Meet, Eat, Dance, Repeat: Leire dives inside ESN Introduction Week

Spanish alumna Leire dives headfirst into ESN Introduction Week, Groningen’s biggest welcome party for internationals and takes you with her.

Every year, at the end of August, Groningen transforms into one of the most international villages in the Netherlands. Thousands of new students from every corner of the globe arrive, eager to start their adventure at Hanze and the University of Groningen. But where do you begin when you land in a brand-new city? That’s where ESN-Groningen comes in, with its famous Introduction Week: six days packed with food, fun, culture, sports, music, and more.

This year, we sent a familiar face into the action: Leire, a Spanish alumna with a history at ESN (she was in their PR team until last year). With her mix of experience, curiosity, and a serious love for parties, she spent the week reliving the ultimate international student experience.

At the Meet & Eat, where new arrivals shared plates and stories, Leire asked the big questions: Why Groningen? What makes this city so special?

At the Pub Crawl, Leire discovered that internationals don’t just come to study: they come to party hard. Band Night brought live music and dancing, while Movie Night wrapped things up with popcorn and chill vibes.

For new students, ESN Introduction Week is more than just a schedule of events. It’s the moment when Groningen starts to feel like home. And thanks to Leire, you can experience it all again in ten short, wild reels full of awkward Dutch phrases, unforgettable nights, and the pure joy of starting something new.