At the age of fifteen, I started a part-time job at Van der Valk Hotel Tiel. I immediately loved it. From that moment on, I knew: I want to work in the hotel industry. After completing my fourth year of secondary education, I started the accelerated program in Leisure & Hospitality Management at the ROC in Tiel. I also did my internship at Van der Valk and now I work there in the service and at the reception. I always go to work with great pleasure.

I find the atmosphere in the hotel pleasant; I always have a kind of holiday feeling when I am at work. Maybe that's because most guests also enjoy taking a break. They often find it nice to chat for a bit; that's what makes my work so enjoyable. I am currently exploring which position within the hotel suits me best. For example, I also worked in housekeeping for a while, but I have to say that I liked it a bit less.

The variety of working in both the service and at the reception makes it extra enjoyable for me. I meet so many different people and do many different things. At the reception, you are the first face guests see when they enter the hotel. I check people in and out and am their point of contact. And when I am in the service, I take orders in the restaurant or work in the Skybar. We have a good relationship with all colleagues and sometimes we go for a drink together. It's very cozy. I would love to have my own hotel later, that's really a dream. But first, I want to finish my studies and then see what the future holds!

"I didn't necessarily always want to work in the hospitality industry, but when I started working in the service here over four years ago, I became very enthusiastic. I still really enjoy it. In the meantime, I have successfully completed all levels of the Van der Valk training for 'service management', which I am very happy about."

Van der Valk offers employees the opportunity to take courses, which of course makes working here even more interesting. I currently work full-time in the restaurant, both for lunch and dinner. I have my own 'section'; these are regular tables that I serve. This allows me to have a lot of contact with the guests. That's what I enjoy most about this job. I also sometimes work behind the bar; therefore, the work is very diverse. It feels good to help people, be there for them, and make them happy. And I can do all of that here!

There are often regular guests, mostly seniors. They come to enjoy a drink. I like to chat with them, I always make time for that. In the meantime, I recognize many regular guests. And I often already know what they want to drink in advance. That's quite funny. I have great colleagues and there is a good atmosphere. When I am scheduled for a closing shift, we all have a drink together afterwards. There are also occasional staff parties, in the summer or at Christmas for example, then we have a great time together. In terms of work, I don't really have a plan for the future, but that's okay because I feel completely at home here!