{"id":115569,"date":"2020-07-09T14:47:50","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T12:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=115569"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:00","slug":"the-pastor-who-prefers-talking-about-student-welfare-rather-than-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/07\/09\/the-pastor-who-prefers-talking-about-student-welfare-rather-than-god\/","title":{"rendered":"The pastor who prefers talking about student welfare rather than about God"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For three quarters of an hour the conversation with the Rotterdam student pastor Rob van Waarde was going on when something stood out: God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, predestination? Not a word so far. This theologian isn\u2019t too keen on talking about God. Or rather: not explicitly. He doesn\u2019t mind discussing life questions with students though \u2013 or the worrying state of student welfare.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09143212\/Rob-van-Waarde-studentenpastor010-1600x1066.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-115571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09143212\/Rob-van-Waarde-studentenpastor010-1600x1066.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09143212\/Rob-van-Waarde-studentenpastor010-300x200.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09143212\/Rob-van-Waarde-studentenpastor010-875x583.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09143212\/Rob-van-Waarde-studentenpastor010-1280x853.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09143212\/Rob-van-Waarde-studentenpastor010-150x100.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09143212\/Rob-van-Waarde-studentenpastor010-225x150.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 225w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09143212\/Rob-van-Waarde-studentenpastor010.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p data-component=\"image-credits\" class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center text-base\">\n\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M19.5 5.25H16.9012L15.6234 3.33375C15.555 3.23114 15.4623 3.147 15.3535 3.08879C15.2448 3.03057 15.1233 3.00007 15 3H9C8.87665 3.00007 8.75522 3.03057 8.64648 3.08879C8.53773 3.147 8.44502 3.23114 8.37656 3.33375L7.09781 5.25H4.5C3.90326 5.25 3.33097 5.48705 2.90901 5.90901C2.48705 6.33097 2.25 6.90326 2.25 7.5V18C2.25 18.5967 2.48705 19.169 2.90901 19.591C3.33097 20.0129 3.90326 20.25 4.5 20.25H19.5C20.0967 20.25 20.669 20.0129 21.091 19.591C21.5129 19.169 21.75 18.5967 21.75 18V7.5C21.75 6.90326 21.5129 6.33097 21.091 5.90901C20.669 5.48705 20.0967 5.25 19.5 5.25ZM15.375 12.375C15.375 13.0425 15.1771 13.695 14.8062 14.25C14.4354 14.8051 13.9083 15.2376 13.2916 15.4931C12.6749 15.7485 11.9963 15.8154 11.3416 15.6852C10.6869 15.5549 10.0855 15.2335 9.61351 14.7615C9.14151 14.2895 8.82007 13.6881 8.68985 13.0334C8.55962 12.3787 8.62646 11.7001 8.88191 11.0834C9.13735 10.4667 9.56993 9.93964 10.125 9.56879C10.68 9.19794 11.3325 9 12 9C12.8951 9 13.7535 9.35558 14.3865 9.98851C15.0194 10.6214 15.375 11.4799 15.375 12.375Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/persons\/amber-leijen\/\" class=\"underline hocus:no-underline decoration-1 underline-offset-2\">Amber Leijen<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">God on campus<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/12\/09\/remonstrants-stood-at-the-universitys-cradle\/\">Remonstrants stood at the university\u2019s cradle<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2019\/12\/16\/all-economics-students-would-attend-theology-lessons-if-it-were-up-to-these-professors\/\">All economics students would attend theology lessons, if it were up to these professors<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Van Waarde (45) has degrees in chemistry and theology. He was appointed as Rotterdam\u2019s student pastor last February. His conversational style betrays a background in the ministry: point by point and backed up with examples. \u201cThat makes it easier to talk.\u201d Besides offering pastoral care on behalf of a number of churches in the region, for the past decade he has worked in a similar role in Leiden. He does very few sermons, but this doesn\u2019t mean he doesn\u2019t talk with people: in trainings and workshops, or one on one with students.<\/p>\n<p>Since the start of the Covid crisis, Van Waarde has been part of the student welfare platform <a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/2020\/03\/26\/universiteit-lanceert-online-platform-met-hulplijn-voor-studentenwelzijn\/\"><em>\u2018Are You OK out there?\u2019<\/em><\/a>, where he bears responsibility for the pillar \u2018spirituality\u2019. Reviewing a study into the welfare of students and staff members during the pandemic, he couldn\u2019t help noticing students didn\u2019t score too well \u2013 even worse than the staff. This worries him. \u201cStudents\u2019 horizons have become a lot smaller.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Back to your parents\u2019 village<\/h2><p>\u201cWorking within student welfare, I noticed the low score in the \u2018inspiration\u2019 category,\u201d says Van Waarde. \u201cYou can see decreased motivation and inspiration among many students. The big question is: why? I don\u2019t think you can pin it all on the frustration and disappointment caused by Covid-19 \u2013 that will pass. It goes beyond that, as also becomes clear when you talk with students. Their horizons have become a lot smaller.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\t\u2018The dream of making your way in the world, of developing as a person, falls apart\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p>Van Waarde\u2019s take: since the crisis broke, there has been no long-awaited student exchange, no travelling around the world, no master programme abroad, no partying into the wee hours, or early morning get-togethers at the society hall, no casual chats in the campus corridors. \u201cThe life you were building is suddenly up-ended. I was talking with a girl who wanted to make a big trip, and she had to cancel her plans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow she has moved back to her parents\u2019 village. And she\u2019s worried that she\u2019ll have to go for \u2018safe\u2019 choices: a steady job in this little village rather than a challenging career in the \u2018unfurling, enriching world of the city\u2019. The dream of making your way in the world, of developing as a person, falls apart. Your horizon contracts, as do your dreams and aspirations \u2013 and as a result your sources of inspiration in life. I think this is what students are currently dealing with.