Your Hanze Welcome Day

More than a ceremony – it’s the start of something exciting.

“Stand up if it's your first time in the Netherlands.” So many people stood up. I was one of them.

“Stand up if you came by yourself.” Again, so many people stood up.

I got chills in that moment. Sitting in the huge hall, a bit higher up in the stands, I could really see how many people actually stood up to these simple yet powerful questions.

That’s one of my first vivid memories from the Welcome Day ceremony at Hanze. You might be wondering, what exactly is Welcome Day? It’s not just a series of random questions - it’s an event that officially opens the new academic year for all new international students. If you are going to be a first-year student, you have probably received an invitation to register. But honestly, it is more than just a ceremony. To this day, it holds a special place in my heart. It was the first time I said to myself, “This is real.” Maybe not every student feels that way - but I did. So did my flatmates who came to the ceremony with me.

The Welcome Day starts at 9:30, as always. You're welcomed at Zernikeplein 17, aka the Willem Alexander Sports Centre. There are many student ambassadors involved in the event, and they make the atmosphere so warm and friendly. You can see on their name tags the flag of their country and their study programme. I remember spotting a few International Communication students on my Welcome Day.

The ceremony begins, the rhythm of the intro song builds up, and you are officially welcomed to Hanze. The ceremony itself is wonderful, and I’ll try not to spoil too much so you can experience it yourself. But I can already tell you what will be your favourite part – the introduction to Dutch culture.

After the ceremony, there’s an information market with lots of stands where you can get really useful information on how to open a bank account, get your BSN, and other practicalities. It can make your life so much easier, especially if you didn’t know that you can open a bank account online without queuing at the bank like I did. Also, many student associations are there, such as the biggest student sport organization in Europe - ACLO, the culture student centre - USVA, the Erasmus Student Network - ESN. I’d advise you to check all of them because you might be surprised at how diverse their offers are.

One thing I wouldn’t recommend doing is queuing to get your student card. I did that on my Welcome Day instead of enjoying the wonderful event. You can get the card later. You won’t need it before the exam period anyway.

One thing I would definitely recommend is talking to the student ambassadors. When I attended my Welcome Day, I didn’t even realise how many students were involved in making it happen, and what a warm and welcoming environment they created. I regret not daring to speak with any of them. Peer-to-peer communication is the best way to get real tips and tricks on how to survive in Groningen and at Hanze, ahah. Seeing now from both perspectives - as a first-year student and an ambassador helping on the event - I’m always happy when people come up to us with all sorts of questions. Who else will give you the best coffee spot or recommend trying an Eierbal so you quickly become a true Groninger? The ambassadors also know best what it’s like being a first-year student in a new country. So whatever question you have, find the people with the Hanze logo who look about your age.

I feel that’s what the Welcome Day is for - to give you that reality check, kick-start your journey, and give you the opportunity to meet lots of people that I can guarantee you’ll see often around the city centre (especially on a Friday night). So, if you haven’t signed up yet, make sure to do so!

Hope to see you all there! I wish you the chance to experience all these positive emotions <3

P.S. In case you can’t find the invitation email, you can sign up here:

Sign up for the Welcome Day