Shorter Eurekaweek: without Maassilo and international day, with association tour and tickets for hbo students

This year, students from universities of applied sciences (hbo) are also welcome at the Eurekaweek. Not for the entire week, but for the campus day, sports day, cantus, and the closing festival. However, there are more changes in the Eurekaweek of 2025, which lasts three days instead of four for the first time.

The ticket sales are still ongoing, the organisation is busy, but the programme for Eurekaweek 2025 is set. The week is shorter than in previous years and has been reduced from four and a half to three days. The students of the Eurekaweek Management were surprised in November with the message that the week needed to cut costs. The number of registrations had declined, while the costs had risen. Therefore, the Eurekaweek will take place from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 August.

New is that students from universities of applied sciences are welcome, both as participants and as volunteer crew members. The participants can purchase tickets for four events and thus take part. “We noticed that there was demand and room for this, and luckily the university also thought it was a good plan”, says Shirley Le, chair of the 53rd Eurekaweek Management.

Hbo students will not be assigned to the fixed Eurekaweek groups but can go out themselves during the week. “The events speak for themselves. The Eurekaweek is open and it’s easy to strike up a conversation with others; you won’t be quickly excluded. For example, at the cantus, you can just join a table.” Participating in all days was not an option due to the capacity of some events. For instance, the number of spots for the association tour on Wednesday is limited.

Much remains the same

“The opening at Ahoy on Monday will be slightly different than in past years, but much will remain the same”, says Le. The ceremony, including the cortège, the Rotterdam song by the Hermes House Band, speeches from the rector, the alderman, and chair Le, will take place ‘as usual’ in Ahoy, albeit in a smaller, more affordable hall than last year. The sports associations will no longer appear on stage but will be featured in a video. Thus, the opening will also be somewhat shorter.

“We wanted to hold the opening at Excelsior across from the university to save costs, but there it wouldn’t be the opening ceremony we envisioned. Moreover, we had no alternative there if it rained that morning.” The football stadium has no roof.

On Monday afternoon, there will be a campus afternoon with all the stalls from student services and associations. “The Sunday for internationals has been cancelled now that the week has been shortened, but we have an international plaza on Monday afternoon”, explains Le. “Here, associations or departments for international students will gather, and they can go there for questions about housing or opening a Dutch bank account.”

New activity

The party at the Maassilo, which traditionally took place on Monday, has also been cancelled, but first-year students can still celebrate that evening during Rotterdam Roulette at two party locations: Annabel and Sahara. Students can also go bouldering at Monk in Hillegersberg-Zuid, play pétanque and sing karaoke on Vijferhofstraat, and participate in pub quizzes at Mamarazzi on Witte de With.

The sports day will take place on Tuesday, along with the programme for master’s students and the cantus. The alternative for students who do not want to attend the cantus is the comedy night at Club Haug.

Wednesday will see the Eurekaweek conclude with a festival at Lloyd Multiplein. A new programme component will be included: the association tour and the museum tour. “On campus day, you’ll receive information about an association; during the tour, you are really among the members”, says Le. “We have asked all associations to participate, and from that, we have selected sixteen. They choose what they organise and where, whether at the association or in a restaurant that the members like to visit. Participants can register via the app.”

Not to be missed in the city

Le is really looking forward to the Eurekaweek. It was a bit of a shock when she learned that the week needed to be shorter and cheaper, but she believes the team has become stronger because of it. “We looked at what was possible instead of what was impossible. We had freedom in what we would change. I look forward to seeing everything we have been working on for a year come to life. The Eurekaweek is truly unmissable in the city. You will see groups of students cycling or walking everywhere, and we have organised that.”