{"id":80879,"date":"2017-10-06T16:26:20","date_gmt":"2017-10-06T14:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=80879"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:51","slug":"if-i-ever-leave-ill-definitely-come-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/10\/06\/if-i-ever-leave-ill-definitely-come-back\/","title":{"rendered":"‘If I ever leave, I\u2019ll definitely come back’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thijs den Boer in his hometown.<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

At the Kralingse Zoom bus stop, Thijs den Boer (20) immediately sees three friends from the Hoeksche Waard. Coincidentally, they are all first year Psychology students who\u2019ve known each other since secondary school in Oud-Beijerland. Thijs is on his way to Numansdorp, the place where he was born and grew up, 30 kilometres from campus Woudestein.<\/p>\n

'Psychology feels much better'<\/h3>
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In the packed bus, Thijs explains why last year he dropped out of his studies in Business Administration after twelve weeks. \u201cIt just wasn\u2019t for me. There was one course that interested me: Behaviour and organisation, because it was about people. That\u2019s when I knew I had to do Psychology.\u201d He\u2019s now four weeks into the programme. \u201cThis feels much better.\u201d<\/p>\n

But as a first year, he felt it was still a bit risky to move away from home. \u201cFirst make sure I get 60 credits this year.\u201d By the Van Brienenoordbrug, he points to De Kuip. \u201cI always need to check it out when we pass it. Eventually I\u2019d like to get lodgings in Rotterdam, even if it\u2019s just for Feyenoord. And I\u2019d like to experience student life too.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Now he travels three times a week to and from Numansdorp, sitting at the back of the bus listening to music through his earphones. \u201cFrom classic to hiphop to Irish folk.\u201d After half an hour, he changes at Heinenoord bus terminal. \u201cI work near here for an Internet mail order company, twenty-four hours a week. Last year, I worked there full time after dropping Business Administration. At the end of the day, I was brain dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Playing football in the local beer team<\/h3>

Meanwhile we\u2019re passing a row of impressive villas. \u201cThis is Mijnsheerenland, which is where all the rich tattas <\/em>live.\u201d To relax, Thijs plays guitar in his free time. \u201cI also sing. Everything by The Pogues<\/em>, for example.\u201d He also plays football with friends at the local football club. \u201cA beer team. It\u2019s always a question of whether we get through to the evening. I\u2019d miss that if I didn\u2019t live here, the craziness of being together with the lads, football and drinking. It\u2019s a real village way of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018It\u2019s only now that I can really see how beautiful the Hoeksche Waard is\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

The night life in Numansdorp is limited to one pub: Caf\u00e9 Winners. \u201cWe call it Club W, that makes it sound a bit more upmarket. Sometimes there\u2019s just one man and his dog there, but occasionally everyone\u2019s there and we dance till 5 in the morning.\u201d Looking out of the window: \u201cIt\u2019s only now that I\u2019m showing it to you that I can really see how beautiful the Hoeksche Waard is. If I ever leave, I\u2019ll definitely come back. I\u2019d like to retire to a village.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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