At the festival at Lloyd Multiplein on the last day of the Eurekaweek, students rate the past events. “Sailing was fun. We crashed into another boat.”
A total of 150 students are spending the night this Eurekaweek in a kind of pop-up hostel at the Leonidas hockey club run by The Sleeping Agency. “I’m sleeping here because I want to keep on partying a bit longer.”
As the Eurekaweek events draw to a close, the party for first-years is carrying on in the city. After the cantus, Rotterdam bars are full of first-year students on the prowl. “Do you have a boyfriend? Not anymore after tonight…”
Sport does not always go smoothly. That’s totally okay, especially if you can talk about it comfortably.
Research shows that friendships are good for your mental health, and it just so happens that the Eurekaweek is the ideal opportunity to meet new people. Students Geert Vliegenthart and Raja Ramlal met their friends during the introduction week. “It’s good to know you’ll always have someone to count on.”
First-year students photograph couples in the street, dance to Beyoncé and sing Elvis love songs during the alternative programme instead of drinking and singing at the cantus. “I’ve had my dose of partying for now.”
Campus Day is the perfect time for new students to familiarise themselves with the various student associations on campus. Reporter Adinda, a.k.a. association detective, is on a mission to help out new students to find the best-suited student association according to their interests. Let’s see where the clues lead Adinda ‘Holmes’!
How do you describe the cantus? It’s singing and drinking, but you don’t drink when you sing and you don’t sing when you drink. Only after the band sings the German drinking song Trink, Trink, Brüderlein Trink, and the audience has chanted eins, zwei, drei saufen!, the glass goes to the mouth. That, and the low alcohol percentage of the beer, should calm tempers somewhat.
The Eurekaweek is keen to move with the times and do its bit for sustainability. Which is why organisations and partners are not allowed to hand out flyers. Walk around the market for an hour and you will have picked up five new pairs of sunglasses, eight pens, socks for the rest of the week, bottle openers for the whole house and enough condoms to avoid contracting an STD for the rest of your student life.
Introduction weeks that are all about alcohol – this image is steadily being chipped away. In recent years, the Eurekaweek has moved more towards a week that is not centered on drinking. With events for people who are happy to skip drinking, beer taps opening later, and a ban on drinking games. The Dutch Alcohol Policy Alliance would like to see the university take more of these measures.
At Comedy Night, first-year students are treated to jokes about cultural differences and what it is like to live in the Netherlands. “Comedy is a passion of mine, so I think it’s cool to meet like-minded people here.”
At the Eat and Greet at the Binnenrotte, EM lets Eurekaweek participants choose: single or in a relationship? Camping or glamping? Barbie or Oppenheimer? They have to guess the preferences of their new friends.
The Eurekaweek kicked off with the official opening in Ahoy. Around six thousand people watched the entire Rotterdam student life pass by. A common thread throughout the opening was the wellbeing of the new students.
Squeezing through crowded stands and food carts, students from all corners of the globe visit the Eurekaweek’s International Day. The biggest challenge in their first few days in Rotterdam? Housing, money and, of course, bicycles.
Making friends
Social media editor Zuzia visits all the Eurekaweek parties with just one goal: finding friendship.
What to expect this week?
You have your Eurekaweek timetable, but what do all those strange event titles mean? EM editor Feba Sukmana guides you through the week in her own unique way.
Singing along at the Night of the Songs tonight is the perfect ending of the Eurekaweek. Feba tests her vocal cords.
Are you a cool kid, like Feba? Today is for you: sports day!
Tuesday: get to know every student organisation or association, sing your lungs out at the cantus, or join one of the workshops at SKVR.
Monday is the start of your student life, introducing you to Ahoy, the city, Rotterdam nightlife and your fellow students.
Sunday is International Day, so time for a crash course about Rotterdam.
Thorsten's fifth time as a Eurekaweek guide
No Eurekaweek without Eurekaweek guides. Psychology student Thorsten is collecting the shirts. He is a guide for the fifth time this year. His tip? “Have fun yourself! By doing so, you’ll really loosen up your group.”
EM shows you the way!
Lost? No idea how to get from the Mandeville building to CB-2? Or just curious why the Tinbergen building and the T-building are two different buildings? EM shows you the way with this guide and map to never get lost on campus!
Inclusion, well-being and sustainability
This year’s Eurekaweek will focus on diversity and inclusion, says chairwoman Veerle Petersen. Sustainability and student well-being will also be high priorities. “We want everyone to feel welcome here.”
