Cheese, weed, clogs: the Dutch stereotypes are all mentioned during the Dutch day, the introduction day for new international employees. Which nationality is best represented? German, selbstverständlich.

On the grass in front of Grotius building, the new international employees have found themselves some shadow to sit in. The sun is shining quite a lot for an event called ‘Dutch day’. The workshop ‘Dealing with the Dutch’ has just been wrapped up and now, the group is getting ready for a campus walk. The goal of today: giving new employees a warm welcome and show them around the Radboud community.

Daniel Reimsbach represents the biggest group of newcomers in Nijmegen: the Germans. Last year, 25 new Germans were employed here. He still lives in Germany, at a distance of around 100 kilometers. ‘My girlfriend is a teacher and it is hard for her to find a job in The Netherlands. Maybe we will end up somewhere around Kleve.’

Reimsbach will work as an assistent professor at the department of Business Economics. Through a tenure track, he hopes to be able to stay in Nijmegen longer. ‘I do feel quite at home here. As a German, I do not really experience culture shock.’ The ‘Dutch directness’ does not bother Reimbach. ‘However, in Germany we are a bit more formal and we address our employer with ‘U’ (You, formally). We like to stick to the rules. Here, that is less strict.’

Discussion
Someone who ís aware of the different etiquette, is Martie Muller, from South Africa. She is hired as postdoc at the Chemistry department. The fact that she is expected to give her opinion in every staff meeting, takes some getting used to for her. ‘The Dutch expect you to get involved in the discussion. In South Africa, our main goal is to be nice to each other. Muller does have the advantage of understanding the Dutch language. ‘Afrikaans, my mother tongue, is very similar to Dutch.’

The Radboud University campus reminds Muller of her former campus in South Africa, at Stellenbosch University. ‘That campus also had this nice, small atmosphere. Just like in Stellenbosch, I can be in a natural environment quickly, without much travelling. The forest is very close.’ Muller also praises the support the university gave her to settle in in Nijmegen. ‘People explained to me how to get a visa and find a house.’

In total, 129 new international employees started at Radboud University. Apart from Germany, Italy and China are best represented (see below).