There is plenty to catch your eye in the room of recently graduated Psychology student Veronika Sebaha (22): from the door covered in photos, letters and stickers to the unique decorations on her walls.
Room: An 11m²room at Park De Kotten in Enschede. She pays €475 per month, including gas, water and electricity, and shares the house with two others.
How long have you lived here?
‘About a year and a half. Halfway through the second year of my degree, I found myself in a difficult situation with my previous landlord, which meant I had to move out at short notice. It was either keep paying increasingly more or leave. So, my housemates and I decided to move out. A friend told me about this room. It came along at just the right time, as there was quite a lot of pressure to find somewhere quickly. My former landlord has become quite well-known among students in Enschede.’
Oh dear! Were you able to take your belongings with you?
‘For sure! My bed, for example. I got my other furniture second-hand through Marktplaats. I would definitely recommend that to everyone. And, of course, I brought all my letters and photos with me.’
Are you messy, or more of a neat freak?
‘It's often a bit messy here, especially during exam periods. I don't really mind. Whenever I have time, I tidy everything up again. Sometimes you just don't get around to it.’
What makes your room unique?
‘There's a whole collection of photos on my door. Whenever someone comes over, we take a picture with our camera. I then add it to the collection as a keepsake. And, of course, my Pitbull poster! I bought it after going to his concert with some friends. Naturally, we were all dressed up as the man himself.’
Do you have a funny anecdote about your room?
‘The other day, I was at home with some friends and we were having a great time, but it was getting pretty late. I asked them when they were planning to head home, but nobody answered. So I suggested they stay the night instead. There were five of us, so we ended up squeezed together in my bed like sardines. It was a lot of fun!’
