Recently, our international team welcomed our North American team members, Arianne Robillard and Suzanne Woo, to our Delft office. In this blog, Arianne shares her experiences and insights about visiting the Netherlands.
This month, I had the opportunity to spend one week working in the Netherlands and meeting my international colleagues from the Dutch offices. I am lucky to say it wasn’t my first time in the Netherlands since I did an internship at Utrecht University in 2022. I was happy to be back for the first time since. I observed the cities with a different pair of eyes this time. When I first arrived, I walked around Delft and The Hague during the weekend while adjusting to the new time zone.
On Monday, I was happy to meet with everyone in person for the first time. The team was so welcoming. I also experienced my first typical and cozy Dutch lunch, where we all made delicious “broodje kaas” (tosti) sandwiches, essentially the Dutch version of a grilled cheese sandwich. We finished the day with a workshop on protected intersections and roundabout design, and even got to use the Mobycon roundabout tool at this workshop!
Tuesday was one of the busiest days, and I learned more about what the International Team is currently working on and met more of my colleagues. We did a cycling study tour around Delft in the afternoon to explore various cycling facilities. I also had the opportunity to chat with my French-speaking colleagues; it was enjoyable! We finished the day at the unique Delft Brouwhuis for a dinner with the International Team.
On a rainy Wednesday morning, we were off to Rotterdam for another cycling tour! We learned about how Rotterdam has been allocating more space for active modes after being overly car-oriented following its reconstruction from the Second World War. Rotterdam is a good and more realistic example to refer to for North American cities to visualize how Dutch transportation planning could be transferred into our context. The weather was not on our side for this tour, but we quickly forgot that it rained the whole time, as we chatted over a warm coffee and a soup.
The next day began with a brainstorming and exchange session on street design. I left this meeting with many new ideas to perfect my drawings and design techniques. In the afternoon, I went to Utrecht, where I took a nostalgic walk around the city and met with former colleagues from the university.
On the last day, I stopped by the Den Bosch office before taking the train to Cologne, where I spent the weekend at the Christmas markets. In Den Bosch, I met with some colleagues from the Dutch team who specialize in GIS and transportation equity and policies. Hearing their perspectives and learning more about what the Dutch team does was interesting.
I am so grateful for this wonderful week and the opportunity to meet my colleagues from the Dutch offices. I am coming back to Canada with a head full of new ideas, and if it’s possible, I dream even more of a cycling paradise on our side of the ocean.
If you want to get to know our team members or learn more about what we can do for your community, please reach out.
">“The dynamics of cities are revealed through the daily movements of individuals. I am excited to support North American cities in developing public spaces and streets that are vibrant, safe, and welcoming for everyone. Inspired by the best practices in the Netherlands, let’s make cycling and walking the most convenient options!”
