The honest answer is very little; Belgium is the country equivalent to an old bickering couple that can neither be happy together nor leave each other. Yet, like any old bickering couple that won’t split up, there is something that keeps us together. At the end of the last century, the term belgitude was coined to explain our shared Belgian spirit. Allow me to explain.

Those who wish to understand this Belgian spirit need not read any great literary epics or incomprehensible works of philosophy. Simply watching the children’s show Samson en Gert will do the trick. In every episode, someone knocks on the door, walks in, and says they had to knock because the doorbell doesn’t work. The bell never gets fixed; the characters simply adapt to it not working, yet they never miss a chance to complain about it. That’s how it goes with everything in this country: our bike infrastructure is often downright dangerous, but we still use our bicycles, simply calling the unseparated cycling lanes ‘murder lanes’ to express our disdain.

Life would be bleak if all we did was complain, so we drink as well. Since this is our main joy in life, we take it very seriously. Every beer brand has its own glass, and you had better learn which goes with which, because pouring your beer into the wrong one will result in an angry mob chasing you out of the country. You should also keep in mind that most beers have higher alcohol percentages than you may be used to; this is so that we need fewer glasses to forget the misery of living in Belgium.

What perhaps unites us most is that we dislike each other less than we dislike our neighbours. Sure, the Walloons speak a language we can’t understand, but at least they don't speak with an annoying accent like the Dutch do. We may barely be capable of ordering a beer in the southern half of the country, but at least they will serve us actual beer instead of sparkling pee. All Belgians will be angry if you say the French invented fries and likewise be fuming if you dare to put the Dutch sugary abomination called frietsaus on them.

There’s a lot more to belgitude, but by now you should get the gist: complain about Belgium, complain even more about our neighbours, and drink beer. And remember: never pour a Duvel in a Stella glass. 

Top-level skills aren’t required, Jeroen states: “It’s very accessible. If you can play your instrument, you’re in. If necessary, scores can be adapted.” Celine adds that there are no auditions, so everyone can join. “Our goal is for every student who plays an instrument to join a music club, whether that’s the symphonic orchestra or the concert band. Don’t let your instrument gather dust.”

Which instruments are they looking for? “Violins and cellos, basically all string instruments. It’s kind of the downside of a symphonic orchestra. Two or three of each wind instrument will do – but there are never enough violins. Everyone can come and have a look at the open rehearsals, but actually, every rehearsal is an open one,” Jeroen shares. SCS plays a wide selection of music: “For the spring concert, we’ll be playing Mozart, but also music from How to Train Your Dragon and Shostakovich’s waltz.”

Unfortunately, we can’t convey the beautiful sounds through this article, but you can discover the binding force of music yourself during the open rehearsals on Sunday 28 September and 5 October at 7 p.m. With music, without strings attached, at Prinses16.

“We are an orchestra for students and alumni,” explains Ruth, “and we host two concerts a year, one in winter and one in spring. Throughout the year, we also organise other activities, such as bowling or mini-golf.”

“Our repertoire consists of a wide range of songs, sometimes salsa, sometimes jazz, sometimes more classical. Each concert also includes a piece of film score.” This year, for example, they will be playing tunes from – drumrolls please – The Blues Brothers and Snow White. So, who’s invited to the weekly rehearsals in preparation for their beautiful concerts? “Right now, we’re mainly looking for wind instruments,” Lauranne shares. And, important for the drumrolls: “Percussionists are also welcome,” adds Ruth. “After the weekly rehearsals, especially after the first one, we’ll go out for a drink so everyone can get to know each other,” Lauranne notes enthusiastically.

On Monday 29 September and 6 October, de Antwerpse Studentenharmonie holds open rehearals. At 7.30 p.m., Prinses16 is the place to be to show your musical talent and to blow everyone away!

Chances are, you would soon have heard from AYO without this article anyway. Five years ago, AYO’s members decided to partake in the Black Lives Matter protests and started organising formal and informal events in and around the university. “For some events, like panel talks on colonialism or film screenings, we invite a big audience, because we want to inform as many people as possible,” Eseosa explains. “We also made a conscious decision not to participate in hazing or any initiation rituals that scare off many students.”

