From the Netherlands to Belgium: A journey of growth

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My name is Joeki Smeekes, and I am a Global Commerce trainee in BG Europe. After studying in Groningen and completing an international Master’s in Spain, I knew I wanted a broad start to my career. A Traineeship felt like the perfect way to explore different directions. FrieslandCampina stood out to me for its combination of global reach and a down‑to‑earth Dutch culture. 

My first rotation brought me to Belgium, where I work in the Customer & Channel Development team on brands like Nutroma, Optimel, Fristi, Campina and Cécémel. I split my time between Ghent and Amersfoort, working on category analyses, route‑to‑market topics, private label projects and E‑commerce strategy. The variety, the international environment and the mix of cultures give me a lot of energy: every week brings something new.

Learning through Curiosity

When I think about the Nature that fits me best, it would be “Curious”. I ask many questions, wanting to know a lot about different topics and understanding how things work. I like broadening my perspective and learning from everyone around me. That curiosity also shows in my personal life. Moving to Belgium has given me a new environment to explore, and even though my Belgian colleagues strongly reflect the FrieslandCampina culture, being in a different country teaches me something new every day. 

One of the things that stands out for me at FrieslandCampina is the strong sense of togetherness.  The Power of We is not just a slogan; it is truly how people work. Collaboration across borders happens naturally. Everyone is open, approachable and willing to help. Hierarchy does not create distance and even senior leaders are easy to talk to. I have never had someone tell me they were too busy to help, which says a lot about the culture. 

Next to the collaboration culture, there is a strong focus on personal development in the Global Traineeship. During the onboarding week, our cohort became close very quickly. That group feels like a safe base. My manager supports me with feedback, helps me set meaningful goals and checks in regularly to reflect on my progress. Even after only a few months, I can already see how much I have learned. I recently watched a presentation I made at the start of my rotation and immediately noticed how differently I would approach it now. That kind of change makes the learning curve very visible. 

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Looking ahead

In the coming months, I hope to spend more time discovering Belgium outside of work, to get a deeper understanding of the culture. I want to gain expertise in category management, grow in translating data analyses into strategy, and develop a sharper commercial mindset. I am also excited to see how some of the projects I am involved in will develop, such as the progress of building our E‑commerce business and new product launches. 

Looking further ahead, I would love to spend part of my career abroad again. I am especially interested in experiencing a culture that is very different from home, and Asia appeals to me for that reason. I think marketing could be a great direction for me, but I also want to stay open to being surprised. Belgium has already shown me how unexpected experiences can turn into something great. 

If someone asked me whether they should apply for the Global Traineeship, I would encourage them to do so. It is a great way to learn, to discover what you enjoy and to develop both personally and professionally. The culture is warm, open and down‑to‑earth. If you are curious and enjoy working in a global context, FrieslandCampina is a place where you can feel at home. 

 

Want to know more about traineeships at FrieslandCampina

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