Hey! I’m Nehir. I just finished my Economics & Business degree in Erasmus and I’m currently working full-time. I’m originally from Istanbul and have now been living in Rotterdam for 4 years. I like live music-concerts and because I play piano I find it amazing to see bands in a night out.

1.⁠ ⁠Wanneer begon jouw connectie met het nachtleven en wat trok je erin aan?

My connection with nightlife began in Istanbul when I was 16. I was going EDM events Life in Color or DJ s like Hardwell, Skrillex at that age. I believe the expressive and spontaneous side of night life really drew me into this. I remember selling tickets for festivals and then organizing.

2.⁠ ⁠Wat heb jij geleerd over jezelf door uit te gaan of snachts in de stad te zijn?

⁠⁠I learned that I’m someone who loves creative energy and human connection. I enjoy seeing how people express themselves when they feel free and unobserved. At the same time, nightlife taught me boundaries and intuition — how to protect my space and energy and move confidently in different social environments. My nightlife experience gave me confidence in so many differences settings other than the night.

3.⁠ ⁠Welke rol speelt nachtcultuur volgens jou in creativiteit, community of zelfexpressie?

Nightlife creates a space where formal rules loosen and people can experiment with identity, aesthetics, and emotions. I genuinely look so different at work than when I go out. I can never fully be myself at work, even though I want to prejudices still exist. So I breath when I take off my work identity and go out as who I am. It also brings together people from different backgrounds and gives visibility to subcultures that might not fit into mainstream social spaces. It’s a place of exchanging ideas, style, sound, and stories.

4. Kun je een moment omschrijven waarop jij je echt verbonden voelde met anderen in de nacht?

⁠I would say the dance floor or a random conversation while you are smoking outside with a stranger. And maybe also waiting in the line of a club. Which is also how I met my best friend Ellie last year waiting in the line of Mono at Halloween. Sometimes those spontaneous conversations end up becoming real friendships. I remember she did not have a costume and I gave her a witch hat and fake blood. A costume was made as well as a friendship.

5. Wat zijn uitdagingen of negatieve ervaringen die jij hebt meegemaakt in het nachtleven?

⁠There are definitely moments when people can be a bit too flirty or pushy. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, it can take you out of the moment. Over time I’ve learned how to handle those situations and set my boundaries clearly, but it still gets tiring sometimes. Even if you know how to shut it down, it can be demoralising when someone doesn’t read the room or respect space. Nightlife should feel fun and free, and moments like that remind me how important it is to create environments where everyone feels safe and respected.

6. ⁠Welke veranderingen of oplossingen zouden het nachtleven voor jou veiliger en toegankelijker maken?

Honestly, I think just more awareness around boundaries and consent would already make a big difference. And it’s not only about security checking IDs — it would help to have staff who are actually present on the floor and know how to step in when someone looks uncomfortable or needs support.

7. Wat betekent een veilige nacht voor jou?

Basically — a night where I can have fun freely, feel respected, and wake up the next morning thinking “that was nice,” not stressed.