RODRIGO - cooking “lekker” in The Netherlands

RODRIGO

Cook and TRIBE NL member, shares his experience in The Netherlands

How long have you been in the Netherlands?

Since April 2022, just 4 months.

What brought you here?

At the end of my Kitchen Management studies at the CIFP Paseo das Pontes I had the opportunity, through Natalia (TRIBE NL), to complete an Erasmus internship and after two months I was offered a one year contract.

How was the beginning? What was your biggest challenge?

At first there is insecurity and you think you are going to have a hard time, but since we arrived, we were treated very well and at work they were very patient with us, helping us at all times.

The most complicated thing you have to go through is the Dutch language and understanding certain keywords to be able to follow in a more fluid way, luckily everyone speaks very good English and it makes things much easier.

Which kind of studies/professional experience did you come to the Netherlands with?

I completed the degree in Kitchen Management and had worked for some time as a cook at a Michelin star restaurant in Spain.

Where do you work?

I am working at the Kontak der Kontinenten in Soesterberg, near the city of Utrecht, as a Chef de Partie.

Which kind of food are you cooking at the moment?

At the hotel we have a type of cuisine that is a mix of cultures which are represented in the diversity of dishes that we have, this forces us and helps us understand a bit the basis of different gastronomies but always adding a local touch and local ingredients. 

What do you like the most about working in the Netherlands?

One of the things that caught my attention is the closeness of the people at work and how they ask you and care about how you are doing. Another thing that I like is the respect for work schedules and how they divide the workload.

What do you think about Dutch people in general and have you experienced any special tradition?

Honestly, my experience with the Dutch it has been very good, it surprised me that everybody speaks English, even older people. Besides, they are very friendly people who do not hesitate to help each other when needed. 

One interesting tradition I experienced was during Remembrance Day (4 May). On this day, at 20:00 the Dutch remember the victims of the 2nd World War with 2 minutes of silence.  Even in the restaurant with people dining, everything stopped and those two minutes were respected. The day after they celebrate Liberation Day. 

What do you think about life in the Netherlands?

It is very different from Spain, also each region has its customs, and what surprised me the most is that everyone has a job, even young people (15 - 16 years old) who are studying, since their class schedules allow it. Another thing that stands out is their meals and the hours they have for each one, such as starting dinner at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m., which means that the vast majority of stores close around that time or a little bit later.

It is a country that breathes tranquility, you see happy and relaxed people always enjoying their time and you can see that they work to live the way they want and not the other way around.

What do you like to do in your free time? Any special advice?

I have not been able to visit many different places yet, but I like going for a walk anywhere (since the whole country is really green and full of forests) or go to a nearby city and discover a little about what life is like there.

For all those who come to the country for the first time, I would recommend doing a bike route since there are hundreds of them and really beautiful. If you like animals there are many Zoos everywhere. Finally, what I think is the best about this country is all its national parks, and specifically the Schiermonnikoog National Park, which is an island where you can see the fauna at its best.

Favourite Dutch word?

Lekker, which means ‘yummy’ ;-)

How about getting around by bike?

It is the easiest thing in the world and the best thing you could do in this country, it is cheap, you can find a second-hand bicycle already for 50 euros and you can bike everywhere, there are bike lanes throughout the whole country.

And you may think… ok, but what about the hills… ? No problem, it is a flat country. Utrecht is around the center of the country and it is only 4 meters above sea level, can you imagine?.

Would you recommend this experience to other Spanish people?

I highly recommend it. It is a great experience which I think everyone should live and even more so being young. There are opportunities that one should not miss out and although you may be scared at first due to the uncertainty of what will happen, missing your family, friends... little by little everything will be clear to you.

It is a perfect place to start this small project that is your life, the people, the environment, the work, the culture... everything will give you good vibes and this will help you on your way. You must come with an open and calm mind and understanding what your goal is. It will help you be stronger and more secure about yourself.

Anything else you'd like to share?

Enjoy every moment of this experience, visit places and learn new things, everything will help you grow as a person and have more experience in life.

Don’t doubt about your decisions, everything has its reward, and this is a good one.