{"id":175977,"date":"2025-02-13T13:56:51","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T12:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=175977"},"modified":"2026-01-29T12:35:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T11:35:10","slug":"this-alumnus-proposed-to-his-beloved-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/02\/13\/this-alumnus-proposed-to-his-beloved-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"This alumnus proposed to his beloved on campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alumnus Gregory got down on one knee and proposed to his beloved Victoria, also a former student, in the Van der Goot building. \u201cThis place is perfect because it\u2019s where our story began.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Gregory and Victoria met while studying Business Administration.<\/span><\/p>

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Gregory (31) and Victoria (30) started their Business Administration studies in 2012. They had mutual friends, but in the beginning, their interactions didn\u2019t go much beyond saying hello. \u201cWe often saw each other in room M1-12 of the Van der Goot building, where we regularly had lectures.\u201d<\/p>\n

From friendship to love<\/h2>

One day, Gregory sent Victoria a message via Facebook Messenger. He was at the cinema and thought an actress looked like her. \u201cI was watching Fast & Furious<\/em> and sent her a picture of the actress\u201d, he laughs. From that moment on, they started chatting \u2013 first on Messenger, later on WhatsApp.<\/p>\n

Back then, they often sat together in the University Library. \u201cThat\u2019s really where our friendship grew\u201d, Victoria recalls. \u201cWe did our homework there and got to know each other better.\u201d<\/p>\n

It took more than a year for their friendship to turn into love. Gregory remembers exactly when the shift happened: \u201cWe had a practical session, also in the Van der Goot building. She looked stunning and was talking to a guy. I thought: no, this can\u2019t happen. That was the first time I realised how serious my feelings for her were.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reliving memories<\/h2>
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Erasmus was a witness to their love.<\/span><\/p>

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Both had known for a long time that they wanted to stay together. \u201cBut if I was going to propose, I wanted to be absolutely sure it was forever. Of course, you have that intention from the first year of your relationship, but time has taught me that ten years ago, I wasn\u2019t as ready as I am now\u201d, Gregory explains. \u201cNow I knew: this was the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, he started planning. He emailed the Communications department to ask if he could reserve room M1-12. His original plan was to propose on 7 January. \u201cBut I couldn\u2019t take the day off work\u201d, Victoria says. \u201cYeah, so then I had to email back and forth to quickly reschedule the date\u201d, Gregory adds.<\/p>\n

Eventually, it happened on 10 January. They started the day with breakfast in Kralingen. Later in the morning, they walked towards campus. \u201cI thought: wow, this is absolutely perfect\u201d, Victoria says. \u201cWe were just going back to where it all began. I suddenly got so excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

They walked around campus, reminiscing about the University Library where they studied, the Food Plaza where they had lunch, and the Spar where they bought fruit and biscuits. \u201cWe also passed the classroom where Victoria was once talking to that guy\u201d, Gregory jokes.<\/p>\n

A video on the big screen<\/h2>

Once in room M1-12, Gregory had a video ready on the screen. \u201cI had filmed myself on campus, saying everything I wanted to tell her\u201d, he says. Then, a compilation of their photos over the years played, set to one of their favourite songs. At the end, he got down on one knee and pulled out a ring. \u201cIt was so beautiful and emotional, we both had to wipe away a tear. You realise how young you were when it all started and how much you\u2019ve been through together\u201d, Victoria says. \u201cAnd the place was perfect because that\u2019s where our story began.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Gregory played a video on the lecture hall screen.<\/span><\/p>

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The couple spent the entire afternoon in the room. \u201cWe didn\u2019t even feel like leaving\u201d, Gregory says. \u201cWe watched the slideshow a few more times and just soaked it all in. With fruit, biscuits, and drinks from the Spar, we sat there as if we were back in class.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple plans to marry in August. What do they love most about each other? \u201cGregory is incredibly thoughtful. He makes sure everything is perfect, like with this proposal. But it\u2019s not just that \u2013 he does so many wonderful things for me.\u201d She looks at him lovingly. Gregory smiles: \u201cVictoria is very caring. She has shown me what unconditional love means. I had never experienced that before. She shows how deep love can go and how you express it through actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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