Who or what inspired you to study at the UvA? 

‘I was born and raised in Amsterdam, so studying at the UvA was a no-brainer for me. My parents and sister also studied there. I started with a foundation year in Behaviour and Society and eventually chose Urban and Cultural Sociology. But deciding on the UvA was an easy choice because the university is so intertwined with the city.’ 

How did you end up in New York? 

‘That actually started with my sister! After her studies at the UvA, she moved to New York to pursue a PhD in neurolinguistics. I often visited her – I was there almost every summer. New York is interesting to many people, but for an urban sociologist, it’s especially fascinating. Eventually, I began working at the Dutch Consulate General, and now I'm at the Permanent Mission to the UN. When the Kingdom of the Netherlands joined the United Nations Security Council in 2018, I had the opportunity to join the team.’ 

How do you stay connected to the Netherlands and the UvA as an alumnus abroad? 

‘I may be less disconnected from the Netherlands than other Dutch people living in New York. I have a lot of contact with my colleagues in The Hague, I keep up with Dutch news, and I work with Dutch colleagues. Picture this: in the morning, I grab a coffee with my sister, hop on my bike, listen to Dutch news, or call my mum. I speak different languages with colleagues from other countries, and we mainly work in English, but in the office, we often speak Dutch with each other. I feel very involved in what’s happening in the Netherlands and deeply connected to where I come from.’ 

‘And I still feel very connected to the UvA. I’m the chair of the alumni chapter here in New York. I think it’s wonderful to be part of a group of people who share the same memories. It’s part of who you are, and I’ve come to appreciate that more in the American context. Just like how I’ve grown to love liquorice more – but also because here, it’s normal to be a member of various alumni associations and to wear sweaters and hats with your alma mater’s logo on them.’ 

What is your fondest memory of the UvA? 

‘I have a very romantic memory of the UvA, riding my Gazelle bike to class along the canals. Passing a small football field at Amstelveld where I’d played the night before, or going by Leidseplein, where I’d been dancing with my dad at the Kring the previous evening. The way studying at the UvA is so intertwined with the city of Amsterdam is beautiful. I’ve also been to campuses in Brussels, Helsinki, and Manchester. Those felt more like Beverly Hills 90210, but nowhere near as enchanting as the UvA. I’m grateful I had the chance to experience that in Amsterdam.’