With Proxima, the first student housing complex on the Zernike Campus has become a reality. Hundreds of students, most of them internationals, are moving into the brand-new residential complex over the next few weeks.
Walking into the courtyard of Proxima, it feels like a mix between a new housing development and a residential care centre. The area between the buildings, which resemble large blocks, is filled with greenery and benches.
Large house numbers adorn the ten residential blocks. In a few weeks, up to eight hundred students will be able to live here, some for four months and others for up to a year.
The influx of newcomers is still in full swing. Cars from all over Europe — Germany, Romania, Spain, and Sweden — are parked on the street, with families helping the new students unload their belongings.
First residents
‘When I arrived, I had an entire block to myself’, says Alexandra, a Romanian bachelor student in biomedical engineering. She was one of the first residents to move in, on August 8.
‘It was the best decision ever’, says Alexia, a fellow Romanian student studying pharmacy. ‘Now we can get to know everyone one by one. If we had arrived later, everyone would already have formed their own little cliques.’
One desk
The rooms are new and modern, with two single beds and plenty of storage space. However, there is only one desk, and perhaps more importantly, there is a lack of privacy: the two beds are only separated by a tall wardrobe, not a full partition.
This is only a temporary situation, though, as the situation of two students sharing a room should only last from August to November, when the demand for accommodation is highest. After this period, tenants will have the room to themselves again.
Alexia, who will be staying for four months, doesn’t mind sharing her room. ‘My roommate arrived last week, and she’s nice. Although technically I’m her roommate and she’s the host, since she’s staying longer’, she says, laughing.
Brand new
Adrian, a student of international business from Moldova, who’s staying for a year, also doesn’t mind sharing his room, although he hasn’t met his roommate yet. ‘The rooms are better than I expected. They look just like the artist’s impression on the website, which I didn’t expect. And of course, everything is brand new.’
The building was completed this summer. Each room has its own bathroom, but the large kitchens are shared by forty residents. There are eight fridges and four large freezers. Eight large workbenches with cooktops and sinks fill the rest of the space, while behind a wall are long tables with chairs for dining.
However, Alexia fears that this may not be enough. ‘The kitchen feels a bit small. Once classes start and everyone is trying to cook at the same time, it might become a bit of a problem.’
Peak period
Milo, another international business student from Germany who moved into Proxima on August 25, was also pleasantly surprised by what he found. ‘I looked up some old photos of the building on Google Maps, but back then it was still a construction site. It looks much better now.’
Milo chose to rent a room only for the peak period, until the end of November. ‘I also used Kamernet and applied for about thirty or forty rooms. I didn’t get a single response. Although I have to admit I was a bit late. A friend from Hanover started looking earlier and already found a room.’
The rooms in Proxima are much easier to secure, says Milo. ‘And because of the groups, it’s easy to get to know someone.’ He’s not worried about finding another place before the end of November. ‘In the first few months of the new academic year, some people will drop out because the course isn’t what they expected, and they’ll leave. That will free up a spot for me.’
Ten years
Proxima will remain in place for ten years, but both the municipality and the university are eager to continue expanding student housing on Zernike. At least 1,500 more residences are planned for the area.
This will make the campus more lively, said Stephan van Galen, UG Director of University Services, in an earlier interview with Dagblad van het Noorden. ‘If people start living here, it will make the area more attractive for businesses and shops. That will benefit the university as well.’