Hélder Craveirinha

Everything is well organised in the Netherlands.

Hélder was born in Mozambique and grew up in Portugal. As a 17 year-old high-school student he took part in an international exchange programme, spending a year with a host family in the Netherlands and attending a Dutch school. After he finished school, he returned to the Netherlands to study, taking various courses before starting work at the Knowledge Centre for International Staff of Maastricht University.

Hélder talks about his first Dutch experiences living with a host family in the Limburg town of Stein, where he attended school. “My immediate impression was: everything is well organised in the Netherlands. I got support all around me, which helped me to quickly find my feet. The host family was fantastic. I really felt part of the family. And I enjoyed my time at school, too.” Reason to return to the Netherlands to study after finishing high school in Portugal. Once he returned, he was not disappointed. “The positive picture I had of the Netherlands as a great place to be was still there. My enrolment to study in Eindhoven and all other administrative matters ran very smoothly.”

I had the sense that this is where it is actually happening, that here was the ambition to be leading in technology.

Apart from computer science not quite proving to be his ultimate direction, Hélder was happy studying at Eindhoven University of Technology. “From day one I had the use of a modern laptop. I had the sense that this is where it is actually happening, that here was the ambition to be leading in technology. I also made every use of the excellent sports facilities on the campus. I am a football fanatic at heart and played amateur football for a long time. I was team supervisor a couple of times during a major international football match in the Netherlands: in 2005 I supervised Colombia at the Youth World Cup and in 2007 Portugal at the European Under 21 championships.”

In the end Hélder opted for a study that allowed him to make use of his creativity, but with a link to technology. Maastricht University offered him the opportunity to delve into all kinds of research issues in the field of ‘culture, arts, science & technology’.

In any case, I feel comfortable in an international working environment and would love to combine the international element with a job in (top)sport.

When Hélder finished his studies, he went to work at Maastricht University’s Knowledge Centre for International Staff. “I enjoy helping other expats find their way in the Netherlands on the basis of my own experiences.” One recommendation he always makes is to learn the language. “The Dutch are very open and you can get by everywhere with English but if you can speak Dutch, all the doors open up for you”. He has now mastered the language himself after eleven years. “I remember my first day at school when I understood nothing and really got bored! I wanted top pick up Dutch as fast as possible, but that was an aim I had anyway – to learn another language. That was one of the reasons for coming to the Netherlands in the first place. “

Hélder is currently living together with his Dutch girlfriend and sees his future in the Netherlands. He is not too sure of what his next career step may be. “In any case, I feel comfortable in an international working environment and would love to combine the international element with a job in (top)sport.”

Hélder Craveirinha

Everything is well organised in the Netherlands.

I had the sense that this is where it is actually happening, that here was the ambition to be leading in technology.

In any case, I feel comfortable in an international working environment and would love to combine the international element with a job in (top)sport.

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