“The first time I visited Maastricht, I thought it was a beautiful city, but also a bit uptight. All those fancy, expensive shops… I wasn’t sure it was really my kind of place. The first time I truly felt at home here was when a friend took me to Café Rosé – which is funny, as I’m not much of a party person. But that’s when I saw a different side of the city. I immediately felt comfortable; it’s a place where people can just be themselves.
“I realised I was queer a bit later than most people, just after finishing high school. I grew up in a small town near Hamburg in Germany. The people there are very accepting, but there’s nothing for the queer community. There’s only one pub in town, and it burned down. So I never really got to explore that side of myself. Here, I can, and it makes my student life feel more complete. Café Rosé is also one of the few alternative bars in Maastricht, and I really vibe with the music they play. My friends, including those who aren’t queer, are always happy to go there with me.
“For a long time, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, but I knew I wanted to move to a bigger city. Hamburg seemed like the obvious choice, but the university didn’t offer the kind of international programme I was looking for. It took me a while to get used to Maastricht and living on my own, adjusting to everything new, but I’ve come to really like it here. I’ve joined the UM Choir, made a group of friends, and I find my study programme interesting. At weekends, I love wandering around the city among the tourists and day trippers; hearing all those different languages makes it feel like being on holiday. The only thing Maastricht is missing is a spot to sit by the Meuse and dip your feet in the water.”