{"id":81709,"date":"2017-11-18T11:53:19","date_gmt":"2017-11-18T10:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=81709"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:53","slug":"als-ik-naar-rotterdam-zou-verhuizen-zou-ik-meer-aan-het-reizen-zijn-dan-nu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/11\/18\/als-ik-naar-rotterdam-zou-verhuizen-zou-ik-meer-aan-het-reizen-zijn-dan-nu\/","title":{"rendered":"‘If I moved to Rotterdam, I\u2019d travel more than I do now’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTara Lewis<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Business Administration student Timo Nieuwland (24) has such a busy life that he initially forgot that he was taking a reporter with him. \u201cSorry, I\u2019m now in Gouda, I completely forgot about you.\u201d He manages to get out of the train on time and is soon in a sprinter on his way to Rotterdam Alexander, where he is waiting with apologies and coffee.<\/p>\n

The next train to his birthplace and hometown of Utrecht departs in fifteen minutes. \u201cAfter secondary school, I first enrolled for Business Economics in Utrecht, but two weeks before I was due to start, I suddenly switched to Business Administration in Rotterdam. I felt it would be rather less dull and more focused on practice and entrepreneurship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friends<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\t\u2018Sorry, I\u2019m now in Gouda, I completely forgot about you\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t–<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTimo Nieuwland\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

At the same time, he got a job working three days a week as a sales assistant at Fonky Sales. \u201cI soon got promoted to coach and sales manager. I now work forty hours a week as a facility manager and am currently opening another new branch, now in Rotterdam.\u201d<\/p>\n

In September, he also embarked on a master in Strategic Management. \u201cI\u2019ve calculated that if I moved to Rotterdam, I\u2019d travel more for my work than I do now. And all my friends live in Utrecht.\u201d<\/p>\n

Busy<\/h3>
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTara Lewis<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Once in the train, it becomes clear how Timo could forget his travelling reporter. His phone rings constantly and four of the five calls need answering. Between negotiating rental contracts and discussing the layout of an advertisement, he says that he still enjoys living at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m only at home to eat and sleep. For the rest of the time, I\u2019m at work, studying or at the gym.\u201d At the weekend, he makes time for his girlfriend. \u201cBut she\u2019s busy too and travels six hours to and from Maastricht on four days a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meal is ready <\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\t\u2018I\u2019m only at home to eat and sleep. For the rest of the time, I\u2019m at work, studying or at the gym\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t–<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTimo Nieuwland\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

He\u2019s now realised that the level of the master is quite a bit higher than the bachelor. \u201cI didn\u2019t find that too hard at all. Recently someone asked me what my thesis had been about and I couldn\u2019t remember.\u201d At Utrecht Central, we take a bus to Leidsche Rijn, where his parental home is. \u201cI live in the biggest Vinex housing estate in the Netherlands.\u201d<\/p>\n

From the bus stop, it\u2019s just a few minutes\u2019 walk to the Nieuwland family home. The meal that is ready for him will have to wait; within five minutes he\u2019s packed his bag and is on his bike, calling a friend as he leaves. \u201cI\u2019m on my bike, see you at the gym.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTara Lewis<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Can I join you?<\/h2>