Living in Kortrijk #1 — The inside guide by Inès

👋 Who is Ines (and why you should trust her)

Ines is 22, about to graduate in Digital Arts & Entertainment, and has been living in student housing in Kortrijk for the past four years. Not because she had a particular love for the city but simply because it was the only place offering her program.

She left Antwerp for something completely different. Smaller. Calmer. More human.

And that turned out to be the jackpot.

Four years later, she doesn’t just know the city, she feels it. And trust us: if there’s anyone who can tell you what student life here is really like, it’s her.

“You think you have to figure everything out on your own… until you realize that literally everyone is figuring things out too. And honestly? It’s just more fun to do it together.”

🏡 Living in student housing: where adulthood begins (more or less)

Living on your own isn’t some Pinterest-perfect version of scandinavion design and healthy meal preps.

It’s more like:

But it’s also the moments that make everything worth it.

“Like that first grocery run together. Good intentions, a full cart… and at checkout: no bags.

So yeah, you just take the cart home with you. As you do.
It ended up living there for two years.

Look, it made sense at the time…

Or that night the power went out. No WiFi, no lights, no plan.
So what do you do? Light some candles, grab snacks, pour a drink and just… be together.”

And suddenly, something inconvenient turns into something cozy.

🤝 The unspoken rule of student housing: say hello

If there’s one thing Ines really wants you to take away, it’s this:

Settle into your room. Unpack your boxes. Make the space your own.
And then, very simple: go say hi!

Knock on your housemates’ doors, introduce yourself. No pressure, everyone is in the exact same phase. No one will think it’s weird that you’re stopping by.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Cook in the shared kitchen.
Eat together.
Actually spend time in the common areas.

Because that’s where it starts.

You get to know each other.
You start sharing things: food, stories, frustrations, random thoughts...
And before you know it, your “room” becomes part of something bigger.

Those spontaneous moments everyone gets nostalgic about later?
They usually start with just one person taking initiative.

As Ines puts it:

“At my place, I organize a little intro moment every year where new and older students meet over a drink. We sort out practical things like fridge space, but mostly it’s about breaking the ice.”

Because once you know each other, living together just… works better.

You’re more considerate.
You don’t leave the kitchen a mess.
You naturally take responsibility for the space you share.

In buildings with professional management (like Pillar), that dynamic often kicks in a bit faster thanks to clear agreements, a contact person, and occasional shared moments (from game nights to casual apero evenings).

But the essence stays the same:

Someone just has to start.

🍝 Learning how to live (and sometimes survive)

One thing that really stood out to Ines?
How much you learn from each other.

Not the big life lessons, but the small, practical ones:

You’d be surprised how many students arrive without that knowledge.
And that’s completely okay.

Because that’s the beauty of it… You figure it out together.

Going grocery shopping together, cooking together, even sharing bulk purchases. It’s practical, sure but also just… fun.

And somewhere in those small, everyday moments, something grows that you can’t force: a real sense of community.

🌆 Kortrijk: small, but never boring

Kortrijk doesn’t try too hard.
It just works.

Everything is close by.
Everything feels accessible.

From the Sinksen Festival to fun fairs, flea markets, free concerts and events you can just walk into without a plan.

Student associations are active, pub crawls happen naturally, and before you know it, your calendar is full without even trying.

And then there are places like Muziekcentrum Track, Blut! Art Gallery or De Stroate. Not your typical cultural venues, but places where young people actually create. Try things. Fail. Start again.

“The city’s website is actually something I check regularly for events and things to do. You’ll always find something going on. There are so many initiatives where you can get involved as a volunteer.”

🌱 And this is Kortrijk too

It’s not just for social butterflies or busy bees.

Sometimes you just need quiet. And nature.

A walk in De Gavers or the Warande.
A moment alone.
A chance to slow down.

Ines shares:

“For me personally, the free “Grief” remembrance concert organized by the city was very meaningful. It helped me pause and reflect on losing my mom.”

Kortrijk leaves room for that. And that matters.

📍 Hotspots (we put the “rijk” in Kortrijk)

And yes… after four years in Kortrijk, Ines knows exactly where to go. Consider this your shortcut to her favorite spots… The ones locals don’t need to think twice about.

For some fresh air or a chill moment:
🌿 Gebroeders Van Raemdonckpark

For shopping and wandering:
🛍️ K in Kortrijk

For drinks (one… or more):
🍹 Cassimir, Hof, Gainsbar, Balthazar, Buda beach (yes, we have a beach)

For coffee and cats:
☕ Baristokat (also amazing pancakes and bagels)

For lunch:
🥪 Bakkerij Hoornaert, Toastclub, Barouche

And when dinner rolls around:
🍔 Omer’s Chicken, Paul’s Boutique, Frites Unique, Mary’s Irish Pub

No overthinking. Just good spots.

💛 Final thoughts: what you take with you (besides your degree)

You come to Kortrijk for a degree.

But somewhere between
shared meals,
unexpectedly long nights in the kitchen,
and people who started out as strangers…

something else happens.

You build friendships.
You learn things no course will ever teach you.
And without really planning it, you find a place that feels like home.

Ines is leaving soon, degree in hand.
But also with a head full of memories and stories that started here.

And that says it all.

Thanks, Ines — for the tips, the stories, and for showing what student life here really looks like.