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Expat life in Nijmegen: Sudipta, Bangladesh

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 Sudipta from Bangladesh...

"I’m originally from Bangladesh, but I did my graduate degree in Gothenburg in Sweden, so I had already lived in Europe when I started looking for jobs after my graduation and found a company here in Nijmegen. So, around five years ago, I moved to the city.

I definitely don’t regret moving. Nijmegen is a place with a good mix of students and young professionals. When I first moved here, I was still a bit in the student mindset, so that’s something that appealed to me. Now, I especially like the city because it’s quiet but also energetic. It’s not boring – unlike some other small cities.

My biggest culture shock was the way the Dutch handle the weather. There is no bad weather in Nijmegen, only bad clothes. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, I always see people cycle to work in the morning. I think by now I’ve adapted to the cycling weather a little bit, but I have to admit, I often take the car – especially if the weather is bad. But here, you even have the small children being brought to school by bike. So, they are training the next generation! My wife and I sometimes see that and think about what we’re going to do when we have children.

Something else I definitely had to adapt to was the opening times of the shops here. My wife and I both work until the late afternoon, so by the time we get back home, most of the shops are already closed. But I understand that the people working at the mall also need their evenings off. So, you have to go shopping during the weekend.

If there is anything I could recommend other internationals coming here it’s: don’t sit at home. Go out. People here are quite extroverted, so if you want to meet new people, you have to go out. I have, for example, met some people at language cafés. They are often held at local libraries, and it’s for people who would like to learn Dutch. My wife goes there as well. Of course, it’s mostly internationals, but that way, you also get to know different cultures – and, of course, you get to learn Dutch."

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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