My internship in Alkmaar, the Netherlands

Exchange program for six weeks

9^th October 2009, Alkmaar

As soon as I have heard about the six weeks internship in the Netherlands I have decided to apply for it. The Dutch society is well-known as a modern multicultural nation. Therefore I was excited to meet people and get to know the culture. I was aware that this internship is just for six weeks which seemed to be a short time to experience whole country. From the beginning I knew I will try my best to get to know Dutch society and try as many new things in a job as possible. Before my arrival I didn´t know much about the Holland. Well, I expected a flat country with tulips and windmills.

Now at the end of my internship I know that the Netherlands means much more.

First of all I want to mention my work experience because it was main reason for me why to participate in this exchange program. I will graduate my University very soon. Therefore it was very useful to try some work. Well, I didn´t really expect that I will learn a lot during six weeks. Now I know I was mistaken. I have learned a lot. I really could see how the day to day business running works.

My first work internship was at the company Beckum Workwear, based in Heerhugowaard. The company sells fashionable clothes for street workers. They distribute the goods mainly in the Netherlands, Germany and Austria. They have two production lines; one in Honkong, one in Jindřichův Hradec in the Czech Republic. Here I was helping with translations from English and German into Czech language. It was a company employing just few people with a quite big turnover. They gave me an opportunity to participate in the day to day business running which I really appreciate. There is also promise of our future cooperation; when they will come to the Czech Republic I will work for them as an interpreter.

My other work internship was at the company Ravo in Alkmaar. It is a quite big company employing about one hundred twenty people. In Alkmaar there is a management as well as the whole production line. They produce different kinds of street sweepers. They sell the products mainly in Italy, Spain and Nordic countries. My task was to make market research for the Czech and Slovak Republic. The company has a new line of sweepers using gas instead of diesel. Therefore I have made also a report about the gas powered machines in the Czech market. Here I have got very different work experience from the previous one. The company was much bigger everybody was doing strictly his task. In previous work there were usually just three or four employees to manage whole business.

My both work experience were very interesting and I am very grateful for them. At the end of my internships I have got a letter of recommendation which can help me to get my future job.

Except of my work I did many nice activities during my free time. I was bicycling, travelling through Nord Holland, doing sport and many other activities. I have tried to enjoy and learn about the country as much as possible.

For me the Netherlands is a country with a long history which you can still feel everywhere. The architecture of houses is just amazing as well as their decorations and their typical roofs. In Amsterdam I have experienced a wonderful mixture of traditions and modern life at the same time. However my best memories are connected with Alkmaar and its close surrounding where I have stayed at my host families.

Now I really consider Alkmaar as one of the best places to live. It is very nice town which has just perfect size. It is not too small or too big. It has perfect location, just situated closed to the Amsterdam and to the beach as well. People know each other which make the atmosphere much friendlier.

However it is not the city it selves which made the strongest impression on me but the people I have met. Now I mean especially my host families and the other members of Rotary club who went with me for some trip. First of all I have to mention my first host family: Liba and Jacob van Dijk. I am very grateful to Liba for all her effort and help. She was actually the person who introduced me to Holland. Thanks to Liba I have ate my first haring, hagel slag and ontbijtkoek. She was also the person who arranged very nice activities. I could join the dinner at the Czech embassy or help with organisation of one Czech symposium.

After my stay at the Liba´s house I have moved to Meike Hanraads. Thus I have got a possibility to stay two weeks in a very nice house in Bergen. Thanks to Meike I had chance to play my first golf in my life. I have discovered that it is very technical sport which needs lot of practice as well.

My last two weeks in Holland I have spend with the family of Peter van Lingen. I had very good time with them. Peter and his wife Ina were always very nice to me. Thanks of Peter I have even seen my first real football match: AZ x NAC at AZ Stadium. There are great couple I am very happy that I could stay with them.

I am very grateful for all my host families. I want to say also thank you to all Rotary club members who went with me for some trip. I had very nice time with Jan and Chantal Roobek in Amsterdam where we were bicycling through the old town. With their son Vincent I have been at the beach of Bergen. Thanks of activities of Ellis Jonker I had free entrance to Sportlagune in Heerhugowaard. Karla Rogge has shown me lot of nice historic monuments in Alkmaar. With Cees Bosboom I have visited Van Gogh Museum and Zaanse schons. We had also very good time at his sailing boat. Thanks to Jan van Aller I have seen navy ships in Den Helder and I have even been inside the submarine. My stay is not over yet and there are other activities for the following days.

In this report I cannot comprehend all my activities I did in past five weeks. There were so many of them and all of them I have really enjoyed. During my internship here I have got very interesting work experience and I got to know the Nord Holland. I have learned something about the Dutch culture. Next time I will be not surprised that Dutch people kiss three times. To sum up my experience here; The Netherlands is not only a flat land with tulips and windmills It is very nice country with many opportunities to do. The Dutch people are very nice and open minded. The Netherlands impressed me by its landscape, see, dykes, architecture and cuisine. I hope I will visit the country again. I will be very happy to welcome everybody from Rotary club Alkmaar in the Czech Republic.

Martina Šefrová