Stijn

"Above all, I got to know a lot of different sides of the city. Schiebroek is still a different kind of Rotterdam than Kralingen or West."

Where should you be?

"Where not! The great thing about Rotterdam is that you are welcome everywhere. Whether you're a student or elderly, you can walk in anywhere and have a chat if you want. But I do have some favorites. For the best beer, you go to Reijngoud, in the Witte de Withstraat. And while you're there: at Hung Kee on the other side of the Witte de With you can eat well and not too expensive. My father used to come there in his student days!"

What should you really do (or not do) as a freshman?

"I think the most important thing is to be curious. To your studies, to new people you meet and also to the city. It's very easy as a student to hang out in Kralingen. There are a lot of student houses there, a lot of clubs and the university. I know people who barely leave the neighborhood. But Rotterdam is more than just Kralingen. Take a metro to South, a streetcar to West, and be surprised. Come out of that student bubble!"

What will you do?

"Moving first, unfortunately. I have to move out of this house in September; the owner wants to use it himself. Maybe this is a good time to move to another city. I still want to look beyond Rotterdam. But eventually I'll probably come back here."