Welcome to our video library where you can (re-)watch all previous episodes of Expaterience. Please check back regularly as the number of episodes with relevant topics and insightful conversations grows over time.
Watch Episode #03
‘No Dutch, No Problem? Or… Big Problem?’
Necessity and difficulty of language acquisition for high-skilled job prospects
Season Premiere: Expaterience Returns — All-New Episodes with Double Airtime
Original air date: Saturday, September 27, 2025 — Expaterience returns, now with double the airtime: expanding from one hour to two full hours.
Episode #3 “No Dutch, No Problem? Or… Big Problem?” — challenging the common assumption that Dutch fluency isn’t essential to succeed in the Netherlands’ knowledge economy.ᅠ
Hour 1
Focus on the necessity and challenges of learning Dutch for international knowledge workers — not only for smooth social integration but also for career opportunities in the Netherlands, a high-tech, cosmopolitan economy known for its excellent English communication skills. Host Sanjay Sharma will moderate the conversation with the following guests:
Andrew van Esch, Member of The Hague City Council (D66), with portfolios including Social Affairs & Employment, Economy, and International Relations — and initiator of the very first “Meet Your City Council” event on September 24 for expats and internationals in The Hague
Selvei Topping, Chief People Officer (CC7 Europe)
Lavanya Mirle, international finance & research professional
They will contribute to the conversation from their own knowledge and experience: one as the top human resources executive of an international corporation, the other as a highly skilled international currently learning Dutch and navigating the many aspects of civic integration (‘inburgering’).
John Ritfeld, Dutch-as-a-second-language (NT2) Teacher and Founder of VDZ, will join as the fourth guest in the first hour of Expaterience, offering a teacher’s perspective drawn from his many years of experience teaching Dutch to expats and internationals.
Hour 2
The new, added hour offers an in-depth exchange with two distinguished voices whose expertise in inclusive leadership and community building promises both insight and inspiration:
Tatjana San Luis, Founder of Inclusive Growth, DEI & Culture Consultant & Coach
Natalie Malis, President of AWC The Hague
On-Air Team:
Sanjay Sharma, Host
Nicoletta Pisanu, Expaterience News anchor
Anupama Srivastava, Stand-up Comedy/Opinion Contributor
ᅠEditors/Researchers: Anupama Srivastava, Dennis Kokkelink, Sanjay Sharma — Social Media Team: Alexandra Peia, Chrisma Dorzier, Dennis Kokkelink, Olivia Wang, Parnita Pandey, Qiru Huang, Sahar Aliakbar, and others — Live Streaming Facebook & YouTube: Marcel van Geenen — Camera Team: Abdullah Hassan, Flavio Valcarce, Henri Power, Judy Borst — Lighting: Erik Kaartman — Sound Engineer: Marcel van Geenen — Opening Title Sequence Designer: Marcel van Geenen — Music Composer: Marcel van Geenen — Guest Reception: Ting-Wen Chen — Script Supervisor/Production Coordinator: Dennis Kokkelink — Expaterience Management: Dennis Kokkelink, Fritz van der Koelen, Juanna van Hek — Director: Erik Kaartman
Click here for the full crew of Expaterience