Besides these more serious events, AYO hosts a wide range of cosy get-togethers and fun, original activities. Eseosa elaborates: “It doesn’t have to be serious all the time, of course. Most of our events are much more informal. My own absolute favourites are the potlucks we host multiple times per year. Good food brings everyone together and we learn so much from each other’s cultures this way. It’s also a great way to see the intersectionality at AYO: we have both Christians and Muslims, members born in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and South America, but we share a table and love getting to know more about each other and ourselves.” AYO knows that not only food, but also sports, culture and music connect. They have their famous Sip & Paint evenings, organise a variety of sports events and last year they had a successful Open Mic night. “Seeing how great the Open Mic night was, we’re already planning to bring it back this year,” Elisabeth promises. “We always have a big crowd turning up for our football matches and this year, we’ll be introducing even more sport activities. Some members want to try padel, so we’ve added that to the list already!”

“We know that it can be very intimidating for an international student to try and socialise or go to events organised by student clubs,” Eseosa acknowledges. “You may feel like an outsider if you don’t speak Dutch and going out can be expensive. At AYO, we want to make you feel welcome instantly and we do our best to keep entry fees low. And even though many events are theoretically in Dutch, our members come from so many backgrounds that you’ll likely feel an instant connection with many of them.” Elisabeth adds: “Above all, AYO wants to be a safe space for black and African students. We organise events like a Ladies-Only Night or a Hair Day at a black-owned hairdressing salon here in Antwerp.”

Interested in coming to one of AYO’s events? “You can always reach out to us via our Instagram page or via our new website,” Elisabeth and Eseosa explain. They conclude: “Whether it’s via food, panel talks, sports events, quiz nights or parties, at AYO you get to know lots of cultures and people from all over the world, right here in Antwerp!” 

 

Under the call to prayer’s hush,
you laugh – louder than the minaret’s echo – 
And I remember the first time I saw you 
Curly hair captured under that black hijab, 
and you wrap your scarf with the precision of prayer. 
You teased “safi, hadi qdimeem”, (this is ooold) 
Handing me mint tea, sugar-sticky and warm,
Like the secrets we’ve kept folded between our palms.

We were just best friends then – 
Or that’s what everyone called it – 
But my chest was already yearning 
My chest was already learning 
How to bow towards you five times a day.

Not sin. Not shame. Just the way, 
Your eyes soften when you talk about us 
And how you say maybe – 

We dream out loud now, 
In a small flat away from home,
The stray cats that beg for crumbs at our door.

We are not a tragedy;
We are two women kneading
Our own future,
Where our love is love because we say so.

When my mother calls, you mouth labas 3lik? (everything alright?)
And I grin, hamdoulilah, because I am. (Thank God)
Because we are.
Happy unhidden – like a crescent moon
You notice before anyone else.

We hold hands on the rooftop at dusk;
No lighting strikes.
Only the azan threading into the stars (call to prayer)
While you whisper, “wach kayn chi 7aja a7san mn hada?” (is there a life better than this?)
And I know there isn’t.
 

Inspired by their older sister organisation in Leuven, ASA Antwerp was established in 2021 by students of Asian descent who wanted to combine their social life at the university with their love for Asian culture. On their Instagram and TikTok pages, you get a great taste of all the activities and events ASA organises: from Asian movie nights to workshops at soju bars, casino and board game nights, city trips, and even the ASA Olympics. Both outgoing party people as well as those who enjoy calmer activities are welcome at ASA. “I was just starting my ‘next chapter’ in life and wanted to meet new people, but I don’t drink and I don’t really go clubbing. One of my friends suggested ASA and at my first event I immediately felt at home,” Mobina tells us. “ASA is one of the student associations that doesn’t participate in hazing or any other initiation rituals that could make our members uncomfortable.”

“The first and last events of the year are usually the most spectacular. ASA strives to be inclusive and welcoming to all, so you can really talk to anyone and no one feels left out. At every event, there are people who don’t speak Dutch, so they will be grouped together along with others who don’t mind speaking English,” Mobina explains. “We plan many events together with ASA Leuven, and many students from Ghent, for example, come to our events as they don’t have a similar organisation over there. And even though ASA Antwerp is associated with UAntwerp specifically, students from all campuses and schools in the city are welcome.”

Mobina also gives us a sneak peek at what we can expect from ASA this year: “Some events will be ‘regionally themed’, meaning that they will revolve around specific parts of Asia. Students will meet these cultures and get to know more about their traditions, food and music through fun activities and workshops. Those who visit every region will get a great surprise at our grand gala at the end of the year!” Students who are only in Antwerp for one semester can become members all the same. “With our membership card, you get great benefits and discounts up to fifty percent at our events and at our sponsoring club,” Mobina explains.

Interested in coming to one of ASA’s events? “You can reach us basically anywhere: besides Instagram and TikTok, we also have a Facebook page, an email address and even LinkedIn. All we’re missing is an official telephone number!” Mobina concludes: “ASA’s goal is to connect students with each other through their interest in Asia and to learn about these cultures in a very positive way that everyone can enjoy.”

