Drawn by Rembrandt’s Night Watch, bike paths, and the green fields around Eindhoven, Mohamed concludes that he’s happy at Improvia. The 41-year-old lead mechanical engineer from Egypt has been working in Best for two years now and is enjoying his life in the Netherlands. “As a technician here, you have the opportunity to explore many different areas.”
After half an hour of conversation, the question inevitably arises: why did he want to come to the Netherlands so badly? After all, Mohamed says, he had a good life in the metropolis of Cairo. Meaningful and enjoyable work in the design and production of medical equipment, he had friends there, everything felt familiar. And yet, Mohamed is now sitting here in the Improvia building, telling his story. With a little imagination, the highway running behind the building evokes a bustling urban environment. Otherwise, there’s a serene tranquility in the office on Tormentil. Mohamed, with short, dark hair and a beard around his chin, laughs when confronted with this observation. “I enjoy discovering new things,” is his surprisingly simple explanation. “Maybe it’s a bit boring to stick with something for a long time. And from my first job, I’ve always interacted with people from other countries. I wanted to try working with people from a different culture and working within that culture. I did some online research. And a friend of mine had been living here for six years. He always told me about the level of technology and the technical challenges in the Netherlands. He gave me a lot of insights into the work culture and the culture in general, such as the directness. That appealed to me.”
Potential
In February 2022, he landed at Schiphol. After consulting with one of his friends and a former Improvia employee about an engineering position in the Eindhoven region, Mohamed was offered three jobs. Ultimately, he chose Improvia. It was a difficult choice. I knew nothing about the three companies and was new to the market. Because the benefits package was the same at all three companies, I had to rely on the people who worked there. Which people did I feel most comfortable working with? Two people I’d met recommended Improvia. I didn’t really get any recommendations for the other two companies. That made my decision much easier. He quickly felt at home at Improvia. He did, however, have to adjust to the Dutch work culture. “I was a bit nervous at first; I didn’t know what challenges I would face. It took a while to get into the swing of things here. They work step by step, a bit slower. It’s fun, but I have to get used to it. And I had to get used to the communication and work processes. How we do things. It took a while to figure it out. My first project at Improvia really helped me get into the groove.”
Typical Things
When he was struggling, there were the typical things that appealed to him so much about his new homeland. They had convinced him to choose a future in the Netherlands. Like the extensive network of cycle paths. “I always wanted to go cycling. I loved it even as a child. But in Cairo, it’s not so easy to cycle. Here, I can enjoy it. I just jump on my bike, ride to Belgium, and then turn around.” And then there was The Night Watch, the world-famous painting by Rembrandt van Rijn. Truly, it was one of Mohamed’s reasons for coming to the Netherlands. “I read two or three books about him when I was about twenty. I know the story behind the painting. And the problems Rembrandt faced after he painted it. In September 2022, I went to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and saw it. It was truly impressive.” But perhaps most importantly, his new living environment. “I wanted to live somewhere quieter. Eindhoven is much quieter than Cairo. And the surrounding green spaces appealed to me.” He’d already realized this when he was studying his new homeland from Cairo. He now lives in the Stratum district. “I like it there so much. Everything I need is close by, and it’s very peaceful. The neighborhood appeals to me.”
Different and Interesting
So far, living abroad is relatively easy for Mohamed. That’s mainly thanks to the people, he says. “Everyone is ready to help and support you, which is great. And there are various fields here in the field of mechanics; engineering and the real high-tech market, like ASML. As a technician, you have the opportunity to explore many different areas here. That makes it different, and interesting.” But, Mohamed emphasizes, his success story isn’t all bliss. An emigrant simply has to settle in and sometimes get used to things that aren’t so pleasant. “I don’t like the medical system in the Netherlands,” he gives an example. “If you look at the
