"I think I almost always identify myself as an Utrechter, except for when I find myself among Utrechters”: The sense of place of students with a non-urban background in the city of Utrecht

Abstract

This study provides insights into the sense of place of students from a non-urban area who now live in an urban environment. From a literature study, it became apparent that previous research on the sense of place does not consider the previous place of residence nor has there been done much research on this topic in the Netherlands. Focussing on the city of Utrecht, I have conducted participant led walking interviews through places of the participants’ choosing. The semi-structured interviews were held with 11 students from different non-urban areas in the Netherlands. Results revealed that the students with a non-urban background have a relative positive attachment to Utrecht, although the attachment and identity remain limited to the student community and facilities. Next to this, the length of residence and mobility of students are important moderators on the sense of place of the students. The conclusion is therefore that students with a non-urban background easily feel at home in Utrecht through the selfsegregation of students, even though this is of a temporary nature.