Henk Overbeek ken ik al een tijdje. Niet dat ik hem veel zie, maar zo af en toe wel en ik moet zeggen dat ik het echt een hele aardige vent vind. Heel rustig en bedaard altijd in voor een praatje en ook erg behulpzaam. Daarom vond ik het ook zo leuk om zijn verhaal terug te vinden in de Sofia Echo. Daar hebben ze onderdeel wat "Expat of the week" heet en waar iedere week een andere buitenlander centraal staat die in Sofia woont. Misschien kom ik dus ook nog wel aan de beurt.
Maar hieronder vindt je het volledige artikel:
Henk Overbeek, from: The Netherlands
HENK Overbeek came from the Netherlands to Bulgaria for the first time four years ago. His father had been a long-time businessman in Bulgaria, which, according to Henk, was the impetus behind his own Bulgarian adventure.
Henk first came to Bulgaria at the encouragement of his father. His father became interested in the transition of Eastern European economies and began giving lectures about Western European markets throughout Eastern Europe. Henk's father saw tremendous business potential in Bulgaria and began various projects here in the 1990s.
Henk's first year in Bulgaria was spent in Tvarditza, in central Bulgaria, where he and his father organised a woodworking company. The internal logistics of the woodworking company was the topic of Henk's thesis. "Trees come in, small pieces of wood go out," Henk explained. "I studied how to organise it all."
After the completion of the project in Tvarditza, Henk moved to Sofia and began a small consultancy firm, which he continues to manage today. He started the consultancy firm as a way to assist foreigners in legally navigating through Bulgarian bureaucracy and administration in order to run a successful business.
"A lot of people come here because it looks cheap and they think things are easy," Henk said. "But they leave disappointed because they're unprepared-which is a pity and not necessary." Henk hopes that he is able to better equip foreign business people for successful business ventures in Bulgaria.
While in the process of establishing the consultancy firm, Henk and his father hired a Bulgarian secretary, Daniela. Today Daniela and Henk are married with a three-and- a-half month old daughter. He and Daniela run the consultancy firm together.
When asked how he acquired the expertise to run his business, Henk replied, "My wife is Bulgarian, so she knows a lot of things. And also I've learned just by being here-by trying things and making mistakes."
Henk is also secretary of the Bulgarian-Dutch Business Club, which is very much in line with the goals of his consultancy firm. The aim of the Bulgarian-Dutch Business Club is to assist Dutch business people in Bulgaria to be successful in their endeavours. It acts as an independent, non-political organisation to encourage networking among Dutch business people in Bulgaria.
Henk offered this advice to newly arrived foreigners in Bulgaria: "Be prepared. Bulgaria is different. It's not as easy as it looks at first sight. You can't just jump in."
In thinking about the future of Bulgaria, Henk is confident in its ability to grow and develop in the coming years. "I think Bulgaria needs some time to get to Western European standards," Henk said. "I think Bulgaria joining the European Union is a little early, but I think the European Union will help Bulgaria develop quicker-more business will come here, more tourists will come here."
In addition to enjoying the challenges of his professional life in Sofia, Henk also enjoys the pleasures of his daily life. "My favourite activities are meeting people, going out into the country. But at the moment, of course, taking care of our new baby is the most important activity in my life."
Although Henk certainly misses certain things about his native Holland, he appreciates the variety of diversions Bulgaria offers. "I think I like the Bulgarian climate more than I like the Dutch climate," Henk said. "I like the food, the mountains, the sea, the nature. Bulgaria has a lot of attractive features. If I want, half an hour from now I can be skiing - it makes life good."
After taking a moment to think about the things he misses most from life in the Netherlands, Henk said, "What I like here is the irregularity of life, but I admit sometimes I do miss the regularity of Dutch life. And of course I miss friends and people from Holland."
Thinking long-term, Henk is unsure whether or not Bulgaria will remain his permanent residence. For the time being, however, Henk enjoys meeting and assisting his fellow business people in Bulgaria. "If it (the firm) keeps on growing, it would be a good thing," Henk said. "But I don't want a huge company either. I just want to help foreigners here."
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