Adventures and Acclimation as Spanish in the Netherlands

A year ago, I made a significant move from Spain to the Netherlands. The reason? Well, that’s a story for another day. Since then, I’ve discovered so much about myself and my career. Knowing why I took the plunge and what I’ve found here really helps me connect with the candidates I recruit for FairPlay Engineering. I understand what they’re going through because I’ve been there too.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with two new engineers who moved from Colombia to the Netherlands. To check in on their experiences, I invited them for a coffee in Rotterdam. Fun fact: it was my first time visiting Rotterdam!

These engineers shared their excitement about career development in the Netherlands. Known as an innovation hub, especially in technology and renewable energy, the Netherlands offers incredible opportunities. They have been working as FairPlayers for our clients in the Oil and Gas and Renewable Energy sectors, finding their roles rewarding and educational.

As native Spanish speakers, they have encountered the challenge of the language barrier in the Netherlands. While most Dutch people speak English, it’s still their second language, so adapting to communicate effectively takes practice and concentration. They are adjusting and looking forward to the benefits of gaining experience in international environments where English is the primary language.

At FairPlay Engineering, I experienced the same challenge. Our team is very diverse, with people from various cultures and languages. This diversity can be challenging but has actually made it easy for us to practice our English (or Dutch) together without any pressure to speak perfectly. Surprisingly, the Dutch direct communication style has been helpful for clear and efficient conversations across different languages and cultures.

I was curious about their impressions of Rotterdam, their new home. Surprisingly, they found it quaint compared to Colombian cities. Despite being the Netherlands’ second-largest city, with just over six hundred thousand inhabitants, it is much smaller than big cities in Colombia. It also offers a lot of green spaces and peaceful neighborhoods. Overall, they enjoy the diversity and vibrant atmosphere.

One of the perks they’re most excited about is the ease of traveling around Europe from the Netherlands. In Colombia, a two-hour drive might keep you in the same city, but here, you can be in Belgium, Germany, or even France within a few hours. Thanks to great train and bus connections, they are looking forward to weekend getaways and vacations to different European cities. They especially enjoy the freedom and safety of traveling alone on public transport and exploring different places.

The weather has been quite an adjustment, especially for those who don’t appreciate the milder temperatures as much. Personally, I’m a fan of the cooler Dutch weather, having never been the biggest fan of the heat in Spain. Coming from Colombia’s tropical climate, the cooler, wetter Dutch weather was a big change. The cold weather and shorter winter days took some getting used to, but they are trying to embrace the cozy Dutch way of life during winter and looking forward to the European-style summer. In Colombia, people spend a lot of time outside together, and as the weather heats up in the Netherlands, I know from experience that they will find that here too. While there isn’t much crossover between Dutch and Hispanic cultures, one thing we definitely share is a love for enjoying a drink outside on a sunny day (although we can agree that the snacks in Spain or Colombia would be better).

Making the most of their experience in the Netherlands is their main goal. The country has provided the high quality of life and opportunities for personal and professional growth that I promised them in our interviews. Seeing how similar our experiences are, even though they relocated from South America while I only moved within Europe, is both rewarding and humbling.

It’s amazing to see how positively this move has affected their lives, making me more aware of the far-reaching impact of my work as a recruitment consultant at FairPlay Engineering. I’m grateful to be part of their journeys in the Netherlands and look forward to supporting many more journeys in the future.