ESN… love them or don’t care about them, we’ve all heard of them. Maybe you’ve attended an event or two, seen their flyers, or been stopped by one of their members. And let’s be honest, we’ve all thought the same thing: “These people are VERY culty.”
A team of volunteers, dedicated to an organization, working for free to organize events, parties, and even trips across Europe. And yes, they’re somehow all over the continent. By now, you’re probably wondering, “What’s going on here?” Don’t worry, we’ve got answers.
How did it all start?
Surprisingly enough, it didn’t start with a secret handshake or a mysterious ritual. It started lonely, actually – a group of international students, far from home, looking for connection and new friendships, deciding to create their own community. A group of people who have adventures in their blood and love in their hearts, there to make sure the first faces internationals see on campus are smiling ones. They organize welcome weeks, make events for students, and are there to make this part of their lives just a little bit easier.
But why the cult vibes?
Well… that strong sense of community is exactly why they might seem a little off-putting at first. I mean, really? A group of people working together, hosting events for students, for free? And they all know each other, seem super close, and are always trying to recruit more members? Suspicious, right?
But as you get to know them, you realize how much they care for each other, and ESN as a whole. You meet people who work tirelessly for weeks to plan events worth attending, who advertise those events on social media, and who then come to those events to make sure they go according to plan.
You meet people who truly love talking to others, who make conversations look easy, with whom it’s easy to feel at home – and then you see them do that exact same thing over and over and over again, without ever losing their spark. You see their tired but happy faces, the quiet moments of relief, and loud celebrations. But you do not get to see the hour-long meetings, late-night calls, and team buildings. It’s not because they’re trying to hide it from you – well, maybe a little – but because they want you to have fun, and they want you to make friends, and they want you to come to these events. They want you to participate, if not as a member, then as a guest, because that is what they wanted to experience when they first came to Belgium. And maybe, just maybe, you can be one of them.
What is ESN, really?
ESN is hard work. There’s no small amount of effort that goes into it – sometimes even more than for certain classes! (Shh, don’t tell the teachers🫣) It is also teamwork, long meetings, and revision upon revision until things are just right. It is people you have been seeing for semesters on end, and who you will keep seeing until one of you graduates. And who knows? Maybe by then, they’ll become some of your closest friends
It is a friendship and a labor of love. Sure, it might seem a little cheesy or even lame sometimes, but at its core, ESN is all about people who are there for you. Events that people come to get repeated, not for the profit, but for the joy they bring. The communication that works
doesn’t work because of the algorithm or the skill of the maker alone, but because people see it, like it, and share it.
ESN is nothing without the people who make it happen. And the people who make it happen are not just the board members, they’re also the students who show up to events and bring their friends along, the ones who share the posts, and the ones who take the time to chat with the board and offer feedback. Together, they create the vibrant, welcoming community that ESN is known for.
Sure, ESN might give off some cult vibes. But instead of brainwashing, their “rituals” are more like karaoke nights where everyone forgets the lyrics, cheap trips to places you’ve only dreamed of visiting, and friendships that somehow last long after your exchange ends.
So, the next time you spot someone in an ESN hoodie, don’t freak out. Stop, say hi, and maybe even let them pull you into their world. Who knows? You might find yourself rocking one of those hoodies before you even realize it.
