Welcome Niels!

We are excited to introduce you to our new program coordinator: Niels Dekker!

So, tell us, who is Niels:
My name is Niels, and I was born and raised in Wognum, a small town in the Netherlands. Ever since I was about 13 years old, I wanted to experience living in the United States. During my bachelor's study, I had everything arranged for a study in the United States. Unfortunately, this got canceled due to COVID-19. This is why I, after obtaining my Bachelor's Degree from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, decided to pursue an internship in the United States. I found this internship via the services of Stage-Global! After this internship, I obtained my Master's in Business Administration at the University of Amsterdam.  I love exploring new places. I love to visit new breweries, go on road trips, watch sports, and read books on business and politics.

What have you seen of the world so far, and which country is on top of your bucket list?
I have seen far too little of the world and would love to see more. I have already explored a variety of countries in Europe. My girlfriend and I have the ambition to visit all 50 states. I enjoy seeing and experiencing what every single state has to offer, nature and culture. The country on top of my bucket list is Japan. From what I can tell, Japan has a wonderful culture and beautiful nature. The food scene is also amazing from what I can tell. I would like to explore this country as soon as possible! On top of that, I would like to do a fancy cruise on one of those giant cruise ships through the Caribbean.

What has been your most remarkable experience abroad?
My most remarkable experience abroad is by far my internship in the United States. I experienced so many different things and met so many new people. I recommend everybody to take this step, and go for this experience abroad! During this internship, my favorite trip was when my Dutch friends flew over to visit. We did a road trip to Nashville, which is such a cool city to explore and experience. The people there are awesome, and the atmosphere is amazing. The road trip with my girlfriend through Wisconsin and Michigan was also a super fun experience. Every new town has new things to offer.