This Tuesday’s after work on April 21st took us out of the office and onto the ice at the curling hall in Sundbyberg. After a short introduction to the sport, we quickly learned one thing: curling looks easy — until you try it yourself. The first slides, unexpected falls, and the surprisingly hard task of pushing a curling stone proved just how technical (and physically demanding) the sport really is.

Once the games started, confidence grew and hidden talents began to emerge. A mix of trial‑and‑error, teamwork and laughter made for a great atmosphere — and gave us even more respect for our Swedish Olympic siblings who train in this very hall.

We wrapped up the evening with Italian food, good conversations, and warm smiles after the cold ice.

L.F.

Marijne Gijzel: "I’m excited to step into the role of Regional Director within the Events Team at the Dutch Chamber. I’ve been living in Stockholm for the past six years with my French husband and our two children, aged 6 and 4.
With a background in B2B marketing, I’m passionate about bringing people together and creating meaningful connections. I look forward to supporting and developing our events program, and to delivering engaging and valuable experiences for our community.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to connect!"

Mirko van Vliet: "I like creating opportunities for people to meet, exchange ideas, and build connections. My first event at the Chamber was the Creativity mingle with Fredrik Härén, and I’m really looking forward to organizing more low-threshold, welcoming events that offer fresh perspectives or experiences. Examples include the upcoming Wine & Dutch Cheese tasting and a Mushroom Discovery Tour later this year.

​Before moving to Sweden, I worked at the Amsterdam Economic Board, where I focused on building public-private partnerships, and at Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Infrastructure), where I worked on sustainable procurement in infrastructure projects. It had always been a dream of mine to live and work abroad — I studied International Relations (BA/MA) in Groningen — and I’ve long been drawn to the Nordics and the outdoor lifestyle. When my partner got the opportunity to work as a climate scientist at Stockholm University, things moved fast.

We arrived in Sweden about a year ago. Since then, I’ve immersed myself in learning Swedish full-time at SIFA and got involved in initiatives such as Stockholm Akademiska Forum and Techarena. On the side, I’ve also been working as a Dutch mother-tongue teacher.

My professional interests are still very much around sustainability, procurement, and strengthening collaboration between Dutch and Swedish businesses. Currently, I’m assisting a trade mission for the Netherlands Embassy with 10 Dutch companies to the Nordbygg conference in Stockholm, focused on sustainable construction. I’m excited to keep contributing to stronger connections between the Netherlands and Sweden.

​Last but not least, I live on the island of Tranholmen in northern Stockholm. I enjoy mushroom foraging, swimming, cycling and Sunday sauna.
Looking forward to contributing to the Dutch-Swedish community at the Dutch Chamber and keen to connect!

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