Daily
Experiences

Our journey began on Monday 9 March. We travelled by train from Belgium all the way to Leeuwarden, a city located in the very north of the Netherlands. None of us had ever been there before, which made the trip feel even more exciting.

The journey itself was long. We switched trains multiple times, carried our bags across busy stations and spent hours watching the scenery slowly change outside the windows. Despite the exhaustion, there was a constant feeling of excitement because we knew we were heading toward a completely new experience.

By the time we finally arrived in Leeuwarden, it was already late afternoon. After checking in, we immediately headed out to explore the city for the first time.

The atmosphere felt calm and different from what we were used to in Belgium. The canals, architecture and quiet streets gave the city a unique charm. We walked around together, discovered small streets, found a place to eat and spent the evening taking in the feeling of being somewhere completely unfamiliar.

The next morning marked our first official day of the International Project at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences.

From the moment we arrived, we were impressed by the campus. The university was much larger than we expected, with modern infrastructure and an open atmosphere that immediately made the experience feel international.

We were welcomed with coffee, tea and an introduction to the programme for the week. After lunch, the afternoon was filled with guest lectures that turned out to be some of the highlights of the week.

One of the most memorable lectures came from Justid and focused on digital passports and identity technologies. The topic connected perfectly with our cybersecurity background and sparked many discussions among us afterwards.

We also attended a lecture from ING, one of the Netherlands' most well-known banking companies. Hearing about technology and security from professionals working in the financial sector gave us valuable insight into real-world applications of cybersecurity.

To end the day, we attended a lecture from the security officer of NHL Stenden University, which added another interesting perspective to the programme.

The following day started with a visit to the AI Experience Center at NHL Stenden University.

Inside the center, we explored several innovative AI-related projects and technologies. Seeing how artificial intelligence was being applied in different ways made the experience both inspiring and thought-provoking.

Afterwards, we participated in an intercultural workshop together with other international students. The workshop was interactive, fun and gave us the chance to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Later that day, we joined a city tour through Leeuwarden. Although the weather was rainy for most of the tour, it did not stop us from enjoying the experience. Walking through the streets while learning about the city's history made the tour feel much more personal and memorable.

We learned about famous figures connected to Leeuwarden, including the artist M.C. Escher, as well as stories about the Dutch royal family and their historical connection to the city.

Our next day focused heavily on cybersecurity.

We participated in a cybersafety workshop that challenged us to think critically and develop solutions to realistic security-related situations.

As cybersecurity students, this was one of the activities we connected with the most. The workshop encouraged teamwork, discussion and problem-solving in ways that felt practical and engaging.

Later in the day, we joined an online collaboration session with students from Berlin.

Together, we worked on a presentation about natural disasters and how technology can help reduce their impact. Instead of focusing on prevention alone, the project explored how digital solutions, communication systems and innovation can minimize damage and improve response efforts.

Presenting our work together with students from another country highlighted the international aspect of the project and showed how collaboration across borders can lead to creative solutions.

The final day arrived sooner than expected.

After several intense but memorable days in Leeuwarden, it was time to return to Belgium.

Once again, we found ourselves moving between train stations, carrying luggage and watching the landscape pass by through the train windows. This time, however, the journey felt different.

What started as a trip to an unfamiliar city had turned into an experience filled with learning, collaboration, cultural exchange and unforgettable memories.

Throughout the week, we gained new technical insights, met students from different backgrounds, explored a new environment and strengthened our teamwork as a group.

Leeuwarden became much more than just a destination for a university project. It became a place connected to shared experiences, long conversations, late evenings, new ideas and moments we will remember long after the project itself ended.