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Casual chats<\/h2><p>It has made the Covid crisis extra hard for students. \u201cYou need other people when you\u2019re a student. You\u2019re at a stage in your life when you aren\u2019t settled yet \u2013 you\u2019re still forming your identity. This takes shape over many casual contacts with your peers. That\u2019s also why I\u2019m worried about first-year students in the coming academic year: there\u2019s no spontaneity in the new situation. When could they have a casual chat? It\u2019s precisely these chance, unplanned encounters with people outside your own bubble that can really enrich your life.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69e74fb43975a&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69e74fb43975a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09144022\/Studentenpastor-Rob-van-Waarde-22.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-115574\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09144022\/Studentenpastor-Rob-van-Waarde-22.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 2000w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09144022\/Studentenpastor-Rob-van-Waarde-22-300x200.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09144022\/Studentenpastor-Rob-van-Waarde-22-875x583.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09144022\/Studentenpastor-Rob-van-Waarde-22-1280x853.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09144022\/Studentenpastor-Rob-van-Waarde-22-1600x1066.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09144022\/Studentenpastor-Rob-van-Waarde-22-150x100.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/07\/09144022\/Studentenpastor-Rob-van-Waarde-22-225x150.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139216 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p data-component=\"image-credits\" class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center text-base\">\n\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M19.5 5.25H16.9012L15.6234 3.33375C15.555 3.23114 15.4623 3.147 15.3535 3.08879C15.2448 3.03057 15.1233 3.00007 15 3H9C8.87665 3.00007 8.75522 3.03057 8.64648 3.08879C8.53773 3.147 8.44502 3.23114 8.37656 3.33375L7.09781 5.25H4.5C3.90326 5.25 3.33097 5.48705 2.90901 5.90901C2.48705 6.33097 2.25 6.90326 2.25 7.5V18C2.25 18.5967 2.48705 19.169 2.90901 19.591C3.33097 20.0129 3.90326 20.25 4.5 20.25H19.5C20.0967 20.25 20.669 20.0129 21.091 19.591C21.5129 19.169 21.75 18.5967 21.75 18V7.5C21.75 6.90326 21.5129 6.33097 21.091 5.90901C20.669 5.48705 20.0967 5.25 19.5 5.25ZM15.375 12.375C15.375 13.0425 15.1771 13.695 14.8062 14.25C14.4354 14.8051 13.9083 15.2376 13.2916 15.4931C12.6749 15.7485 11.9963 15.8154 11.3416 15.6852C10.6869 15.5549 10.0855 15.2335 9.61351 14.7615C9.14151 14.2895 8.82007 13.6881 8.68985 13.0334C8.55962 12.3787 8.62646 11.7001 8.88191 11.0834C9.13735 10.4667 9.56993 9.93964 10.125 9.56879C10.68 9.19794 11.3325 9 12 9C12.8951 9 13.7535 9.35558 14.3865 9.98851C15.0194 10.6214 15.375 11.4799 15.375 12.375Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/persons\/amber-leijen\/\" class=\"underline hocus:no-underline decoration-1 underline-offset-2\">Amber Leijen<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><strong>Why are students turning to you with these problems?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy talks with students often revolve around who they are and who they would like to be. What drives you, what\u2019s important to you in life? If you have an idea of what suits you, you are also more motivated to solve the problems that cross your path. Covid is forcing students to rediscover or reconsider these drivers \u2013 and I may be able to help.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>So in which respect do you differ from the student psychologist?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt can be difficult to distinguish occasionally, but generally, I focus less on helping students with traumas or problems. I\u2019m there when they\u2019re dealing with questions like: how should I handle this? How should I structure my life at this point? That girl who was planning a big journey, for instance. Talking with her, I tried to help her identify values and beliefs that mean something to her, and what helps her lead a fulfilling life. Her parents had always taught her: work hard, achieve something. These conversations helped her to become milder.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Critical and creative<\/h2>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts-list\" >\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"text-lg md:text-xl\">The interview with the previous student pastor<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid items-strecth grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand  relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"307\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/09\/15132550\/Geisje.EM_.AnniekLenselink3-2.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139124\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/09\/15132550\/Geisje.EM_.AnniekLenselink3-2.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139124 2000w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/09\/15132550\/Geisje.EM_.AnniekLenselink3-2-583x875.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139124 583w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/09\/15132550\/Geisje.EM_.AnniekLenselink3-2-853x1280.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139124 853w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2017\/09\/15132550\/Geisje.EM_.AnniekLenselink3-2-200x300.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139124 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/09\/20\/studentenpastor-slaat-inleidend-geouwehoer-over\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tStudents\u2019 chaplain skips introductionary bullshit\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2017-09-20\">20 September 2017<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tReligion\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIn this process, I can start by asking a question. At a certain stage, I can also position myself in the discussion \u2013 more than a psychologist would, I guess. Why? As a pastor, you\u2019re more used to presenting your own, personal choices as a human being. Not to set a standard, but as an experience that you have reflected on. I take a broader view: looking at society, what would we need?