Hey students, welcome to Rotterdam

Every August, a fresh wave of energy flows into Rotterdam with the arrival of tens of thousands of new students. During events like the Eureka Week at Erasmus University, they also get to know their new city. The campaign Rotterdam leert je leven keeps that momentum going, with great events and tips and tricks to help students discover each other and the city.

In mid-August, thousands of first-year students gather at Rotterdam Ahoy for the start of the Eureka Week. It’s not just students from Erasmus University Rotterdam who take part: university of applied sciences students from Hogeschool Rotterdam and Hogeschool Inholland can join in too. They come from all over, because many international students choose Rotterdam as well.

Discovering a new city

For many students, this is their first time exploring a new city and meeting a wave of new people. During Eureka Week, you can spot them in groups making their way through the streets, heading to events like the Maassilo Shuffle, the Cantus (a sing-along tradition), and the Comedy Night. They also get to meet the 90 study and student associations, and with any luck, find plenty of time to explore Rotterdam’s buzzing nightlife.

During Eureka Week, students can uncover hidden gems across the city through Rotterdam Mozaic. They visit museums, meet all kinds of associations, and walk past Rotterdam’s many iconic hotspots.

Sustainable Dancefloor

Sustainability always gets a moment during Eureka Week. Back in 2017, new students took to the Sustainable Dancefloor and tried to generate a record amount of electricity through dancing. The floor was originally designed by Rotterdam-based Studio Roosegaarde. There was plenty of dancing on the Schouwburgplein, but the record went unbroken.

A student city

Add the MBO students of Albeda and Zadkine to the university students, and you’ve still only scratched the surface of Rotterdam’s many educational institutions. But you do get a clear picture of what a true student city Rotterdam is. Every institution has its own introduction week, helping new students get to know their course and their city.

Hogeschool Rotterdam welcomes 10,000 first-year students each year. In early September, each course runs its own introduction week, designed to help students connect with classmates, explore the city, and get a first taste of their future working environment. With activities happening all across Rotterdam, students quickly find their way to the city’s hotspots.

Albeda impact weeks

Some 6,000 new students at Albeda also kick off the academic year with a celebration at Ahoy. The impact weeks that follow take students out into the city and into its communities. It’s a mix of classes, hands-on assignments, arts education, and encounters with inspiring role models. What makes it special: students work alongside community partners in Rotterdam on real-world challenges in their neighbourhood or school.

This approach won Albeda the first prize from the National Education Research Organisation in 2025, in recognition of the innovative and effective contribution of the kick-off and impact weeks to equal opportunities, social impact, and students’ personal development.

Rotterdam teaches you how to live

Starting a new course in Rotterdam can be both exciting and overwhelming in equal measure. The campaign Rotterdam leert je leven gives new students the best possible start to their time as a student. From an overview of the many student discounts to the studentenvoor010 ambassadors showcasing the volunteering they do in the city.

You’ll also find plenty of inspiring stories from fellow students about what they love doing in Rotterdam alongside their studies. Whether it’s blowing off steam at the gym, getting creative at a studio around the corner, or socialising at a Social Hub: students find shared interests that bring them closer together.