Where cultures meet: diversity in practice at BEX
At Booking Experts, we believe that diversity brings not only creativity and innovation, but also stronger connections within our team. We spoke with three international colleagues, Dora, Helena and Sara, about their journey to the Netherlands, their cultural background and how diversity comes to life at BEX. Here's what they shared.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role at BEX?
Dora: ‘’Hi! I’m Dora, a Creative Designer at Booking Experts, originally from Cluj, Romania. In my role, I help shape the BEX platform’s brand across all channels by creating visual content that represents our identity.’’🇷🇴
Helena: ‘’I’m Helena, an Online Marketeer for the DACH market and I’m originally from Austria.🇦🇹 I’ve been living in the Netherlands for about five years now.’’
Sara: ‘’Hi, I’m Sara, a Junior Frontend Engineer. I’m originally from Brazil🇧🇷, lived in Portugal for a few years and now I’m in the Netherlands, chasing new challenges, not the weather.’’
What first brought you to the Netherlands?
Dora: ‘’I initially came here to study. After spending some time in the Netherlands, it started to feel like home, so I decided to stay.’’
Helena: ‘’I moved here for love, my boyfriend is Dutch.’’
Sara: ‘’My partner and I wanted to try new things, so we moved to Portugal to pursue our master’s degrees. At the time, I was working as a motion designer. Later, my partner got a PhD position at the University of Twente, which brought us to the Netherlands. It felt like the right moment to explore new opportunities, both in life and in my career.’’
What were your first impressions of living here?
Dora: ‘’When I moved to Eindhoven, I really liked the city. I love art and Eindhoven felt very vibrant, with lots of nature, beautiful art museums and great restaurants. One of my favourite things was being able to go jogging late in the evening and still feel completely safe on the streets.’’
Helena: ‘’I was really impressed by how polite and helpful Dutch people are. I always felt comfortable speaking English here. People are confident in using it, which made everything, from asking for help to making connections much easier.’’
Sara: ‘’What I loved right away was how many green areas there are around the city. Also, the biking culture, everyone bikes, everywhere, in any weather. And then there’s lunch... let’s just say I wasn’t used to calling two slices of bread a proper meal.’’
What differences have you noticed in the work environment compared to your home country?
Dora: ‘’People here are very open and direct, which I really appreciate. It makes communication easier and helps collaboration flow more naturally. I’ve also noticed that people in the Netherlands place more value on work-life balance and are careful to separate work from personal time.’’
Helena: ‘’The flat hierarchies really stood out to me. At BEX and in many Dutch companies, everyone is treated equally, regardless of their title or position. That’s quite different from Austria, where hierarchies are often more visible. Of course, it depends on the company, but overall, I prefer the Dutch approach.’’
Sara: ‘’The flat hierarchy stood out, everyone’s opinion is valued. Also, the Dutch are straightforward, which I enjoy, but it’s different from how things usually work in Brazil.’’
Have you also found some similarities?
Dora: ‘’A nice similarity is that teamwork and collaboration are important in both places. I also find that colleagues are friendly and supportive, which helps create a positive atmosphere at work.’’
Helena: ‘’One thing that really stood out is how everyone here addresses each other informally. In Austria, you’d still use a formal tone and last names when talking to managers. Here, it’s all first names and informal “jij.” Personally, I much prefer it!!’’
Sara: ‘’Work-life balance is very important here, which I really admire. People value team bonding and social moments like Friday afternoon drinks, something that actually feels pretty similar to back home.’’
What do you carry with you from your own culture?
Dora: ‘’I still celebrate Romanian holidays and love cooking traditional meals like soups, Sarmale and Papanasi. It’s a nice way to stay connected to my roots. I enjoy blending these two cultures, celebrating Romanian traditions while also embracing Dutch customs. ‘’
Helena: ‘’Not in an obvious way, but I’m sure I bring some subtle things, like habits or ways of thinking. Most traditional things, like celebrating carnival, I usually do when I’m back home in Austria. I keep a strong bond with my family, friends and my village back in Austria. That connection means a lot to me.’’
Sara: ‘’Definitely the warmth and friendliness. I like connecting with people around me and bringing a positive vibe wherever I go. I try to keep the Brazilian energy alive by staying close to the people around me. At the same time, I’ve learned to appreciate some very Dutch habits, like planning ahead and being (mostly) on time. And yes, I’ve learned to survive without rice and beans every single day. Progress!’’
How do you experience diversity at BEX?
Dora: ‘’I feel heard and respected. My ideas are welcomed and creativity is really encouraged here at BEX. That gives me the confidence to share my perspective and contribute in my own way.’’
Helena: ‘’People here are very open and respectful. I’ve never felt like a foreigner. There’s a strong sense of belonging, regardless of where you come from.’’
Sara: ‘I feel like I can just be myself. People listen, respect different perspectives, and care about creating a welcoming space. No need to pretend to love dropjes.’’
In your view, what does diversity add to the workplace?
Dora: ‘’It brings new ways of thinking. We all have different experiences, and that helps us learn from each other and come up with more innovative solutions.’’
Helena: ‘’Working in a diverse workplace definitely broadens your mindset. We all grow up in our own cultural “bubble,” but being around people from different backgrounds helps you see things in new and unexpected ways, both in work and life.’’
Sara: ‘’It keeps things interesting! Diverse teams bring better ideas, creative solutions, and a more enjoyable work environment. It reflects the real world and builds better products. Plus, more types of snacks at the office.’’
Any advice you’d give to new colleagues coming from abroad?
Dora: ‘’Embrace new experiences, stay curious and don’t hesitate to share your ideas. Your perspective matters.’’
Helena: ‘’Join the vrij-mi-bo! Our Friday afternoon drinks are a great way to connect with people from other departments in a casual way. Especially when you're new, it really helps you feel part of the team.’’
Sara: ‘’Be open and patient with yourself, adapting takes time. And don’t forget a rain jacket. Also, ladies, we need more of you in tech. Seriously. Come join us. There’s room for everyone (and enough coffee for all of us).’’☕
In conclusion
At Booking Experts, we work with people from all over the world. That diversity brings fresh ideas, better collaboration and a workplace where everyone feels welcome. And we’re committed to growing even more diverse, across all teams.
Check out our vacancies and join the team.👇
