Kaloyan has had a beard since he was thirteen

Thousands of new faces arrive at the university this week. To get to know them, we’ll feature a standout student every day. Kaloyan has little interest in fashion.

Willemsplein smells of candyfloss and frying oil. A strong wind blows, but it’s not enough to dispel the sharp scent. After three nights of partying, the energy has dropped significantly. Students lounge on beanbags in the Silent Disco. In front of the main stage, a man with a full beard sits alone on a bench. Kaloyan Petrov (19) has straight black hair, parted in the middle and neatly trimmed at shoulder length. His full beard makes him look years older. Only the security guards can match his facial hair.

He talks at length about his beard routine, which he has developed over the past six years. Washing daily with a special shampoo, combing every day with a special comb. A monthly visit to the barber. He moved from Bulgaria to Rotterdam only a week ago and is still searching for a new barber. Not too cheap, not too expensive, not too much or too little off. “I ask for a rounded shape. The sides of my neck especially need to be well-trimmed, or I don’t have a jawline.”

A bit more revealing

He usually doesn’t think about clothes, but for events like this, he wears his ‘more formal’ outfit to make a good impression: fitted trousers, a polo shirt, and a fleece vest over it. Kaloyan prefers plenty of pockets, so he never has to carry a bag. He’s not particularly interested in the fashion choices of others. He doesn’t judge. However, he does notice that women here dress more revealingly than in Bulgaria.

Kaloyan hasn’t made any friends yet. “They’re still just acquaintances.” Forming true friendships takes time. He plans to get to know his fellow International Business Administration students at his own pace over the coming weeks, away from the parties and loud music he’s already grown tired of. He believes it’s important to get the most out of his studies, and that can only be achieved by occasionally putting himself in uncomfortable situations – but always in his most comfortable clothes.