Jaike van de Wege
I completed my HAVO and took a gap year because I wanted to join the police. When I finished HAVO, I was only 17 and had to be 18 to start at the police academy. That felt too young, so I decided to take a year off and work in hospitality. I really enjoyed it, so I ended up choosing Hospitality Management in Leeuwarden. Maastricht is more theoretical, whereas Leeuwarden is very practical and hands-on. That seemed way more fun – I wanted to do, not just learn from books. My experience in hospitality, combined with a minor in HRM, gave me a solid foundation and the chance to gain HR experience during my internship.
Life in Curaçao
I was so excited to come here! Sorting everything out beforehand was hectic – cancelling my rental, clearing my room, saying goodbye to everyone… but I just thought: put me on that plane!
Arriving was impressive. You see amazing pictures online, but when you drive from the airport, it’s a bit of a culture shock. Everything is different from the Netherlands. But life here is amazing – warm, relaxed, and there’s always something to do – beach, drinks, sports.
I live in a student house with around forty students. It’s really social! Everyone has their own schedule, so there’s always someone up for something. I started with my own room and now have a studio. An apartment would be quieter, but also isolating. Living in a student house is way more fun.
Internship at LionsDive: HR & Sustainability
I work five days a week in HR and sustainability. For HR, I handle uniforms, background checks, onboarding, and all personnel-related tasks. On the sustainability side, I work on projects like coral-friendly sunscreen dispensers, waste separation, a big Clean-Up with volunteers, and organizing Sustainability Week with workshops and awareness campaigns.
I’m encouraged to bring my own ideas, which is really motivating. For example, I suggested extra paper bins for the office and want to set up a central waste station to make recycling more visible. Sustainability can be challenging here – not everyone separates waste – but even small steps feel meaningful.
Learning beyond the classroom
At school, I learned a lot of theory, but my internship really showed me how HR and sustainability work in practice. At school, sustainability was often quite superficial – like, “make a QR code and it’s sustainable.” Here, I see the bigger picture: how projects affect people, the planet, and the company. My minor in HRM and hands-on experience give me knowledge I can use straight away in my career, from legal aspects to everyday HR tasks.
Future plans and advice
After this internship, I know I want to continue in HR, with a focus on sustainability. I love helping people – especially employees. Supporting them makes me feel useful and appreciated.
My tip for students: just do it! An internship abroad is exciting but so rewarding. You learn not only about your field, but also about yourself. You become independent, flexible, and meet people from all kinds of cultures. And the best part? The sun almost always shines!
More info?
To find out more about the programme, check out the Hospitality Management programme page or request the programme brochure. Or check out the different international opportunities NHL Stenden offers.