Fun before the storm: Eurekaweek team went bowling together

At Dok99, around 25 members of the Eurekaweek management, management assistants and crew members gathered for a game of bowling before the busiest week of their year begins. On this summer afternoon, there were no schedules or planning documents for a while, only strikes and bitterballen.

“I really can’t bowl”, says management assistant Lilianne with a laugh as she stands in front of the rack of bowling balls. She picks up a green ball, hesitates for a moment and swaps it for a smaller blue one. She throws the ball, and it rolls just past the pins.

Although she is not yet very experienced on the bowling alley, organising the Eurekaweek is nothing new for Lilianne. This is already the third year in a row that she has helped with the introduction week. Three years ago, the medical student started out as a crew member. “It was so much fun that I signed up again the following year. I actually wanted to be crew again, but a position became available as a management assistant.” She considers the fact that the management team consists of new students every year to be one of the best aspects. “The people who organise the Eurekaweek are always great company.”

Job interviews

Law student Jessica has noticed that friendly atmosphere as well. She has not only come to bowl, but also for an job interview. At a table by the bar, committee members are interviewing new crew candidates, while in the background the first bowling balls roll down the lanes and Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now plays through the speakers. “I don’t actually know yet whether I’ve been accepted”, she says. “But everyone is very open and friendly, so I’m already enjoying it.”

The application interviews are deliberately held in an informal setting, explains Dayna Naujoks from the Eurekaweek management. “It makes things much more approachable. Candidates get to know us straight away and we also get a better impression of them.”

Student associations faced lower interest in board positions last year, but according to project leader Dito Boerema, who supports the Eurekaweek management on behalf of the university, interest in crew positions is greater this year than in previous years. “Of course, you can’t compare it with the period after Covid, when students wanted to rebuild their social lives and take on more committee work or something similar, but so far, so good.”

The wow feeling

Just like this afternoon, the Eurekaweek is all about getting to know one another, says Dayna. “We want participants to really enjoy their first days as students and discover how many opportunities there are.”

Her own experiences as a Eurekaweek participant motivate her to organise a memorable week for new students. “I still remember exactly how the management team walked onto the stage during the opening ceremony. The lights came on and all I could think was: wow, this is fantastic. The week turned out to be fantastic as well. I want to pass that same feeling on to first-year students.”

Shorter, but no less fun

This year, the organisation expects around 3,700 participants. By July, more than half of the places had already been filled. That is fewer than a few years ago, when the Eurekaweek welcomed around 4,500 students after the Covid period. According to the organisation, the current expected numbers are more in line with present capacity and the national trend. “If we eventually end up with more than 3,700 participants, fortunately we do have room for them”, says Dito.

The introduction week now lasts three days instead of four. Even so, Dayna is not concerned about the bonds participants build during the week. “You still experience an incredible amount together. Maybe it’s even better this way. I remember being completely exhausted on the final day of my own Eurekaweek.”

One of the new elements she is most looking forward to is the Maassilo Shuffle. “Last year we had Rotterdam Roulette, where you could take part in activities at different locations around the city. The idea is the same, only now the activities are organised at a single location”, she explains. “You can walk from room to room and experience something different each time. There really is something for everyone.”

The organisation also continues to focus on sustainability and wellbeing. The disposable foam sticks used during the festival have been removed, participants are encouraged to bring their own water bottle, and throughout the week there will be a basecamp where students can go if they need some peace and quiet or someone to talk to.

Throwing strikes

As the bitterballen are passed around and glasses are refilled, bowling balls fly down the lanes. Some disappear into the gutter without mercy, while others knock down all the pins in one go. There is cheering, laughter and enthusiastic encouragement.

Among the players is Adi, who is near the top of the scoreboard. The PhD candidate at Erasmus MC is from India and has only been living in the Netherlands for two months. He also came for an interview to become a crew member. “I saw the call for applications and thought: this is a great opportunity to meet new people. And perhaps someone here also knows of a room in Rotterdam, because I’m still looking for one”, he says, half-jokingly.

By the end of the afternoon, cheers can be heard more and more frequently from the bowling lanes. Even Lilianne, who initially claimed she could not bowl, scores a few strikes. “Fortunately”, she laughs. “It all worked out in the end.”