Today we’d like to introduce you to Saskia Pardaans.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Saskia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) is part of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign affairs. We help Dutch companies who want to do business in Texas. We promote Texas in the Netherland and the Netherlands in Texas. Me and my family wanted to leave the Netherlands and we wanted to move to the US. Because my husband and I were both self-employed we had to find a way to work and live in the US. I talked to a lot of people. I knew what I wanted (helping Dutch companies), but I had to find it. On January 25, 2015, someone from my network told me that he knew the perfect job for me: Chief Representative at the NBSO in Houston. A few months later we (me, my husband and 2 daughters 13 and 15) moved with 4 suitcases to Houston.
We love living here. It feels like an adventure book.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The first half year was difficult. We had to go through a lot of bureaucratic stuff. And our kids had to adjust. They didn’t speak the language. We also had to get used to the American culture. Although it looks the same like the culture in the Netherlands, it’s not! The food is different too. We still miss our typical Dutch food. Something we don’t miss is the climate in the Netherlands.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m Chief Representative of the Netherlands Business Support Office. We’re located in Houston and our region is Texas. This is a high potential area for the Netherlands.
We help Dutch companies who want to do business in Texas. We promote the Netherlands in Texas and Texas in the Netherlands. And this is very important. Because most Dutch companies want to go to the west coast and New York and they don’t think about Texas. That’s what we want to change.
We’re part of the Dutch economic network (embassy and consulates) in the US. Worldwide their are 20 offices in 10 different countries. We’re part of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Right now we’re working very hard to find a way how we can help Houston to recover from Harvey. The Netherlands is very famous for its water management. (we had a major flooding in 1953 and 1/3 of our country is below sea level)
What were you like growing up?
I’m an enthusiastic person. Always looking for opportunities and adventures. and I like being around other people.I loved to play field hockey and hanging out with my friends. I grew up in the Netherlands. Kids have a lot of freedom there. They can go on their bike to school, friends and sport. They can explore and hang out with other kids. As long as they are home before dinner.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1801 Allen Parkway
Suite 240 Houston, 77019 - Website: www.nbso-texas.com
- Phone: 832 709 6200
- Email: pardaans@nbso-texas.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/nbsotexas
- Twitter: @nbsotexas
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