Moving to a new city for your studies is about more than attending classes. It is about discovering new places, meeting people and becoming part of a community. For Michal Abbink (23), studying at Saxion in Enschede has been an adventure full of new experiences. Originally from Almelo, Michal is now in his third year of studying in Enschede. Over the past three years, he has become actively involved in student life and discovered what makes the city a great place to study.
Choosing Saxion and Enschede
For Michal, choosing Enschede was about experiencing something new "I am always on an adventure. I like to study somewhere else and explore new places," he explains. "That is also what I did with my mbo. I went to Hengelo, even though I could have studied in my hometown Almelo. Staying in the same place is just not my thing." When he started looking at Saxion, he quickly felt comfortable with the atmosphere. "I chose Saxion because it was close to home, but when I joined the Student for a Day, I noticed how welcoming it was. That is why I stayed."
Exploring Enschede
One of Michal’s favourite things about Enschede is how easy it is to explore. "I love absolutely everything about it. Everything is close by. It is easy to get around by bike because it is difficult for cars to go through the city centre," he says. He also enjoys the atmosphere of the city. "Everyone is friendly most of the time, so I like pretty much everything about it."
For students who are new to Enschede, Michal recommends simply going outside and discovering the city. “The city centre has a lot of historical things to see. You can walk around, do tours and discover hidden places. It is quite a cultural city.”
When the weather gets warmer, his advice is simple: "Explore. The city has a lot to offer, and you cannot see it when you are at home. Justgo around." His favourite place to relax is easy to choose. "Volkspark, pretty easy." The park is also a popular place for events during the summer. "There are festivals in Volkspark, and there is also Tapt. It is really nice to go there, especially because it is close to Saxion.
Making the most of student life
When asked to describe student life in Enschede in three words, Michal immediately answers: "Community, social and fun". After classes, Michal’s days can look very different, from strolling in the city centre or meeting for a coffee in one of the cafes, there is always something to do. "Normally I go home, drink a coffee, do my schoolwork and in the evenings I go out quite often. Sometimes I just have a beer on a terrace with friends, or we go somewhere else in the city."
One of the things he appreciates is that students can enjoy many activities with discounts. "You can go to museums and do all kinds of things. It is pretty different what I do." Michal explains. Students can get access to these discounts through the municipality. At the beginning of the year, students can register and receive information about activities and discounts available throughout the year. Discover more about the student discounts.
Michal enjoys visiting different places around Enschede with friends. "Most of the time now it is Proeflokaal Enschede. I love having a drink, talking to people and just socialising. It is perfect because you have many different kinds of beers that you can try." Another place he enjoys is Zing It, a new karaoke bar in the city.
A growing international community
Michal describes the student life in Enschede as a community, social and fun. Michal has noticed that the international community in Enschede is growing. "Growing. It is growing pretty fast," he says. "For example, Tabula Rasa was created about two years ago and it is growing. You can also see it around Saxion. International students are becoming more visible, and that is a good thing."
He believes Enschede is a welcoming city for international students. "For sure. Everyone knows English, and there are many places where you can go. Saxion also helps international students with housing, so they are definitely working on making people from abroad feel welcome."
Study associations
Michal explains that joining a study association really helps. Enschede is a relative smaller city, and everybody knows everybody. There are many student associations in Enschede, offering students plenty of opportunities to meet others and join activities. He also recommends visiting Tabula Rasa, a student association where many students, including international students, come together. "International students come there a lot. It is a really diverse and fun place to go."
For Michal, student associations are a great way to connect with others. "Tabula Rasa organises a lot of specific events. Every week they have a theme, and if you like it, you go." The themes and activities are very diverse, "They have things like 'bring your own cup' events and darts tournaments. You can even bring your own idea, and sometimes they actually organise it."
Interested in joining a study association?
Study associationsStaying in Enschede after graduation
After three years of living in Enschede, Michal can imagine staying in the city after graduating. "Yes, for sure. I have already been looking at opportunities in both Almelo and Enschede. A few months ago, I decided not to continue with Almelo because I want to stay here. I am definitely planning to stay in Enschede."
Before moving to Enschede, Michal did not expect the city to be so easy to explore. "I wish I had known how easy it is to get around. It is a pretty big city with a lot of cars, but actually not in the city centre. Because of that, it feels comfortable to walk around. The city is really focused on bicycles, walking and that kind of thing."
For students considering a move to Enschede, Michal believes there is one thing they should do first. "Go out of your house and explore. That is the thing. And if someone was thinking about studying in Enschede, Michal would recommend experiencing the city for themselves "Come a day with me and just see how it is. The only way to see what a city is like is to experience it."
Your student life in the city of Enschede
