Hi, I am Julia and as a civil servant at a municipality I am usually just in the office, but sometimes it is cool to work from a different location. Especially since I have a travel blog and love to travel and discover new places. So a while ago I went to the Veluwe to work remotely from there. Not that far from home, but still a nice experience and a new environment. I would like to tell you more about the advantages of a workstation in the Netherlands.
On a working vacation in the Netherlands
At first, when I thought of a workation myself, I thought of working from an exciting country like Bali or Colombia. Or closer to home, like Spain or Portugal. The Netherlands hadn’t really occurred to me that quickly, until the opportunity arose. I decided to combine a vacation with a work week. And I can tell you that a workation close to home is a lot of fun!
My work station on the Veluwe
My own workation took me to the Veluwe and Veluwe Lake. I stayed there at a vacation park with all kinds of amenities. That way I could take a splash in the pool in the morning before I went to work, take a walk in the green surroundings in the afternoon, and go out in the evening. A day feels much more productive that way than when you’re working at home. The Albert Heijn there is the same as at my house around the corner, so you don’t really have to get used to a new environment. The Veluwe is a beautiful area with lots to do and see. Not only nature, but also old Hanseatic cities like Harderwijk and Elburg. Highly recommended for a workation if you ask me!
Five benefits of a workstation close to home
1. Good way to get a taste of whether a workation is for you
A workstation in the Netherlands does not have to be for a long time. After all, the travel time you cover is never longer than 3 hours by car and you don’t have to incur any expenses for a plane ticket. Therefore, you can also just go for 3 days to try out if remote work is something for you. It is a very accessible way to step out of your comfort zone without being far from home. After all, you can also just sit three villages away. You’re sure to see things there that you didn’t know existed. And if working remotely isn’t for you after all, because you miss your home office or the pets, for example, you’ll be back at your own familiar base in no time.
2. No time difference
A second advantage of a workation close to home is that you have no time difference. Especially convenient of course if you work with Dutch clients (or other clients that fall in the same time zone as the Netherlands). You start working at the moment when your colleagues also walk into the office and when your friends start up their laptops. You don’t have to get up extra early for appointments or work longer hours. Everything can be done as you would in the office. But digitally, of course.
3. A new, yet familiar environment
Some think the Netherlands is small, others will say it is quite big after all. Every region and city is different, but the advantage of a workation in your own country is that there is also a lot of recognition. You know what to expect in terms of prices at restaurants, you speak the language so you can get by just fine and the supermarket there is just like the one around the corner from you. So you won’t experience culture shock when you arrive at your work station location in the Netherlands.
4. There are so many beautiful places to discover in the Netherlands
And although you will recognize much from home on your work trip in the Netherlands, our country has so many special places to discover. The Veluwe, for example, where I went, surprised me so much. The beautiful sandy plains, the perfectly groomed bicycle routes and the modern vacation parks. But I can also imagine that other locations in the Netherlands are great places to stay. Take Zeeland, for example, where after a day at work you can be at the beach in no time, or South Limburg, where you can enjoy a burgundian evening at a cozy restaurant. And if you go on a work station in a larger city like Amsterdam or Utrecht, you can go out for a coffee or sit by the canals during the day. There are beautiful places to see all over the Netherlands.
5. A sustainable workation
Another advantage of going on workation in the Netherlands is that it is quite sustainable. You don’t have to fly and the number of miles you travel by car is also somewhat limited. Or better yet, take the bus and train to your location! The more popular the place you are going to, the better public transportation is arranged. Combine your workation with a vacation in the area where you are staying and you’ll catch two birds with one stone.
Working remotely, yet close by
A workstation in the Netherlands is not such a bad thing. It is a good way to get acquainted with the concept of working remotely, but still provides the familiar feeling of being at home. For me, this was a first step towards working at a location other than my home or office. It also gave me new inspiration for my travel blog where I share tips on destinations in the Netherlands and Europe. That certainly tastes like more! Would you like to go on a working vacation in your own country? Read on and discover 5 more great places for a work holiday in the Netherlands.
