Why are you spending the summer in Maastricht?
“Partly because there’s absolutely nothing to do in summer in Schinveld, where I’m from. On top of that, the village is only 30 kilometres away, but it takes me almost an hour and a half to get home by public transport. Plus, if I stay in Maastricht I can work extra hours to earn more money.”

What do you do?
“I started at the Coffeelovers in the Student Services Centre two months ago. It’s a great job, challenging too. This way I can strike a balance between my income and expenses. Thing is, I’m a member of a student association, Tragos, which means I have quite a demanding social life.”

What makes the work challenging?
“Making the perfect coffee or cappuccino isn’t as easy as it looks. I’m still a barista in training, which means I’m only allowed to use the machine under supervision. Frothing the milk, getting the temperature and thickness right, and making it all look nice in the cup is still quite a challenge. And our standards are high, of course, because coffee is what it’s all about. But it’s a nice team, I enjoy interacting with the customers and you’re always busy, which means the time flies.”

Have you stayed in Maastricht over the summer before?
“Yeah, every summer since I moved here for my studies three years ago. I spent the last three summers working in a clothing store.”

What do you get up to in the city?
“Summer break is the perfect time to get to know the city better. During the year, you’re too busy to see how beautiful Maastricht is. In the summer you can take a tour of the caves or a walk around Sint Pieter. Get a bit of exercise, barbecue with friends who are also sticking around. I might even go to an André Rieu concert at the Vrijthof with my mum. I also do some work as an acquisition manager for the INKOM introduction week, getting in touch with sponsors.”

What’s your plan for after the summer?
“I want to get a master’s degree in Global Health here in Maastricht. You can do the same programme at other Dutch universities too, but I like it here: I’ve got my flat, my friends and now a girlfriend. I didn’t feel like starting over somewhere else just for a year. I’ll leave Limburg after that. Maybe I’ll go to Utrecht, see if I like it there. I wouldn’t rule out coming back to Maastricht one day, but Schinveld? Doubtful.”