Meet Undutchables

2. Who is Undutchables?

Our team is a truly international one. We aree a tight-knit group of colleagues working from three strategic hubs across the Netherlands (North, Middle and South), and together we bring a wide range of language skills, backgrounds, and lived expat experience. As of our most recent updates, the team represents 15 different nationalities, which helps us relate to candidates and clients from across the globe and turn cultural diversity into practical recruitment strength. Our colleagues work across recruitment, marketing, administration, HR and development, and sales, and that breadth means we can support candidates and employers at every step of the hiring journey.

Quickfire questions

Q: Morning meetings or late-afternoon catch-ups?

A: Depends on the team, but we always jump right in bright and early with our Monday morning meetings to start the week off right.

Q: Amsterdam, Utrecht, or Eindhoven?

A: Don’t make us choose between our children, that’s just wrong 😉

Q: Remote work or office hub?

A: We love a mix! Each team member has a different way of working that is most effective for them, so we like to create a healthy mix of support at the office with the team and independence at the home office, allowing everyone to get the best of both worlds.

Q: What word best sums up 30 years of Undutchables?

A: Committed and personal (we know, that's two words 😉)

3. What has been the company’s most memorable moment in the last 30 years?

We have too many happy memories to pick just one, although you can read some of our team’s most memorable moments in our meet the team blogs. If we have to pick a memory to highlight, our company birthday trips are always a big standout and definitely worth mentioning. As part of our birthday celebration every few years the whole company travels together to a new city somewhere outside of the Netherlands. These team building trips are always a great time, filled with cultural learning, fun experiences, and a renewed commitment to our goal. It is always lovely to see our diverse team coming together and laughing with and learning from each other.

Of course, the connections we get to make is the reason we do what we do. Beyond parties and fun get togethers, there are countless quieter moments that we will never forget, like the countless stories from candidates who found the right role, long-term partnerships with clients, and little wins that stick with us because they changed someone’s life. Those human stories are what keep us going.

4. How has the company and recruitment landscape changed since 1996? 

We started as pioneers in the market, when recruiting internationals was a niche practice. We grew from an attic start-up to a national presence - expanding offices, opening regional teams and bringing together colleagues from all over the world. Over time more companies and the overall market in the Netherlands have come to appreciate that cross-border talent and cultural fluency are essential strategic assets. 

As the understanding of internationalization in the larger market has grown, so have we. Our reach has expanded and our services have evolved (including new hubs, a worldwide network, expanded and tailor-made services, and more tech-enabled ways of working), but the heart of the company has stayed the same. Our four core principles - Personal, Expertise, Enterprising and Partner – continue to guide how we match people and organizations for the long term.

5. What is the biggest challenge Undutchables has faced? And how did you overcome it?

In 30 years we have definitely seen our share of market changes and had to deal with challenging situations. The economic turmoil in the 2000s (and the 2008 downturn), the turbulence of 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic, and now the uncertainty of a market being significantly reshaped by technology and AI. Each period tested our business model and our people and required us to adapt and come up with creative solutions. We are proud to say that we have been able to navigate these challenges in a way that has ultimately made us stronger and given us new skills for the future.

What helped most was sticking to our core: a people-first, personal approach and the company values that guide us. During hard times we have chosen to invest in our team by finding creative solutions to keep people on board, and leaning into our strengths: local knowledge and expertise, strong relationships, and a willingness to adapt.

In the current changing landscape with AI and technology playing a larger role in recruitment and society in general, we are tackling the new challenges with energy and excitement. Combining our human approach with a sharper focus on technology and embracing the new tools that increase our abilities and effectiveness while maintaining the personal touch, so we can serve candidates and clients in the best way possible.

6. What is Undutchables’ favorite way to unwind?

We are a social bunch, so our favorite way to unwind usually involves some version of talking and laughing together, often over a nice meal or some drinks never hurts. Office lunches are full of stories, and you will usually find us inspiring each other to plan trips around the world or swapping cultural faux pas. Over the years we have enjoyed cooking workshops, ping-pong matches, Thanksgiving and other cultural celebrations at the office, escape rooms, and of course, our Eurovision parties. No matter what the activity, as long as we are together we know how to have a good time.

7. What is key for a successful recruitment process?

While this is a topic we could talk about all day, we will keep our answer short and sweet for this one. A successful recruitment process comes down to clear communication, honesty from all sides, and a willingness to be open and find creative solutions. Successful searches happen when candidates are transparent about their ambitions and constraints, companies honestly explain needs and trade-offs, and recruiters bring a creative, invested mindset that involves looking beyond keywords or strict checklists. In this way the opportunity to identify someone’s true potential and connect it with a company’s actual needs opens up. The best matches emerge when everyone is willing to think together, communicate clearly, and consider alternative paths to finding the right fit.

8. What common misconception about hiring internationals would you like to correct?

A big misconception is that “internationals” all live abroad. In truth, there is a huge group of multilinguals already living in the Netherlands - love expats (like many of our team), students who choose to stay (like others in our team), Dutchies who have international experience and speak multiple languages (like still others in our team), and still others who are here seeking adventure or a change of scene, returning to their roots, and more. Basically while looking beyond borders, literally, can be a great hiring strategy, it is important to not forget the deep pool of talented individuals that is right here and ready to contribute.

9. What are Undutchables’ top three practical tips for candidates today?

1. Be creative and persistent - Job hunting in a new country can take time and include different processes and expectations than you are used to. Be patient, try different approaches, and don’t give up.
2. Tailor your application – It is important to make your application stand out from the crowd, so adjust it to get noticed. Use keywords from the job description, keep your CV concise (1-2 pages) and include bullet points about your process and your results. These adjustments will help your CV pass both ATS system checks and human reviewers.
3. Prepare thoroughly and be transparent – There is a clear difference in success rates for those who prepare and those who don’t. Put in the time to research the company, practice stories from your experience that highlight your skills (including soft skills), and get some questions ready ahead of time. Throughout the process also be clear about visa, location, or timing needs, and communicate honestly with recruiters so that they can help you find the best fit.

While this covers some of the most important points, we have a lot more to share to help you get ready for your next career step in the Netherlands. Find more helpful tips for job seekers here.

11. What’s next? Where do you see Undutchables in five, ten, or thirty years?

We want to keep growing where we can make the biggest difference. Our goal and values will stay the same while we continue to expand and refine our services to remain market leader and provide the relevant and needed support for clients and candidates in a fast-changing market.

We will continue to stay on top of regulatory changes (visas, payroll, benefits, etc.), invest in technology and training, and always combine new tools with hands-on, personal advice from our in-house experts. This blend of modern systems with human touch is a mix that we know and love and that leads to a trustworthy approach that helps us scale our business while keeping recruitment personal and human.

Therefore, we will continue to invest in both people and technology so that we can build even more bridges and focus on helping internationals build meaningful careers and organizations across the Netherlands.

We hope you enjoyed this little behind-the-scenes look at Undutchables. For 30 years we have been helping internationals find jobs across the Netherlands and employers connect with top multilingual talent.

To keep the party going in our 30^th year we will be sharing more celebratory content on our website and socials with Undutchie interviews, memories, and fun behind-the-scenes moments. Please feel free to follow along online, and if you would like to join in the celebrations by sharing your Undutchables memories and experiences, please get in touch, we would love to hear your story!