At home in Venlo
Rob Pijpers
Grew up in the municipality of Venlo but left due to study, work, love, or another adventure. This applies to many residents of the Venlo city districts, but some of them eventually returned. Why did they leave and why did they ultimately, just like in the famous song, come back 'truuk, truuk, truuk nao Venlo'? In conversation with Rob Pijpers from Blerick.
"Back, back, back" to Venlo
“I come from a family of bakers. When it became clear to me that I was not going to work in my parents' bakery, I decided to study business economics at Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Eindhoven. I interned with an accountant and concluded that accountancy was not for me. In my graduation year, I wrote a thesis at a bank and discovered there that I didn't want to continue in the banking world either. But then what? Together with a fellow student, I attended an open day at Maastricht University. We settled on a terrace at the Vrijthof and there we decided, in the radiant sunshine, to study international business administration in Maastricht."
"I moved into student housing and had a fantastic student life in Maastricht. I also discovered that I get a lot of energy from working in an internationally oriented environment. However, staying in Maastricht or moving abroad were not options for me. I come from a close-knit family, and I have a fantastic group of friends here in Venlo. I have been a member of the football club SV Blerick for 40 years, I am devoted to Carnival, and there is so much more that ties me to Venlo. After obtaining my degree, I therefore returned to Venlo and have discovered the world from here."
"Staying in Maastricht or moving abroad were not options for me."
I went to work at OcĂ©, now Canon Production Printing, in Den Bosch, and ended up in the international marketing department. In that role, I saw much of the world and worked with colleagues from all corners of the globe. That, of course, brought all sorts of wonderful adventures, but I need solid ground under my feet, and that ground is here in Venlo. And if I want to go to the big city? I get in the car and drive to Amsterdam, Brussels, or DĂ¼sseldorf. Distances here are relatively insignificant compared to the rest of the world.
I now work as a sales and marketing manager at a company active in the field of archiving, digitization, and information management. From an office in Reuver, I work for clients in four different countries, including municipalities and hospitals. So my work is still internationally oriented, but I'm much less abroad than before: a conscious choice that gives me all the time and space for my private life.
"I have seen much of the world but I need solid ground under my feet."
"A while ago, I was in London. I have been there many times, but every time I go back, I discover new places and see new things. On one hand, I find that fascinating, but on the other hand, it sometimes frightens me. The sheer amount of possibilities in a big city like London is so endless. In Venlo, I know where the city begins and where the city ends. I know exactly what to expect, and that reassures me. Manageable yet dynamic enough to remain interesting."
