A new country, a different language, and finding your way again in everyday life. For Maiia Tolkachova (36), moving from Ukraine to the Netherlands brought many changes. She now works at Van Loon in Beilen, where she has found her place. We spoke with Maiia about her new life in the Netherlands, the importance of great coworkers, and her motivation to keep growing.

A fresh start in the Netherlands

More than two and a half years ago, Maiia came to the Netherlands from Ukraine with her husband and two children. Because of the war, they had to leave their familiar life in Lviv behind and start over in an unfamiliar country. The first few months were mainly spent adjusting to a new environment—from sorting out paperwork to finding a school for the children and learning Dutch. The family had a lot to deal with all at once.

But aside from all the practical matters, Maiia faced another challenge. In Ukraine, she had her own beauty studio and years of experience in the beauty industry. In the Netherlands, it turned out to be difficult to find work in the same field. “The hardest part was figuring out how I could redevelop myself here. In Ukraine, I had my own business and experience, but here I basically had to start over,” Maiia explains.

Through acquaintances, Maiia came into contact with Flexspecialisten. During several conversations, they explored her options and determined which workplace would be the best fit for her. Ultimately, a suitable job in production was found, and Maiia started working there on April 1, 2025.

A New Work Environment

Maiia started as a production worker at Van Loon in Beilen, a meat-processing company. It was a completely new work environment, since she had never worked in production before in Ukraine. After about two months, she was given the opportunity to take a training course. She has since advanced to the position of operator and can work on various production lines. She says proudly, “In Ukraine, I had never worked in a production environment. I’ve actually learned a new profession here from scratch.”

As an operator, Maiia is responsible for operating and monitoring machines that package meat products. The products are placed at the beginning of the production line, after which they are automatically wrapped in plastic film. Maiia works in the area where the machines and computers are operated. The packaged products are then placed in crates and prepared for shipment.

The job requires precision, technical knowledge, and effective collaboration with coworkers. Maiia has now become familiar with various production processes and can be assigned to work on multiple production lines.

A Typical Workday

Maiia’s workday often starts early. Depending on the production line, her shift begins at 5:30 or 6:30 a.m. The afternoon shift starts around 2:15 p.m. Currently, she works three weeks on the morning shift, followed by one week on the afternoon shift.

Strict hygiene rules apply before employees enter the production area. Everyone wears special work clothes, work shoes, and a hairnet. Hands are carefully washed and disinfected, and employees wear protective gloves. In addition to the hygiene requirements, the temperature took some getting used to at first. The temperature in the refrigerated production environment is much colder than in an average workplace.

Fortunately, working with her colleagues makes up for a lot. For Maiia, the team is actually the best part of herjob: “We have a great team on both shifts. We talk to each other, help each other, and really try to work together. When you’re surrounded by great people, that means a lot.”

Language is hardly a barrier either. Maiia speaks Polish well, just like many of her colleagues. She’s also learning more and more Dutch. And if words fail her for a moment? According to Maiia, there’s always another solution: “You can often get a long way with gestures!”

“We have a great team in both departments. We talk to each other, help each other, and really try to work together. Having great people around you means a lot.”

More structure and space for her family

For Maiia, the transition to becoming an operator not only brought new skills but also added more structure to her daily life. Since completing her training, she has been working according to a predictable schedule.

For her, that’s a major advantage. As a mother of two, she knows how valuable it is to be able to balance work and personal life effectively . She explains: “If you know in advance when you’re working and when you’re off, you can plan your life much better. You can make plans, spend time with your family, or organize something for the weekend. That’s especially important when you have children.”

The family currently lives in Papenvoort, a quiet spot surrounded by nature in Drenthe. Maiia enjoys the green surroundings, although living outside the city also presents practical challenges. Her youngest son travels about seven kilometers to school, while her daughter commutes to Assen every day. Maiia herself drives to work. Good planning is therefore essential for the family.

In her free time, Maiia doesn’t like to sit still. She goes to the gym regularly and enjoys going out with her children. “I’m an active person. We like to go for walks, go places, and always try to stay active. We actually don’t spend much time at home.”

“If you know in advance when you’re working and when you’re off, you can plan your life much better. You can make plans, spend time with your family, or organize something for the weekend. That’s especially important if you have children.”

Personal contact at Flexspecialisten

Maiia looks back positively on her experiences with Flexspecialisten. She finds the accessibility and personal contact particularly important. She explains: “It’s important to me that I can always call or send a message if I have a question. I know who to turn to, and I always get a response. Communication goes smoothly.”

Recently, Maiia has not only acquired new skills but has also found more stability in her work. Her predictable schedule and the opportunity to continue developing her skills give her a sense of security in her daily life.

Although the Netherlands now feels like home, the future for her family remains uncertain. Whether they will ever return to Ukraine depends on how the situation there unfolds.

“I can’t say yet that the Netherlands feels completely like home, but I do like it here now. As time goes on, you get more and more used to the country and life here.”

Keep learning and moving forward

When Maiia looks back on the past few years, she realizes how much she has learned—not only at work, but also outside of it. She has started learning a new language, mastered a new profession, and, together with her family, found her way in a new country.

Her advice to others who want to work in the Netherlands is therefore clear: keep trying and stay open to new opportunities. “If you want to work, you have to go for it. Just give it a try. Keep motivating yourself to move forward and always strive to do better.”

For Maiia, that growth doesn’t stop at her current position. She believes there’s always room to learn something new and continue to grow: “You have to keep developing yourself and try to become a better version of yourself. Life is about moving forward, not standing still.”

In recent years, Maiia has experienced just how unexpectedly life can change. Because of the war, she had to leave her familiar surroundings behind and start over with her family. Despite the uncertainties, she continued to look ahead and seek out new opportunities. That resilience and her determination to keep growing come together in the words with which she concludes her story:

“Study as if you were to live forever. Live as if you were to die tomorrow.”

Are you also looking for work in the Netherlands?
At Flexspecialisten , we’re happy to help you find a job that’s right for you. Whether you already have experience or want to learn something new, we’ll work with you to explore your options.

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