KEI-week: build a Groningen network beyond parties

For a new student arriving in Groningen, the scarce resource is not necessarily the next party. It is someone who can explain how to cycle home at night, where to repair a bike, which supermarket remains open and whom to contact when something goes wrong. KEI-week, from 10 to 14 August, is useful because it breaks an unfamiliar city into a group, institutions, associations, routes and a network that may last beyond five days. A large introduction week can also suggest that attending more events means integrating faster. Five days of new faces create social fatigue, while international students move between Dutch jokes and English instructions. The official FAQ says international students can join a mixed group of Dutch-speaking and English-speaking participants. Students aged sixteen or seventeen can participate too, with a different wristband and grouping with other minors for alcohol rules.

That structure makes the week more than nightlife. Almost all events are described as wheelchair-accessible, and there is a route for students to discuss support needs. Inclusion works better when language, alcohol-free preferences, sensory load, mobility or rest are mentioned early. Staying until the final party is not a requirement for building a real Groningen life.

• Set two goals per day: one social and one practical, such as meeting a coursemate and locating a reliable bicycle repair shop.
• Ask about working language: “mixed group” does not make every moment automatically bilingual; request key meeting and safety information clearly.
• Minors can join: expect a different wristband and grouping, and do not assume every night arrangement is identical.
• Discuss support early: accessibility, quiet space or other adjustments are easier to arrange before day one than at a crowded entrance.

Practical takeaway: remembering three names, knowing two safe routes home and finding one association worth revisiting is often a better measure of “meeting Groningen” than collecting the largest number of party photos.

Sources: Official KEI-week registration, FAQ, support and conduct information. Last checked 9 August 2026.