There is a funny thing that happens when you tell people you study in Leeuwarden, especially as an international. Someone almost always reacts with a small pause, followed by something like: “Oh… Leeuwarden. Isn’t it kind of quiet?”

And honestly, yes. Sometimes it is. It’s not a city that constantly screams for your attention. There are no crowds of tourists everywhere, and you will not hear traffic outside your window all night long. But after living here for a while, you start to notice something else. If you look a little closer (or if you simply talk to the people around you), you realise that students here are doing so much more than studying. They are finding communities, picking up hobbies they never expected, joining sports clubs, performing on stage, going on long nature walks, and building routines that make Leeuwarden feel like home.

So, to challenge the idea that "there is nothing happening in Fryslân", I asked Campus Fryslân students to share what their lives actually look like outside the classroom and here are some of their answers.

Parkour at JUMP Freerun

Mattia’s hobby started when he randomly thought: What if I just started doing parkour? And, just like that, with no prior experience whatsoever, that spontaneous idea turned into a real weekly activity, thanks to JUMP freerun.

Parkour focuses on moving from one point to another as efficiently and quickly as possible using jumps, landings, and creativity. Freerunning is closely related, but with more acrobatics like flips and tricks. Mattia describes it as exciting, challenging, and "just really fun". What makes it even better is the small groups, music, and inclusiveness of the atmosphere.

“It is usually few people (most times we're 5) who naturally switch to English to include you.”

So yes: you can absolutely jump over obstacles, learn cool skills, and find community in Leeuwarden.

Belly Dancing at Naomi Belly Dance

For Giana, arts and performance have always been part of life. She’s done theatre, singing, and dance; but belly dance has been her passion for seven years. After arriving in Leeuwarden, she started missing it, especially as the academic workload increased. So she searched for a dance space that felt right and found Naomi Belly Dance, where she joined a trial lesson in March and instantly reconnected with something she really loved.

“I met my amazing teacher, Naomi, with whom I immediately connected.”

What started as a hobby became something much bigger: by July, Giana was performing, something she never expected to happen as an international student in a new country. And later, she performed at De Harmonie, one of Leeuwarden’s most well-known venues!

Political Engagement & Community Activism

Anne came to Leeuwarden wanting to become more politically active, and quickly found a community through ROOD, a socialist youth organisation with groups all over the Netherlands.

ROOD meets weekly and takes part in local actions, campaigns, and events. Their activities range from political cafés and movie screenings to book clubs and city clean-ups. They also engage with major local topics, such as activism against the expansion of the military air base in Leeuwarden.

“For me, ROOD has quickly grown into a wonderful community that gives me comfort whenever I need it.”

They regularly collaborate with other local groups, organise educational events and protests, and even help with a monthly people’s kitchen, where anyone can join for good food and good company.

So if you’re someone who wants to actually contribute to society while meeting passionate people, Leeuwarden has spaces for that too.

Theatre at the Podiumschool

Silke admits that during the colder and darker months, it’s easy to get stuck in the same cycle: student home, university, repeat. But theatre changed that.

She joined an international theatre group through student WhatsApp groups and started attending sessions every Thursday at Podiumschool. For two hours a week, she got to step out of daily life and into something creative, expressive, and freeing.

“Theatre was my way of forgetting about daily life for two hours a week.”

It also helped her meet people outside of the “Campus bubble,” expanding her social world and giving her something to look forward to every week. The group explored improvisation, creativity, and eventually worked toward performing their own play, including forms of theatre Silke hadn’t tried before. And good news: the Podiumschool is currently exploring restarting the group, meaning new students can still jump in!

Yoga and Nature Walks

Yu Chieh (Kate), from Taiwan, describes yoga as far more than a hobby: it’s part of her personal journey and an essential tool for navigating life.

She often practices at home, where she feels most comfortable and grounded. For her, yoga is about slowing down, releasing stress, and finding inner peace.

“The mat is like a safe space for me to practice and explore the self.”

But Leeuwarden also gave Kate opportunities to share her passions and connect with others. She hosted a yoga session at the International Welcome Center North (IWCN), and she regularly joins the Expats Walking Geeks in the North, a group that organizes monthly walks around Fryslân and the northern Netherlands. Between nature exploration, sustainability-minded communities, and local markets, she found the North to be full of meaningful experiences.

“There are so many local events and farmers markets that I really enjoy participating in”

Sometimes, the most exciting part of Leeuwarden is discovering the calm, the connection, and the space to breathe.

Bouldering at Klimcentrum Noardwand

Daniel discovered bouldering years ago and has not stopped since. Luckily, Leeuwarden has Klimcentrum Noardwand, where students can climb, boulder, and even take courses in both.

Bouldering is all about climbing shorter walls (up to around 4.5 meters) using routes that vary in difficulty. Climbing, on the other hand, involves much higher walls and a rope system with another person securing you.

Daniel loves it not just because it’s physically challenging, but because it’s also a mental game: every route is like a puzzle. And beyond the sport itself, bouldering comes with something many international students are looking for: a social environment that makes it easy to meet people.

“The community is open and friendly, and you'll quickly see progress.”

For Daniel, climbing has become the perfect balance to long study hours at university; and with new routes constantly being set, it never gets repetitive.

So… Is Leeuwarden Boring?

If you define excitement as loud nightlife every day, you might think so. But if you define excitement as finding your people, learning new skills, trying new hobbies, and building a life that feels meaningful, then Leeuwarden has all you could look for.

Whether you’re into sports, arts, activism, nature, or trying new things, there’s a community waiting for you. And maybe your future hobby is something you haven’t even discovered yet!