From Uncertainty in South Africa to a New Life in the Netherlands: Christo’s Story

For many South African professionals, the idea of moving abroad starts quietly.

Maybe it begins with a difficult season at work. Maybe the future starts to feel uncertain. Maybe you and your partner start asking each other: “What else is out there for us?”

For Christo Schoonbee and his wife, that moment came when both of their employers in South Africa started facing financial difficulties. Layoffs were on the table. Job security suddenly became a very real concern.

So they sat down, looked at their options and asked a brave question:

What if we tried to build our future somewhere else?

That question eventually led them to the Netherlands.

And today, Christo is working as a High Voltage Technical Specialist at Royal SMIT Transformers, living in Nijmegen with his wife and their two fur babies, Katinka and Kira.

His story is honest, practical, funny and incredibly relatable for any South African thinking about finding work abroad.

Why the Netherlands?

For Christo, the Netherlands was not just a random choice.

As an electrical engineer, he was excited by the technology, the energy transition and the opportunity to work in a world class technical environment.

In the interview, Christo explains that the Netherlands is one of the best places to be if you are working in electrical engineering, especially in the energy sector. He now gets to work with technology and equipment that he had not been exposed to in South Africa.

For someone who loves solving problems, learning and growing technically, that was a big part of the dream.

But there was also a personal side to the decision.

Christo and his wife wanted job security. They wanted to explore. They wanted to experience Dutch culture and see what life could look like outside South Africa.

In his words, they wanted to make the dream a reality.

The journey was not instant

One of the most important things Christo shares is that the process was not immediate.

It took around four to six months from the start of the journey to finally receiving an offer.

His first interview through Ir Olav’s Globetrotters was not successful. But instead of seeing that as the end, he saw it as a learning experience.

Dutch interviews are different. The conversations can feel less formal than South African interviews, but that does not mean you can wing it. You still need to prepare, understand the company and be ready to speak openly about your experience, your strengths and your motivation.

That first interview helped Christo understand what to expect.

And throughout the process, he felt supported.

He mentions Wendy, his recruiter, and says that she had his back the whole way. Even when she was not available, someone else from the team could step in and help.

That kind of support matters when you are making a life changing move.

The Royal SMIT opportunity

Christo’s opportunity at Royal SMIT came through a call from Wendy.

At first, he had never heard of the company. But once he started reading up, he realised just how impressive the work was.

Royal SMIT builds high voltage transformers used by grid operators around the world. Christo now works in the high voltage testing lab, where the team performs the final testing before a transformer is approved.

These are not small transformers. Christo talks about transformers of 500 kV and upwards. His role involves supporting the testing process, helping to identify issues, developing measurement techniques and finding ways to resolve technical challenges.

And because of the global energy transition, the demand for transformers is huge.

As Christo explains, you cannot simply take renewable energy sources like wind power and plug them into the existing grid. You need critical components in between, and transformers are part of that story.

For a South African engineer looking for meaningful technical work, this is exactly the kind of opportunity that can change your career.

Relocation: honest truth

When asked what the relocation process was like, Christo did not sugarcoat it.

He called it a nightmare.

And honestly, we love that he said that.

Because moving countries is not just about booking a flight and packing a few bags. It is emotional. It is admin heavy. It is expensive. It means selling things, saying goodbye, gathering documents, arranging pets, finding housing and preparing for a completely different way of life.

But Christo also made something very clear: the process was much easier because Ir Olav’s Globetrotters had his back.

He spoke about being connected with the right relocation partners, having one to one calls, receiving guidance on documentation and being able to ask questions without feeling silly or dismissed.

That is exactly why support is so important.

You still have to do your part. You still need to gather your documents, prepare properly and stay involved. But you do not have to figure everything out alone.

Housing in the Netherlands: be realistic

Christo also spoke honestly about housing.

Finding accommodation in the Netherlands can be challenging. The market is competitive and very different from what many South Africans are used to.

As Christo says, you are probably not going to get a South African style house with a huge yard and garage straight away. You need to be realistic.

With help from one of Ir Olav’s trusted accommodation partners, Christo and his wife were able to find a great apartment in Nijmegen.

His advice is simple: adjust your expectations and take the help available to you.

Working in the Netherlands vs South Africa

One of the biggest differences Christo noticed was the work culture.

He loves that micromanagement is not part of his daily experience. He feels trusted to do his work, while still having the support and communication needed to succeed.

He also loves the efficiency.

Meetings start on time. People get to the point. Meetings end on time.

For Christo, that was a big and very welcome culture shift.

He also describes Dutch work culture as people orientated. You are not just a number. You are seen as a person, and your contribution matters.

For South African professionals considering a move abroad, this is such an important insight. It is not only about the job title or salary. It is also about the environment you step into every day.

Life outside work

Of course, life in the Netherlands is not only about work.

Christo describes everyday life as cold, wet and windy, but also exciting.

He and his wife are learning new things every day. They are adjusting to the culture, discovering Dutch habits and enjoying the parks and clean surroundings.

One of his favourite Dutch discoveries so far is statiegeld, the deposit system where you return bottles and cans to receive a voucher. Simple, practical and very Dutch.

He also talks about the friendliness and helpfulness of Dutch people, along with their famous directness.

His advice?

Be prepared for it. Do not take it personally. It is often just more efficient.

Learning Dutch as an Afrikaans speaker

A lovely part of the interview is when Christo switches to Dutch.

After only a few months of lessons, he introduces himself, talks about his work and shares what it has been like to learn the language.

For Afrikaans speakers, Dutch can feel familiar and tricky at the same time.

Christo says Afrikaans helps him understand Dutch, but it can also make pronunciation and speaking a bit confusing. Understanding often comes faster than answering back.

But step by step, it gets better.

And that is such an encouraging reminder: you do not need to be perfect. You just need to start.

Christo’s biggest advice to South Africans

When asked what advice he would give to other South Africans considering a move to the Netherlands, Christo immediately focused on documents.

Start early.

Get your unabridged birth certificate. If you are married, get your unabridged marriage certificate. Make sure your documents are apostilled. Get your police clearance certificate.

Some of these documents can take time, and delays can slow down your journey.

His advice is practical because he has lived it. The sooner you prepare, the smoother things can be when the right opportunity comes along.

Moving with pets

Christo and his wife also relocated with their cat and dog, Katinka and Kira.

His advice for pet owners is very clear: start as soon as possible.

Vaccinations need to be in order. Rabies antibody testing is required. There are waiting periods involved. It is also expensive.

But as Christo says, you cannot put a price on your children.

For many South Africans, pets are family. So if you know you want to take them with you, make pet planning part of your relocation process from the beginning.

Would Christo recommend Ir Olav’s Globetrotters?

Absolutely.

Christo says Ir Olav’s Globetrotters knows the ins and outs of the process. He also mentions that friends who used other companies did not always have the same support system that he experienced.

His message to other South Africans is simple:

If you do your part, Ir Olav will look after you.

And that really captures the heart of what we do.

We cannot remove every challenge from the relocation journey. Moving abroad will always take courage, preparation and effort. But we can walk the road with you, guide you through the process and help you take the next step with confidence.

Are you ready to engineer your Dutch life?

Christo’s story started with uncertainty in South Africa.

It led to a new career, a new home, new experiences, Dutch lessons, efficient meetings, rainy weather, frietjes and a future he and his wife are building together in the Netherlands.

Maybe your story could start here too.

If you are a South African professional in engineering, IT or finance and you are curious about opportunities in the Netherlands, visit jobs page to see what job listings we're currently recruiting for or email our recruitment team at recruitment@irolav.world.

Your Dutch life might be closer than you think.