Teacher and Erasmiaan Hans Meijer: ‘Every month there is a party to celebrate’

For almost forty years, English teacher Hans Meijer has been involved in the Erasmus College’s mill. The born Schiedammer even exchanged his hometown for Zoetermeer. “I could walk to work every day.”

In Hans’ classes it is inevitable that the atmosphere is good. His passion for guitar music, singing, the English language and teaching all come together in the lesson. During his earlier history lessons, he also regularly picked up his guitar to treat students to musical teaching material. “I sometimes organize puppet shows. During a puppet theater like this, students learn English in just a different way.”

We fell half through the floor

As a young adult, Hans was not at all good in the English language. “I like English literature. That is why I wanted to master the English language well. I also wanted to stand in front of the class.” In 1986 he started working as a teacher in the temporary building of the Erasmus College. “Those were the times!” he says. “You could hear each other talking during the lessons and we fell half through the wooden floor.”

For a party you had to be in Zoetermeer

Anyone who knows Erasmus a bit knows that this secondary school is not averse to a party. “In the early years, we immediately organized parties in the new school building,” Hans recalls. “Herman Brood and His Wild Romance even performed here. Suddenly a few Hell’s Angels came by because they had heard that there was a nice party in Zoetermeer. We didn’t let them in.”

Sinterklaas everywhere

Hans played in school bands and organized Sinterklaas parties. “At Erasmus College we always do something striking or crazy. I once organized a party on December 5 with a hundred Sinterklaas. The whole auditorium was filled with them.” In 2018 Hans went to Wales with a group of students and a colleague. “Organizing study trips is a lot of fun.”

You just have to learn

His students call the teacher Hans from the very beginning. “I was 26 years old when I started at Erasmus. I thought it was appropriate for the school to be called by my first name. Of course, not every teacher wants that.” Hans can also be quite strict: “We have a lot of fun, but we also just have to learn.”

Times have changed, according to Hans. “There is more control. All students must register for class. You used to be able to secretly leave the building during an intermission.” He also teaches talent classes. “It’s fun and innovative to do. But the talent-oriented education of today is really something of this time.”

Friendships for life

Hans really feels like a Zoetermeer after all these years. He likes going to the Blues Festival, Zondag in ‘t Park and having a drink at Hovestein. Playing in bands and organizing events at school: he does it all next to his job. “Besides at work, I also see colleagues in my spare time. For example, we visit a colleague at his farm in France. And also with students I build friendships for life. I think it’s fantastic to see what they ended up doing after their studies. Think of former student René van Kooten, who still performs here regularly.”

Parties, parties and more parties

Reunions, birthdays, graduations, festivals, stunt weeks, parent parties and fun weeks: there are still a lot of parties on the program. “We have temporarily transformed the rear of the school into a festival site. A place built by students and teachers, ideal for events. The reunion is in October that I’m really looking forward to. We play live music and we make a lot of memories. Recently a student said to me I think I’ll go down because then I’ll have such a nice party again next year. I think this says something about the atmosphere at my school.”