Go, explore and find your way

There is a reason why many young talents stay in Tilburg. To work or do business, often after their studies. In this series we find out why they stick around and how they rank the city.

Not for nothing do many young talents stay here. To work or do business, often after graduating. In this series we find out why they stay in Tilburg and rank them.

The person we speak with this time is Quillan Da Costa Gomez. Behind this wonderful name hides a down to earth guy, who exchanged the warm Curaçao at the age of eighteen for Tilburg. And since then he has never left. Because although Quillan has been living, working, going out and DJing in Tilburg for years, he still studied accountancy in Breda. "It was fine to study there. But Tilburg is my city."

ATMOSPHERE: 7

"After high school I wanted to stay in Curacao to study. My father, who studied in Enschede, persuaded me to go to the Netherlands after all. Within two weeks I arranged everything. I already knew that I wanted to do Accountancy and that Brabant had good education programs. As for the city, I chose Tilburg, a real student city. My first year in the Netherlands was a bit tough. My fellow students could go home for the weekend, but not me of course. I had to do everything myself. Fortunately, my mother taught me to cook, so at least I had her cooking skills with me! After a messy start - I completed my first year in Eindhoven and studied Business Economics at Tilburg University for a short time - I ended up at Avans in Breda. I felt at home in my study. But in the meantime I had joined an association in Tilburg and I had met a lot of great people. So I stayed in Tilburg. I am naturally curious about others and new things. I am also very adaptable. I noticed that people in Tilburg found that interesting. They were open to me, so to speak. At the same time it takes time to get to know the city. You really have to go and explore to find your way here."

"Keep a close eye on Tilburg! The developments here go faster than you think."

SCENE: 8

"The scene here is top notch. And that hasn't always been the case! I've seen Tilburg change a lot in recent years. When I first moved here, the Gin Fizz, where I still regularly play behind the decks, didn't exist. I think it was some kind of bad pub or something like that, haha. Besides Gin Fizz you also have Club Smederij and The Cat's Back. Great places for people who have already graduated and are working, and who don't necessarily feel like a student night on Tuesday or Thursday. People like me! You know, if you are looking for something cool there is always something to do in Tilburg. Take Draaimolen or WOO HAH, but it is never too busy or too massive. It's still quite relaxed. In that respect, the scene here is not completely developed like in Amsterdam. I think that's a good thing, because it gives you the opportunity to make your own contribution. That is part of the vibe in Tilburg anyway: if you have a good idea, you get plenty of opportunities and help to implement it. On the basis of trust and cooperation, you can get a lot done in Tilburg. And the city grows from that."

LIVING: 7.5

"My first room was in West. I still cycle there sometimes and it always strikes me how little has actually changed here in ten years. Maybe that will come, because the rest of the city is renewing itself at a rapid pace. I find that beautiful to see! I now live with my girlfriend near the Koning Willem II stadium. Within cycling distance of the city center and close to a true Tilburg icon of course. We are very happy that we could find something nice and affordable, because that is becoming more difficult in Tilburg. I give 'living' a decent 7.5: there are opportunities for starters and remainers like me, but in South and West there could be some investment as far as I'm concerned."

"If you are looking for something cool there is always something to do in Tilburg."

LOVE: 10

"I met my girlfriend here, so then it must be a 10 huh! No further comments, hahaha."

CAREER: 8

"In my student days I worked at Stadscafé de Spaarbank and Pathé cinema. There was always a good atmosphere among colleagues and I discovered that Tilburg residents are very accessible and easy to get along with. Thanks to my part-time jobs I got to know people, cool places and the Tilburg culture. I now work as a medior auditor at the health insurance company CZ. In my field, you often get the opportunity to work for an external auditing firm. There are many big names, all of which I have considered. In the end it was CZ - where I also did my internship and my thesis - and I'm really happy with that. It's one of the bigger organizations in town, so I think it's cool to be able to say I work there! I know there are a lot of career opportunities in the Randstad, but I'm in my place actually. That has to do with my loyalty to Tilburg, but also with the fact that there are so many opportunities for growth and great companies here. Tilburg is certainly not doing badly and is very important to me. Everything feels in place now; living, working. Just perfect. My advice to future remainers? Keep a close eye on Tilburg! Developments here go faster than you think and before you know it, something develops that suits you. That's how it went with me too."