16 years in the Netherlands
I know the market not from short visits, but from everyday life, work, conversations and building relationships in a Dutch environment.
About me
Good morning, my name is Barbara Śmietana. I live and develop my professional career in the Netherlands, where for years I have been getting to know the local market, work culture and way of doing business. Today, I connect Polish entrepreneurs with the Dutch market, but I do this through experience, selection and a properly prepared conversation.
My darling
I came to the Netherlands as a young woman with the ambition of building a future from scratch. I started out doing manual labour, while at the same time learning the language, Dutch culture and how things work locally. Every stage gave me new skills: not from theory, but from practice.
In 2015, I set up my first business in the Netherlands. Since then, I have been developing as an entrepreneur, working with Polish people living in the Netherlands and with partners on business and social projects.
Stages and experience
I know the market not from short visits, but from everyday life, work, conversations and building relationships in a Dutch environment.
For years I have been running my own projects in the Netherlands and I know what the responsibility of an entrepreneur is on the other side of the market.
I run a company specialising in organising worker accommodation. So far, we have provided places for around 500 people.
Personal branding is the next stage: I am building a bridge between Polish entrepreneurs and the Dutch market.
I treat every client and every challenge individually, with full understanding and respect. In business I don't look for shortcuts – together with our partners we develop the best solutions, because it is the quality of cooperation that determines our path to success.
Philosophy of action
My role
I combine knowledge of the Dutch market with the experience of someone who built their own position step by step.
I help to reach people and companies for whom a conversation has a business rationale, rather than just being another contact.
I care about the objective, the argument and the sequence of actions, especially when the company is just testing the waters on how to enter the Netherlands.
I value respectful relationships, because in business a good reputation works for longer than a quick promise.
Poland and the Netherlands
The Netherlands taught me pragmatism, responsibility and calm management. Polish entrepreneurship has pace, ambition and courage. My role is to combine these two worlds so that the conversation is not a chance entry, but a well-prepared step.
In projects related to entering the Dutch market, acquiring business partners, business development i Corporate Housing I work in stages: from identifying the need, through choosing the right path, to speaking with the relevant party.
First conversation
One good conversation can save months of trial and error. Tell me where your business is and what you are looking for on the other side of the market.
Schedule a discovery call