As an international, you know you’re truly embracing your adoptive city as your new home when you start playing tour guide for people who come to visit. And that’s exactly what Candice Dearle, who moved from South Africa to Bergen op Zoom, loves to do with friends and family. From culinary festivals to bike routes in and around the West Brabant, Candice and her husband are fully immersing themselves in what the region has to offer.
It’s impossible not to smile listening to Candice talk. Her enthusiasm and gregariousness really shine through, whether she’s talking about the company she works for or the city that she lives in.
Hi, Candice. Can you tell us about what brought you to Bergen op Zoom all the way from South Africa?
I moved to Bergen op Zoom to work as a Process Operations Engineer at SABIC, a global diversified chemical company. The company has been present in Bergen op Zoom for over 50 years. Here we produce high-performance plastics that are used in medical devices, transportation and electronics. A good point of pride to mention is that SABIC is focused on global challenges, so we’re looking at addressing challenges such as circularity and closing the loop.
Being based in Bergen op Zoom is a great logistic advantage for us. SABIC is positioned between Rotterdam and Antwerp, so we’re easily accessible. We also have our own harbor here, so we get our raw materials directly.
What do you like most about living in West Brabant?
We really like the easy access to nature. There are so many cycling routes and outdoor activities that are accessible from our doorstep. From Bergen op Zoom, you can also reach four airports in about less than two hours by train, so you can easily explore Europe.
Another thing that stood out for me in this region is the Carnival experience, which is very specific to the south of the Netherlands. There are so many events to choose from during the summer as well. My favorite is ProefMei, the culinary festival where you can feast on ample local produce from this region.
What do you think about the local work culture?
I would characterize the Dutch and Brabant work culture as focused with a touch of balance. I find the people here are very helpful. There’s a clear “family comes first” culture, which takes a lot of pressure off you if you have to attend to family matters.
The region offers peacefulness with just the right amount of fun for internationals looking to move here. From Brabant, you can easily hop on a train and explore other parts of the Netherlands and Europe.
The main difference between this region and the other regions popular with internationals is that you get the true local Dutch experience in Brabant, compared to other larger cities.
When people visit you, what do you usually do together?
Whenever friends and family come to visit us in Bergen op Zoom, the first thing we do is take them on a cycling tour. We call it Candice’s tourist route and it goes past the main sites in and around the city. We start next to the forest, go to the waterfront area for a drink, then we continue to the old city gate and end with a delicious ice cream in the Grote Markt in the city center of Bergen op Zoom. Everyone seems to love this route.
'Meet internationals in West-Brabant' where diverse and engaging internationals share their personal story who take pride in working and living in the region, sharing their experiences in a welcoming and inviting environment.