How do you celebrate international Christmas in the Netherlands? – General Nijmegen Student magazine
Student houses and the campus are emptying, because many students visit their families for Christmas. What happens if you can’t just catch the train home home? ANS asked international students how they celebrate Christmas in the Netherlands. “I can’t go back because of the war, so I buy myself presents.”
Many students are leaving for their parental home one of these days to celebrate Christmas with family. However, international students who cannot go home will stay in Nijmegen to spend the holidays here. Some go shopping, others meet up with friends for dinner, and still others visit an organized event. “My family is more than ten thousand miles away.”
Christmas without family
Isabella Bastos (20, Economics and Business Economics) does not visit her family in Brazil for the holidays. ‘My family is more than fifteen thousand kilometers away, I can’t just visit them. The flight details don’t come out and I have to study for exams.’ She says it’s hard to find Christmas without her family to celebrate. “I always thought the holidays in Brazil were a big thing, but without them, Christmas feels like any other day.” She organizes a dinner with friends who also stay in Nijmegen to make it cozy after all. “I will definitely go to many events to feel less alone.”
Gifts for yourself
Solomiia Yaroshevich (18, English language and culture) says she will be celebrating Christmas in her one. ‘My friends and family are scattered all over Europe, so I’ll probably go on one shop to buy yourself presents.’ She says she doesn’t feel like Christmas, because they think holidays should be celebrated with a group. “I would have loved to go to my family in Ukraine, but because of the war I can’t,” she explained. Still, she thinks the Netherlands is a good place to celebrate Christmas. “The decorations, Christmas trees and lights everywhere are magical.”
Alternative
Internationals can go to organized events for company. For example, International Students Work (ISW) organizes a Christmas community event for international students seeking companionship during the holiday season. ‘It consists of dinner and a pub quiz. Everyone is welcome’, says Willem Hakfoort, ISW Community Manager. ‘We want international students to feel at home in the Netherlands. You can celebrate Christmas with friends, but it’s also nice if something is organized for you.’ Hakfoort explains that company at Christmas is extra important. “It’s a family celebration. When you come from far away it’s an expensive joke to even go home during the Christmas holidays. It’s nice to have the feeling that you are being thought of and that you can go somewhere.’