Thousands of Polish, Bulgarian, Chinese, Turkish, Marokkan,... come to Rotterdam, looking for a better life. They are people that you see everyday in the city. They are waiters, cleaners and dishwashers who make the city work. Some can speak dutch, some can not. Accepted or not, they are a part of the city. And only a few are able to rise up out of the niche that society has put them in.

Have they found what they were looking for?

The coming interview opens a new series of articles. Every week we will conduct an interview with one successful foreigner in Rotterdam. They are from many different countries, working in different fields. However, used to be “strangers in the city” is something that they all share. The interviews are somehow where they look back at all difficulties, challenges and success that they have experienced. See what their opinions are about the road to the top. How hard is it for a foreigner in this city? Is the city as open and accepting as it thinks it is? What are the advantages and disadvantages of not starting out as a part of the culture. Where do they think they are? On the top? On the way there?

If you think it’s hard making it big… wait till you hear this.