Anyone who picks up their phone every so often while studying is mostly hoping not to be confronted with the dark cloud of exam season during a scrolling session. Unfortunately, there are profiles galore which, each in their own way, can make an already stressed student feel even worse. Unless you get really lucky: sometimes relatable skits or panicking fellow students can motivate you a little. However, if you’ve got bad luck, you will encounter one of the following types.

Number one: The #Aesthetic. These shiny, skinny Labubu girls won’t deviate from their enviable orderly lifestyles just because exams are coming. Structured and organised, they make their matcha lattes and fill their water bottles to show you sugar-sweet studying clips with a fitting piano tune underneath. After watching these videos, you tend to feel completely motivated: I want to be like that! But the moment you’re crying at your desk and thinking back to these kinds of people, your situation feels even more tragic than it already did.

Number two: The Superhero. At first glance, these influencers are very relatable: they procrastinate until the last possible moment, drink unhealthy amounts of Monster and then pull an all-nighter studying. Don’t be fooled, though: unless you get lucky, these kinds of people pass with flying colours nine times out of ten and turn out to be some kind of genius. They might make the doomscrolling student feel better for a while, but they’re not exactly a good example to follow.

Number three: The Study Beast. These students revel in their superiority: they have the art of studying down to a T. They set their alarm for 3 a.m., in order to then consume strengthening concoctions like bone broths and protein yoghurt and study until the sun goes down. Maybe their life does not seem as attractive as that of number one, but the effect stays the same: you feel utterly, completely inferior.

It’s not only the gorgeous holiday pics, the expensive outfits or the picture-perfect relationships on the Internet that make you feel like you’re doing something wrong: the way you study apparently needs to improve as well. It’s maybe better to skip these videos. In the end, what works for you is best. 

tip 1

There’s a high chance that you use disposable razors for shaving. Although they might be cheap, they are harmful for the environment and let’s be honest: they barely work anyway. A one-time investment in a safety razor will benefit you for the rest of your life. You probably never have to throw it away, you just have to replace the metal blade occasionally. A safety razor consists solely of metal, so it can be recycled easily. An example of a web shop where you can buy affordable safety razors is bamboozy.nl.
 

tip 2

If you live in a student dorm, you will inevitably have to cook for yourself. If you have any leftovers after a meal, you might opt for plastic wrap to keep them fresh. However, it is easy to replace plastic wrap with a sustainable alternative: beeswax wrap. These wraps are cotton cloths coated with wax that you can reuse after rinsing with water. You can find the most budget-friendly beeswax wraps at the discount store Wibra.
 

tip 3

As a student, you often have to depend on coffee and tea to get through the day. That’s why purchasing a reusable coffee cup is a sustainable choice. You can use the cup at the vending machines on campus, in your favourite coffee bar or to transport your own coffee or tea from home. Remember to choose a leakproof cup, so that you can carry it safely in your backpack without spilling. A reusable coffee cup can be found anywhere online or in stores; there’s plenty of choice.
 

tip 4

Of course, you will also have to keep your dorm clean and tidy. Cleaning products from the supermarket often contain harmful chemicals and are thus damaging to the environment. But don’t worry, there are sustainable alternatives! You can easily make your own supplies with ingredients like vinegar and baking soda. Homemade cleaning products are often as effective as their premade counterparts, but they are cheaper and more sustainable. Do you want to avoid disposable packaging completely? Then the products from brauzz.com might be for you. This website offers reusable spray bottles with refills that you can dilute with water. The refills are packaged in paper bags that can be recycled, so they are completely free of plastic.

By applying these easy and affordable tips, you won’t just make your dorm greener, you’ll also contribute to a more sustainable world. Every small step in the right direction can make a great difference!

't Stad

Instead of calling Antwerp by its name, locals call it ‘t Stad. It’s the equivalent of referring to your city as The City, capital letters included. People from Antwerp are stereotypically known to have nen dikke nek (‘a thick neck’), meaning they can be quite arrogant or conceited. It’s no coincidence that they refer to the rest of Flanders as their parking lot, as the expression Antwerpen is ‘t Stad en de rest is parking denotes. Despite their superiority complex, there’s no denying that Antwerp really is a great city – dare I say, the greatest.
 

merci

I can already hear you thinking: isn’t that French? Oui, certainement. Knowing some French words – even those as basic as ‘thank you’ – is an easy hack to sound more like a local. Since French is one of Belgium’s three official languages, many French words have found their way into Flemish dialects. You’ll often hear students say merci alongside other (slightly more formal) expressions of thanks like dank u and dankjewel. If you want to up your game further, you can try using mercikes instead. The diminutive suffix ‘-ke(s)’ is typical of the Antwerp dialect and makes the word sound cuter, since you’re literally saying ‘many little merci’s’.
 

