quality of life and the peace of mind that comes with people being friendly is something I value greatly."

More expat stories - Life in Nijmegen

Studying & working in Nijmegen

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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