From Spain to Groningen
“I wasn’t sure what to study in Spain, nothing felt very appealing,” Irene Westerdijk Martin recalls. At 25, she is now completing her Master’s in Supply Chain Management at the University of Groningen (UG), where she also did her Bachelor’s in International Business.
Choosing UG turned out to be the right decision
Even if the path wasn’t entirely clear at first. “International Business felt like a good option to keep my possibilities open. And during my first year, I had a course on supply chain that I found really interesting. That’s when I knew I wanted to continue with a Master’s in this field.”
Her ties to Groningen go back much further. Half Spanish and half Dutch, Irene grew up in Spain but often spent summers in the Netherlands visiting family. Her older sister also chose to study Psychology in Groningen, which made the city feel like a natural choice. “Having my sister here helped a lot. It made it easier to imagine myself studying in Groningen, too.”
Instead of joining official UG introduction events, Irene found her community elsewhere. “I joined a basketball association, and from there I joined all the social events,” she says. This gave her a way to connect with people right away, as she settled into life as an international student.
The UG is a great opportunity to meet new people, with numerous events not only for socialising but also for connecting with companies.
The start of her studies wasn’t always easy. Switching to English as her study language was challenging at first. “At the beginning, I found it hard, especially because of the change of language, but slowly that improved,” she explains. Over time, she grew more confident in her academic work and began to see the value of UG’s supportive environment. At the same time, she noticed that gaining practical work experience alongside her studies required her to take initiative.
That initiative has paid off
Irene is now working for a company in Groningen while finishing her thesis, and she hopes to stay on full-time once she graduates. With her Dutch roots, her boyfriend already working here, and her career starting to take shape, her future in the Netherlands looks bright.
For Spanish students considering Groningen, Irene’s advice is: “Do it. The UG is a great opportunity to meet new people, with numerous events not only for socialising but also for connecting with companies. Everyone is very enthusiastic, and teachers are always happy to help. Groningen itself is a great city: not too big, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming, but lively enough that there’s always something to do.