"I started here as a dishwasher. Also fun, but working in the service is definitely a lot more social. I find that aspect very pleasant about my job. Working in the hospitality industry has made me an even bigger chatterbox. And that's great in this profession, because many people enjoy having a chat."

I want to give the guests a good time, that is really the most important thing for me in my work. There are a lot of business guests at the hotel, but I also see many freelancers who like to work here. After they have been here a few times, I already know what they want to drink. They don't even have to say it anymore. They can calmly start working here, while I put the drink in front of them. When I see someone smiling, it also makes me happy. I hope guests feel at home here. One of the craziest things I have experienced in my work was a woman who stood in our bar wearing a very long fur coat. She stood in front of me and my colleagues and opened her coat, revealing only a thong and some kind of bra. That was, uh, interesting, haha. We had to laugh about it, at least. Working with my colleagues is super fun anyway. We have also become real friends by now. That's another plus of my job.

A nice perk of my job is that I never have to set my alarm clock, because I start at 2 pm. I also don't have to cook at home; during the break, I eat a meal prepared by the chefs together with my colleagues. And if a mistake is made in the kitchen with a certain dish, we get to eat it! I once jokingly said, "You can make mistakes more often, haha!" I am hard of hearing, and when I meet a new colleague, I always explain first how they can best communicate with me. That is of course a bit different than usual. When someone looks at me, I can lip-read, so that works fine. Yelling definitely doesn't help. I also often say, "My ears are broken, but otherwise I'm just a human like everyone else!"

Since I was sixteen, I have been working in the hospitality industry, so I can say that I have a lot of experience. I enjoy being constantly on the move during my work. If I had a job where I had to sit still all the time, I would go crazy. It also makes me happy to see people becoming happy when you serve them a nice drink.

I prefer to prepare a gin and tonic. It looks so cozy with a slice of lemon or orange. I feel the same way about coffee with a dollop of whipped cream. It instantly makes you happy. I also really enjoy meeting different people. I am always amazed by the personal stories people tell when they are sitting at the bar. Some really tell their whole life story. But of course, I can't say anything about that, that's the bartender's secret...

Working in the hospitality industry also gives you a lot of insight into people. I can just tell when someone is cheating. I don't know exactly what it is, but I can spot them right away. I enjoy making people feel good. Last summer, our terrace was completely full, it was really busy. A woman said to me: "Wow, you can tell that you really enjoy this work. And you're doing it really well too." I didn't know what to say for a moment. It was so nice to hear that my hard work was being recognized. It feels good. We also have a lot of regular guests here, often older people, who come every week on the same day. They order the same drink, know exactly how much they need to pay, and always give the same amount as a tip. Isn't that cute?