kot

You might have already encountered this word while searching for accommodation near the campus, and chances are you now have one yourself. Kot is the typical Flemish word for a student dorm. If people ask you where you live, you can answer with ik zit op kot. The literal translation is a bit awkward (‘I sit on dorm’), but it simply means that you live in student accommodation. If you have a kot, you might find your building completely deserted during the weekends. This is because many Flemish students who live in a kot go back home at the weekend – together with their dirty laundry, to be washed by de mama at home.
 

amai

This little four-letter word is like a magical interjection: you can use it wherever and whenever you want, and you’ll sound the most Flemish you ever have. You could call amai a more versatile version of ‘wow’, but that comparison doesn’t quite cut it. Amai can be used to indicate surprise, frustration, delight or disappointment. You might say: “Amai, I’m tired today” or “Amai, where did all my housemates go?” And hopefully, you can now say: “Amai, I already know some Flemish!"

Student clubs exist in all shapes and sizes and organise numerous activities such as pub crawls, cantussen (an activity where students sit at tables and drink copious amounts of beer while singing from a special songbook), TD’s (large parties in venues), panel talks and workshops. Perhaps you may first encounter your faculty or department club. This is the club associated with your programme, which will introduce itself in your auditorium at the beginning of the academic year. You can easily recognise a praesidium – the board of a club – by the wide ribbons across their chest. All faculty and department clubs are united in two umbrella councils or kringraden: one for the Stadscampus, which is located in the city centre, and one for the campuses in the green outskirts of Antwerp. What is the purpose of an umbrella council? Creating unity between the organisations, setting up joint events and organising meetings with the presidents and vice presidents of each club.

But that’s not all: within and outside of these umbrella councils, theme clubs exist that are not affiliated with just one faculty or department. You can even find study clubs on the Stadscampus. These theme and study clubs have a broader scope but still focus on only a portion of the university’s students. Are you still following? Let’s clarify with an example: De Chips (Stadscampus) and Campinaria (green campuses) are two theme clubs that focus on students living in student housing or koten. However, the official classifications are sometimes a bit flawed: some theme and study clubs are very closely related to a specific course. At an activity organised by Conservatio, you will quickly notice that there are many students studying Conservation-Restoration. You will see the same kind of trend at Socio-Economica and Imbit. It should come as no surprise that a club like Capitant, which aims to bridge the gap between students and the financial world with lectures such as Start To Invest, attracts more economics students than literature students.
 

sweating it out with the UA Sports Council 

The UA Sports Council is a special club on its own. The association is very similar to a typical student club: it is part of the umbrella councils, has a board that wears wide ribbons and regularly organises student activities. However, with two boards, one for the Stadscampus (CST) and one for the green campuses (BC), it is something of an outsider.

These boards aim to keep you fit through their range of group lessons and they also organise competitions. The Sports Council CST leads the Antwerp Students League (ASL) for various sports such as football and basketball. The Sports Council BC organises the Interfac competition, in which the student associations of the green campuses compete against each other every week in a different sport.
 

religious, ethnic or political inspiration

Completely different types of associations are the religious, ethnic or politically inspired associations. In Antwerp, you can find the religious associations Mahara and Ichtus. Mahara’s mission is to unite and inspire students and alumni based on Islamic values. There are no wide ribbons or club songs, and the activities are somewhat atypical. For example, they organise an iftar, various workshops, and panel talks on political themes such as decolonisation. Ichtus, on the other hand, is a Protestant student association that focusses more on (religious) togetherness and the study of religious texts.

The focus of ASA and AYO is on creating more ethnic awareness and (re)discovering roots. ASA, short for Asian Student Association, organises all kinds of activities related to Asian culture, such as a dumpling workshop and boba high tea. AYO stands for African Youth Organisation and organises game nights, museum visits and Sip & Paint evenings, among other things. Their goal is to bring together students with African roots and anyone interested in African culture. Read more about ASA and AYO on pages 16 and 17.

