"As long as I have chocolate, I can work where I want"

Veerle: "There are three very important places in my life: Amsterdam, where I live and work often, Antwerp, where my partner lives and works. business and my best friend Sophie, and Berlin, where my German friend Marcus lives.In between these three cities, I travel a lot back and forth by train.In all three places, I feel at home and I am very happy. have a toothbrush and a pair of running shoes.

"On the one hand, traveling takes a lot of time, about ten hours a week, on the other hand, the train can work very concentrated. The train between Amsterdam and Berlin is really the best place to work that I can think of, because I have no distraction for six hours.

"But I can work as well in a pretty cafe in Antwerp, Amsterdam or Berlin. As long as I have my laptop, my ears, my favorite music channel and a piece of chocolate with me, I can work where I want. I love being in cities, I love a dynamic environment. I've already learned this by learning from different countries in my education, with a Belgian father.

"Sometimes I exchange my house with a friend who lives in Brussels, and I work there for a week.In fact, I am very little at home in Amsterdam.I live as a digital nomad Without Internet, a Wi-Fi hotspot on my phone and a big package so that I could work online unlimited, I could never have lived this way. "

Working every minute

Veerle: "During our studies, Sophie and I created a creative consulting firm.At the art academy, we did a lot of projects together and we were known as the duo Vreeswijk, a contraction of our last names, Devreese and Van Rijswijk.

"When we discovered at a common holiday in Sweden how much the Dutch singer Cornelis Vreeswijk was still there, we found the name of our company: Cornelis Serveert. Because we "serve" projects and formats to arrive at a solution of organizational problems. For example, how food production chains can be organized in a more sustainable way. Or what role can drones play in health care?

"After graduating, Sophie moved to Antwerp, our company now has a branch office in Amsterdam and Antwerp, and every morning at a quarter to nine we call to go through the day-to-day business. our projects, including team training and change processes, are carried out in the Netherlands, the rest in Belgium.

"We work with a permanent core of five employees and freelancers. They are all based in the Netherlands. Every Tuesday, we all work together at the same place in Amsterdam.

"In the early years, I worked every minute but for a year and a half, I have more free time.For example, I work barely at night and on weekends. This is possible thanks to our careful planning, but also because we are now working more efficiently and realize that free time is important for a good balance.

"Although work and private life are a little mixed. For example, I recently went to Berlin for the Art Project The Floating University in which it articulates around experimental learning modes. Then I thought, "Hey, it can be interesting for my work". We encourage all employees to inspire once a month outside of their comfort zone. Of course, it's also interesting for businesses. So I went to the nuns in Vught to improve my English. It was interesting for both me and professionally. "

Berlin as a resting place

Veerle: " Sophie and I do a lot together in private. At least once a year, we go on a bike holiday together. Last year we cycled from Copenhagen to Stockholm, this year we will do two weeks of cycling in Corsica. We are surprised to see how much friendship remains in this intensive cooperation. We can even be more and more at odds with each other without harming the relationship.

"The biggest pitfall is that we start thinking about each other in busy times with the intention of helping the other person.Sometimes it happens that friction occurs. for the rest we complement each other very well.

"I do not have the impression of living a hectic life. That's because there are a lot of fixed points in my life and I do not work more than 50 hours a week. I will swim or run between the companies.

"And I can combine things effectively.If I have a business appointment in Rotterdam, I try to have lunch with a friend who lives there. is one of the things I spend: good food, and of course, traveling.I think I spend 400 euros a month on train journeys.

"Berlin is really my point rest. This is not feasible forever, my partner and I in Amsterdam, but for now it is going well. Independent sound technician, he is also delighted to sail in summer skipper on small Spree boats. I often work in Berlin on Thursday and Friday. On the weekends, we are really free to do things together. We appreciate that now. We are not yet interested in the future.

"Starting next year, Sophie and I will be working every other day for four days, only see if we can do it before making decisions about how we want to organize our lives more." [19659022 How does she do it?

Get up

Veerle gets up at 8 o'clock in the morning. "Unless I have to get up early to catch a train."

Woning

Veerle has a sales apartment in the center of Amsterdam. She lives and works often in Antwerp and Berlin

Sport

She swims, rolls and walks hard.

Transportation

As much as possible by train, because then they can work. It is estimated that they spend about ten hours a week on the train. "Just as much as an average commuter."

Rush Hour

Tuesday is the busiest day of the week. Then it's the day of consultation: with colleagues, clients and organizations with whom you work together.

Bedtime

The goal is 00:30.