Interview

Expat Sayuri about living in the City House

Name: Manhave Vastgoed
Price range: $

Read our interview with Sayuri, an expat who moved into the City House in May 2022. She shares her experience of living in Rotterdam.

City House

21 February 2023

By Lisanne Van Beurden

In the City House you can find a young, mixed audience of urban professionals, both local and international. One of the most recent residents is Sayuri. She has lived in Amsterdam for ten years, but moved to Rotterdam for her new job.

Last May, Sayuri (54) switched her job at Schiphol for a job in Oud Beijerland. She wanted to be close to her job, so she decided to move to Rotterdam.

How did you end up in Rotterdam?

Sayuri: “I moved to the Netherlands a few years ago because my employer at the time asked me if I wanted to go for my job. I recently quit my former job at Schiphol, where I worked in administration for Japanese Airlines. I had to quit if I wanted to stay here in the Netherlands, because they preferred if I moved back to Japan. Luckily I quickly found a job at a small company in Oud-Beijerland.”

She adds: “I don’t drive, so I need public transportation to go to my work. It made sense to move from Amsterdam to Rotterdam so I’m closer to my job.”

Is Rotterdam what you expected it to be?

“At first I needed some time to get used to this new city. Now I really like it. Before my apartment in the City House I lived in another apartment on the Boompjes. There I felt like a visitor living in a hotel. Of course I had an amazing view of the Erasmus bridge, but my house needs to feel like home.”

She continues: “I like both Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Both cities have their own charm. But I do miss my friends in Amsterdam. I’m happy they can visit me in my apartment.”

How did you find your City House apartment?

“It felt like a miracle to find this apartment. I was looking for a new place for many months, because it’s so hard to find an affordable, reasonable home. Eventually I found this apartment via an agency and it was just what I was looking for.”

“It felt like a miracle to find this apartment. I was looking for a new place for many months, because it’s so hard to find an affordable, reasonable home.

Sayuri, resident City House

What do you like about living in the City House?

“The very convenient location. It’s so close to Central Station, which is ideal for travelling. And of course I’m very close to the shopping area. This apartment has bathtub, which is really great for us Asians. We love baths. It’s so nice.”