Women at the Top

We Dutch have our own style. Throughout history we have broken new

ground in business and in commerce. Our ancestors have been innovative

and daring sailing the world, settling new lands, advancing technologically to

improve the land we love, and for making life not only easier but also more

beautiful. Images of the Netherlands include our lush landscape and world

renowned tulips; our ancient windmills now turned high tech are trend setting in “green movements.” But as far as our forefathers have come, our foremothers have seemed to lag a bit behind.

I grew up during the eighties and equal rights for all, yet somehow it took

a very long time for women to be taken seriously in the business world yet still allowed to be women in all areas. Though many women choose not to have children, it is part of the life process to produce offspring. Since women were given this gift, our predecessors found it necessary to “take” something in other areas. Women have been penalised in the professional spheres for participating in the natural life cycle.

The steps and suggestions offered to you in this book are priceless. They seem so simple, yet I have seen so many women fail to recognise that they too have much to offer the world. I have watched incredible females waste their talents because they cared too much what societal norms dictated, yet, had they pushed their circumstances even a little bit, they might have found a more welcoming embrace in the working world—on whatever level—than expected.

I applaud Petra van der Veen’s work for changing the attitude of women and

for reaching out to her sisters to help them create the lives that we all desire for our selves and our families. The only way we can change the accepted societal norms is to change ourselves and our attitudes about what we can accomplish. Many of the “paradigms” in which Dutch women find themselves trapped are of their own creation. I grew up Dutch. Together with my husband Jonnie we have one of the leading restaurants in the Netherlands. Recently we have opened our luxury five star Librije’s Hotel, in the centre of medieval Zwolle.

Operating De Librije, Librije’s Hotel and Librije’s Zusje, the hotels restaurant,

which was awarded with its first Michelin star is a hell of a job and requires

excellent management skills. Even if you know we have a very happy family

life, with our two children. However, it is very well possible. I would like some

company in the circle of Dutch female business giants. The level of my success is not what every woman wants. I know that. Whatever level it is for which you aim, however, know that I know you can succeed. I have lived the process that Petra encourages. I know the struggles. She makes the path I trudged much easier to navigate. Though success rarely comes easily and simply, each time it is travelled, the road becomes smoother with pitfalls and potholes being exposed and new ways of smoothing the journey exposed with the experience shared by others. With this path already paved, you too, can be a “Woman at the Top.”