The list of politically inclined associations is more extensive. Like political parties, they span the entire political spectrum. However, there is not always a one-on-one relationship. For example, Comac and Jong Groen StuAnt are affiliated with PVDA and Groen respectively, while the liberal LVSV and the conservative KVHV actively emphasise their independence. While you probably will not associate with the political organisations as an international student, it is still relevant information concerning the political climate of Flanders.
 

the international scene 

A number of clubs in Antwerp are branches of an international network. These include ELSA, ESN and AIESEC, all three of which belong to the umbrella council of the Stadscampus but differ from other clubs. ELSA, or European Law Students’ Association, connects law students from 42 different countries, making it the largest student lawyers’ association in the world. It welcomes international students and introduces them to student life in Antwerp. ESN does the same, but for all Erasmus students. AIESEC focusses on leadership potential through volunteer work and internships abroad.
 
Another club with international dimensions is AntwerpMUN. The club is dedicated to diplomacy and international relations and organises UN simulations. It is an organisation for and by students of diplomacy, law, international politics and economics.
 

dedication to good causes

There are also clubs dedicated to helping students and good causes. One of them is the theme club Prisma, based on the Stadscampus. Each academic year, they devote themselves to a good cause and organise events to raise funds, announcing their chosen charity at the start of the year. They’re best known for the Bloedserieus blood drive in cooperation with the Belgian Red Cross, and for donating all proceeds to their chosen cause. This year they will donate to Kleine Tijger vzw, an organisation that brings sick children into contact with art and culture.

For dedicated law students, there is the Antwerp Law School Consultancy, ALSC for short. The association helps students and young entrepreneurs to resolve legal issues in an accessible manner and free of charge. It is also useful for non-law students, as it is the place to be for disputes with your landlord. 
 

from beer talks to coffee chats  

Alongside planned activities and clubs, informal meet-ups in bars and cafés play an equally important role in student life. In the city centre, Ossenmarkt and Stadswaag are especially popular spots for students to grab a drink. Ossenmarkt even has several cosy coffee bars where you can drop in at any time of the day. Elsewhere in and around the student neighbourhood, you will always find somewhere to quench your thirst.

Students on the green campuses unfortunately miss out on the charm of lively squares lined with café terraces. But don’t worry, café De Buis welcomes thirsty students with open arms.
 

cultural activities 

By now, it should be clear that there is more going on around the university than just shouting loudly at parties or hanging out in cafés. However, one important aspect is still missing: culture. Typical student clubs occasionally organise cultural activities such as movie nights or museum visits. Lingua, the department club for Linguistic and Literary Studies and Applied Linguistics, goes one step further with its annual short film festival and various open mics. It is not without reason that the club presents itself as the cultural club of Antwerp.

There are also music and theatre associations, and you will soon notice that they all have the same rehearsal space: Prinses16. This refers to the address Prinsesstraat 16 and is located above the better-known Universitas, a magical place for all your printing and textbook needs. Prinses16 also houses the Student Council office and our own editorial office.

Impressed by this huge range of activities? In reality, there is much more to experience. For example, there is De Flamingo’s, which brings together LGBTQIA+ students, or Mythica, which mainly organises geeky activities. In addition to UAntwerp, there are other higher education institutions in Antwerp that also have their own clubs, who would all love to see you at their activities. 
 

doop or nope 

Even if you have not researched the student clubs of Antwerp, you may have heard of the infamous case of Sanda Dia from 2018. This tragedy began with an initiation to a student club in Leuven and, sadly, ended in the death of a student. Since then, hearing about initiation, or dopen, has often left a foul taste in the mouths of new students.

But what is dopen, and what has changed since this tragedy? Many student clubs still organise initiations in various forms: some last only a day, others a week, though more and more clubs now opt for shorter versions. On such a day, the schachten (the initiating students) have to dress up and complete a series of activities, often ending in a ‘smearing feast’, where full members throw or make the schachten eat disgusting food. At the end of the day, participants recite an oath and are officially initiated into the club.

However, it doesn’t end there. Schachten have to prove themselves throughout the year by completing tasks to earn the title of commilito, which is awarded after an ontgroening where they recite another oath and can finally call themselves a full member of the club.

You might be asking: why would anyone want to go through all of this? There are many reasons: to make new friends, participate in typical student culture, gain kudos within their chosen club, or they simply enjoy the process. Some even initiate with multiple clubs because they like it that much.

To ensure that this process can still be safe and enjoyable, the Antwerp city council has introduced the doop- en feestcharter (initiation and party charter) as a set of guidelines for student clubs. Clubs have to sign the charter and follow its rules if they wish to keep holding initiations. The charter aims to preserve the physical and mental well-being of the participants and to limit alcohol use.

Whether you get initiated or not is entirely up to you. Still unsure? Many clubs organise information evenings at the start of the academic year, where you can ask questions in a relaxed atmosphere. You can also wait and get initiated in a later year. One last piece of motherly advice: you’ll find friends for life anyway, even without an initiation.