'The students make this a nice job'

Cambridgelaan, the student housing complex at Utrecht Science Park, is a place that doesn't stand still. The 27-year-old complex, comprising both high-rise and low-rise buildings, houses 1,002 students. Every year, hundreds of students from the Netherlands and abroad move into their first room or studio here, while many others leave after graduating. Together, the high-rise and low-rise buildings form a sprawling complex with galleries, stairwells, bicycle sheds, squares, parking lots, green spaces, and, of course, the Cambridge Bar.

For many residents, Cambridgelaan is a temporary stopover. But for Bilal (66), this has been his permanent workplace for almost twenty years. The cleaner and caretaker with Moroccan roots has been maintaining the complex since 2005. However, everything comes to an end: he will retire in May 2026.

Bilal lives with his wife in Leidsche Rijn, but the student complex is his domain. He can be seen there every day, wearing a big smile. "I came to work here for a cleaning company. They asked me to come and work here for a while. In the end, they wanted me to stay." 

Gym
He already worked as an independent cleaner before joining the company. His current employer felt like a good match. "I've worked in other places before, but this felt right. I do my work independently and always to the best of my ability."

His days always start at 7:30 am and end at 4:00 pm. On Fridays, he finishes at 2:99 pm. "My job keeps me active. I can easily walk 10,000 steps a day. If you do this, you don't need to go to the gym," he jokes.

Cosy
Over the years, he has not only seen the neighbourhood's name change, but also generations of students come and go. New young faces show up every year, but they are all starting to build their own lives.

Bilal enjoys interacting with the residents. He gets along with everyone, regardless of whether they speak Dutch or English. "I like talking to the students who live here. It makes the work enjoyable. I try to get along well with everyone."

Bilal gives international students a warm welcome when they arrive at the low-rise buildings. "Sometimes, I help the foreign students, showing them where their accommodation is or helping them carry their suitcases." 

Occasionally, the well-known Cambridgelaan cleaner has a sick day. "I heard that people ask about me when I'm ill. That makes me feel good. It makes me proud." 

When we ask him about any remarkable stories or anecdotes, Bilal has to pause for a moment. He can't think of any, despite working here for over twenty years. The down-to-earth man simply enjoys his work. He does not think there is anything special about it. 

He used to help clean student rooms. He says that when foreign students leave their room, they don't always clean it properly. He is sometimes shocked at how dirty the floor can be.

There is always something to do
We leave a small storage room with a table and some materials, and proceed for a short walk around the low-rise buildings. "I'm responsible for everything outside: the galleries, landings, balconies, and bicycle sheds," he summarises. Every day, he takes care of a different part of the complex, so no two days are the same.

He cleans up the broken glass left behind by students who have partied a little too hard during the night, and makes sure there is no bulky waste lying around. In the summer, he waters the plants near the low-rise buildings and trims the hedge along the bicycle shed under the bridge. "I follow the cleaning programme closely, because you get complaints otherwise." He has hardly ever received any complaints, something he is very happy about. 

Previously, he also had to keep the lawn with the barbecues next to the complex, the Alpenweide, clean. It's a big mess there, especially in the summer. "I see a lot of bottles, cans and crisp packets. And students drink a lot of beer, as you can imagine. Fortunately, Utrecht University is taking care of this now." 

Farewell to a familiar face
Educating students is also part of his job. For example, he has to ring doorbells when bulky waste or rubbish bags are left on the balconies. "Crows tear them open, and I have to clean everything up." Most students don't make a fuss when they are approached, he says.

The idea of “retiring” still feels a bit strange to the loyal cleaner. However, over the years, his work has become more physically demanding. He jokes that he's “not a young guy anymore”. On the other hand, he doesn't see himself sitting still after his retirement. “I'm not used to sitting at home doing nothing. I like to move and be busy. Maybe I'll take some time off first and then do something small later, but I don't know if my body will still be up for it.”

Asked for advice for his successor, he said simply to be very kind to students. "Do your best. Smile at people, don't be grumpy and try to interact with them. That's how I've always done it."