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The university, for example. According to Van Waarde, many aspects are made subservient to teaching students how to work. But that isn\u2019t how universities started out. \u201cA degree programme has more to do with developing as a human being than with learning how to be productive. This means developing your capacity for critical reflection. And not just in your chosen field, but also as a citizen in the world at large.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The balance is starting to shift in Rotterdam, according to the student pastor. \u201cThe present rector is putting a lot more emphasis on the students\u2019 welfare and success as <em>students<\/em> rather than simple academic performance. But the higher education sector is primarily driven by funding and output rather than a desire to develop independent thinking. Even though a university should actually be about fostering people\u2019s development into free, creative and critical thinkers in ten or fifteen years\u2019 time.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">God, life and vitality<\/h2><p><strong>Is \u2018God\u2019 off limits in your conversations with students? So far, you haven\u2019t mentioned Him once.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>(Laughs) \u201cYes, that\u2019s true \u2013 now that you mention it. It\u2019s not that I avoid talking about God, it\u2019s that it has become rather uncommon in our society. As has talking about spirituality \u2013 I prefer to say \u2018inspiration\u2019. It\u2019s too easy to simply say \u2018God \u2013 and that\u2019s that\u2019. A philosopher from Nijmegen once said: more often than not, the word \u2018God\u2019 presents a problem rather than an answer or a solution. Why? When you refer to God, you\u2019re basically talking about what it means to live well; about what you want to focus on in life. There are many different people, who all have a different concept of God. It\u2019s only after you\u2019ve heard people talk about their life that you could discuss what they mean by \u2018God\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s your personal relationship with God then?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A long pause. \u201cI don\u2019t know if this really suits the purpose of this interview\u2026 It\u2019s a very personal story, and I\u2019m not sure whether I can convey what it means to me in this context.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\t\u2018For me, God has to do with everything that inspires; the source of life and vitality\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p><strong>At the same time, you just said: I\u2019m less hesitant \u2013 than a student psychologist at least \u2013 to guide a conversation based on my own convictions. But isn\u2019t it important for the other party to have an idea where you\u2019re coming from?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cCertainly. That\u2019s where it all starts. For me, God has to do with everything that inspires; the source of life and vitality. One time I was talking with a woman who worked in home care. All the paperwork was affecting her motivation. She had to take care of a mentally handicapped man whom no one else wanted to visit. He had poor hygiene and couldn\u2019t keep his hands to himself. Little by little, she was able to gain his trust, and ultimately it turned out that he had a wonderful singing voice and could play the organ. Which he did, as a way to thank her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s moments like that: a man like that lives on the side lines, in social and economic terms he has become a \u2018cost item\u2019. And still he manages to find quality of life. And precisely the person you\u2019d least expect to actually gives you something. That\u2019s where God comes in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/persons\" class=\"mt-6 md:mt-8 lg:mt-10\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sr-only\">De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4 md:gap-8 md:items-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"teaser-person\" class=\"relative flex gap-4 items-center md:gap-8\">\n\n\t\t\t<span class=\"image:rounded-full image:size-20 image:aspect-square image:object-cover md:image:size-36 shrink-0\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-1600x1600.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-1600x1600.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-875x875.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-300x300.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-1280x1280.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-1536x1536.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 1536w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-2048x2048.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 2048w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-150x150.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-100x100.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 100w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-600x600.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-1000x1000.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 1000w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2016\/09\/18102041\/Marko-de-Haan-1121-001-Levien-Willemse-225x225.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139280 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t<div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/persons\/marko-de-haan\/\" class=\"absolute-link font-tiempos-headline underline hocus:no-underline decoration-1 underline-offset-2 text-lg text-current\">Marko de Haan<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts\" class=\"alignfull py-6 md:py-8 lg:py-10 bg-white\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"container-fixed\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"text-xl md:text-2xl\">Latest news<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"post-grid\" class=\"grid items-stretch grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8 text-zoom-lg:grid-cols-1\n\t\t\n\t\tlg:grid-cols-3\n\t\t\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-sand hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1018\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-scaled.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-scaled.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 2560w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-875x618.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1600x1131.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-300x212.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1280x905.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1536x1086.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1536w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-2048x1448.