Fenna welcomes you to Breda

Studying

The 17-year-old Fenna was born and raised in Breda. She is studying Flower Stylist at Curio and knows exactly why so many students feel so quickly at home here. According to her, Breda is all about conviviality, camaraderie, and above all, being yourself.

A city where everyone knows each other

Fenna has been living her entire life in Breda, and she notices this in the atmosphere of the city. "It just feels very gezellig here. Everyone knows each other to some extent, and people have respect for one another." According to her, this is one of the reasons why Breda is such a lovely student city. "You feel very quickly at home here. There's an open atmosphere which makes it easy to make contact with others."

Photo of students in Breda walking through the city centre during orientation week

Enjoy together

When Fenna goes into town with friends, she quickly has a favourite spot in mind. "Ciao Belli is really a must-visit. You can do shared dining there, allowing you to enjoy trying all sorts of dishes together." It's not just the food that's impressive. "It's cosy, the atmosphere is nice, and it's also reasonably priced. And the best part? There's a disco toilet! With just one press of a button, it transforms into a mini party."

Photo of the interior of Ciao Belli in Breda

Breda feels like home

Although Fenna has never lived anywhere else, she realises that this makes her appreciate how special Breda actually is. "The sense of community is really typical of Breda. People are cheerful, friendly and accept each other as they are." According to her, this helps new students quickly feel like they are part of the city.

Photo of students walking through the centre of Breda

These are Fenna's tips: always stay true to yourself

For everyone who will soon be studying in Breda, Fenna has one clear tip.

1. Be yourself

"Just be yourself. There's no need to pretend to be someone else." By being open, she says, you'll find it easiest to make new contacts."

2. Make contact

"Being social is really the key. If you are just yourself, you'll be accepted here as you are. And that ultimately makes your student years even more enjoyable."

Whether you are already from Breda or moving here for the first time: according to Fenna, Breda is a city where you can be yourself and where you'll feel at home quite quickly.