Arnhem through Marijn’s eyes: “Like being abroad right here in the Netherlands”
- Fine Art
- Design
- Education in Art
“Arnhem feels a bit like a mini-vacation,” says Marijn Scherjon, a fourth-year student of Fine Art and Design in Education at ArtEZ. “It’s no metropolis but it has everything you need, with a touch of foreign charm thrown into the mix.” For Marijn, Arnhem is more than a place to study: it’s a city that inspires, challenges and feels like home. With the allure of ArtEZ, a thriving creative scene and countless green spaces, Arnhem has stolen his heart.
When Marijn began searching for a study programme, art school wasn’t initially on his radar. “Training to be a primary school teacher was my first idea,” he reveals. “It seemed like fun, but it also felt a bit like a production line. It was all very streamlined. I reckoned I could make a go of it but deep down I wanted something more challenging. Something that would really take me out of my comfort zone.” He found that challenge at ArtEZ. “I didn’t have an extensive portfolio, but I knew I wanted to do something creative. A course where you make art, but also take a broader perspective. That’s what attracted me to Fine Art and Design in Education.” Arnhem as a place to study was a logical choice. “It’s close to Warnsveld, where my parents live. Marijn now lives in student lodgings in Arnhem. “I have a spacious attic room with my own kitchenette. That was a real stroke of luck."
Everywhere you go, you can see something that’s related to ArtEZ. The streets have a real creative vibe. That helps you feel at home faster.”
A city that feels like home
In the beginning, Marijn didn’t know anyone in Arnhem. “I went to a pretty exclusive high school and I was the only one who went on to do something relatively creative. But that didn’t matter, because you make friends very quickly here. Especially at ArtEZ, where almost everyone is in the same situation. You meet each other during the introduction days, in class or at one of the many local pubs. Nelson, for example. I’ve lost count of the number of times a whole bunch of us wound up there!” Marijn is convinced that feeling at home in Arnhem has a lot to do with ArtEZ. “The academy has a kind of aura that you feel throughout the city. Everywhere you go, you can see something that’s related to ArtEZ: in galleries or on the street. It’s also there in the little things: the cool way people dress, the ArtEZ flags around the open day and even art on the electrical cabinets you see dotted around the city. The streets have a real creative vibe. That helps you feel at home faster.”
A touch of foreign charm
What was Marijn’s first impression of Arnhem? “It’s a bit like being abroad right here in the Netherlands. My girlfriend, who’s from a completely different part of the Netherlands, says exactly the same. So many other Dutch cities are fairly flat, but Arnhem is more up and down. When you cycle or walk around, it’s almost like you’re on holiday.” And then there are the trolley buses. “As far as I know, Arnhem is the only city, besides Barcelona, that has them. I think they’re great! It really gives the city something special.” Marijn also appreciates how green the city is. “Cycle for ten minutes in any direction and you end up at a park or some other green space. That’s pretty much unique for a city. Arnhem had to be rapidly rebuilt after World War II and could have wound up being a mass of grey concrete, but the opposite is true.” For anyone considering Arnhem as a student city, Marijn has another practical tip: “Buy a good bike with gears! Those inclines can be tough on your legs. Apart from that, Arnhem has everything you need: shops, second-hand stuff and even an IKEA nearby. It’s easy to fix up your place without breaking the bank.”
Marijn's favourite spots
Marijn now has a number of favourite spots in the city. “Café Vrijdag and Café Bosch are popular haunts. MAMS is another great place to go. There you can run into your lecturers having their morning coffee before classes start. It’s perfectly normal to stop for a chat. Personally, I like to go to Walt, a really cool lunchroom in town.” On his days off, he has a set ritual. “I like to go for a stroll around the city, pop into record shops like Kroese and Waaghals, buy a few CDs and generally enjoy life in the city. Or I chill in the park near Musis, the concert hall, where they put out deckchairs in the summer.” In addition to these places, Arnhem is home to a vibrant creative scene. “All sorts of things are happening here. We have a group app where over a thousand ArtEZ students share tips on events, everything from demonstrations to workshops. It is a nice mix: you have a safe artistic bubble at the academy and that in turn is influenced by Arnhem’s larger creative bubble.”
A creative future in Arnhem
So what does the future hold for Marijn? It looks like Arnhem may continue to play a role. “These days I’m mainly into making art and the city offers all kinds of opportunities on that score,” Marijn explains. “You sense that the local authority understands why artists are important to Arnhem. That’s a big help. Especially in the range of facilities on offer. I would also love to teach, preferably at ArtEZ. So if they’re reading this, I’m open to offers,” he chuckles. “But seriously, Arnhem is a city where anything is possible. If I want something, I’ll make a plan, and things will work out. I have every confidence in that.”
Arnhem in every work of art
What will Marijn remember most about his time in Arnhem? “At the risk of sounding soppy, my girlfriend. I met her here, at ArtEZ. But even practical things like lugging materials or going in search of stuff for school projects can make a lasting impression. It all combines to make Arnhem part of your process. No matter how you look at it, the city finds its way into every artwork you create. Whether it’s the power that charged your laptop or the wood you bought to work with. Arnhem is in everything.”