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 2048w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-150x106.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-225x159.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1018px) 100vw, 1018px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/kabinet-wil-meer-tijdelijke-huurcontracten-voor-studenten\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tCabinet wants more temporary rental contracts for students\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHousing\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"325\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-scaled.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-scaled.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 2560w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-875x618.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1600x1131.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-300x212.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1280x905.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1536x1086.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1536w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-2048x1448.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 2048w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-150x106.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-225x159.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/kabinet-wil-meer-tijdelijke-huurcontracten-voor-studenten\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tCabinet wants more temporary rental contracts for students\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHousing\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-sand hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-500x282.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 500w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/langere-reistijden-naar-campus-woudestein-door-werkzaamheden-metrostations\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tLonger travel times to Woudestein campus due to metro maintenance work\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tStudent life\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 460w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-115x115.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 115w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-230x230.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/langere-reistijden-naar-campus-woudestein-door-werkzaamheden-metrostations\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tLonger travel times to Woudestein campus due to metro maintenance work\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tStudent life\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-sand hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-500x282.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 500w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/universiteitsraad-wil-polak-langer-open-in-avond-en-weekend\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tUniversity Council wants to extend opening hours of Polak during evenings and weekends\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tCampus\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 460w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-115x115.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 115w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-230x230.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/universiteitsraad-wil-polak-langer-open-in-avond-en-weekend\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tUniversity Council wants to extend opening hours of Polak during evenings and weekends\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tCampus\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text-right text-brown-600\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n<a\n\tdata-variant=\"outline\"\n\tdata-size=\"default\"\n\tclass=\"group inline-flex justify-center items-center gap-2 cursor-pointer text-md font-soehne underline-offset-2 decoration-2 px-4 min-h-[3.75rem] border-2 border-current bg-transparent text-current font-bold hocus:underline w-full lg:w-auto\"\n\n\t\n\t\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span data-button-text class=\"\">\n\t\t\tAll articles\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\" flex items-center justify-center w-[1em] h-[1em] icon  \" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"20\" height=\"17\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 17\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M18.25 7.5C18.8023 7.5 19.25 7.94772 19.25 8.5C19.25 9.05228 18.8023 9.5 18.25 9.5H1.75C1.19772 9.5 0.75 9.05228 0.75 8.5C0.75 7.94772 1.19772 7.5 1.75 7.5H18.25Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<path d=\"M10.793 1.04295C11.1835 0.65243 11.8165 0.65243 12.207 1.04295L18.957 7.79295C19.3476 8.18348 19.3476 8.81649 18.957 9.20702L12.207 15.957C11.8165 16.3475 11.1835 16.3475 10.793 15.957C10.4024 15.5665 10.4024 14.9335 10.793 14.543L16.8359 8.49999L10.793 2.45702C10.4024 2.06649 10.4024 1.43348 10.793 1.04295Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For three quarters of an hour the conversation with the Rotterdam student pastor Rob van Waarde was going on when something stood out: God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, predestination? Not a word so far. This theologian isn\u2019t too keen on talking about God. Or rather: not explicitly. He doesn\u2019t mind discussing life questions with students [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":190,"featured_media":115571,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_trash_the_other_posts":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[211],"em_content_type":[],"class_list":["post-115569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rubriek-religie-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The pastor who prefers talking about student welfare rather than about God<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Student pastor Rob van Waarde finds God a difficult subject to discuss. He finds it easier to talk about student welfare. \u201cIt\u2019s too easy to simply say \u2018God \u2013 and that\u2019s that&#039;.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/07\/09\/the-pastor-who-prefers-talking-about-student-welfare-rather-than-god\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The pastor who prefers talking about student welfare rather than about God\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Student pastor Rob van Waarde finds God a difficult subject to discuss. 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