18123_NSFM-mei-2021_Guts_Totaal_UK_1_Spreads_LR

guts
stories
Lissa Vermeiren
Commercial
talent & member
of Zespri Team
Aartsen Breda.
What is it like to be a
Flemish woman working
in the Netherlands?
Working in the Netherlands is brilliant, as it's
fairly close to home, but also because of my
lovely colleagues.
Why did you want to work
in the Netherlands?
Honestly, I've never thought about specific
reasons. For me, the main thing was and is that
I can be myself at work and keep growing and
developing alongside my colleagues.
What hurdles have you
encountered?
Before starting in Breda there were some
administrative things, like taxes and healthcare
insurance, that I had to sort out to work in the
Netherlands. Apart from practicalities, some words
and sayings go right over my head. But that goes
two ways, and usually it ends up being a funny
lesson for both sides.
Did you have to think long
about whether to take
this job?
Yes, because it's my first real job and I
wanted to be sure I'd want to keep working
here for a while. On top of that, I didn't
know exactly what I'd be doing apart from
sales, since I was told there was a new,
still ‘confidential’ project they wanted to
put me on.
Was it a gutsy move?
I think so. As a student I worked at a green
grocer's for years, so I already knew
something about fruit and veg. Still, working
at Aartsen is completely different. I was just
nervous because I didn't know exactly what
I'd be doing. And working abroad is a
challenge, especially for me as a 23-year-old
Flemish woman wanting to prove myself in
the still male-dominated workplace.
Do the stereotypes about Dutch
people fit?
It's true there are some stereotypes about Dutch people,
but the same goes for Belgians. The Dutch are more
direct and tend to be more upbeat and easy-going.
They're less reserved about asking questions. When I
started at Aartsen in January, I was made to feel very
welcome, and my colleagues were happy to show me
the ropes and help out with questions.
nonstop
fresh/ 17