Luuk left with a classmate in the summer of 2023 as a 19-year-old to Austria for an internship. He decided to stay and has since found his niche in Sankt Anton as a rafting instructor and has permanently emigrated.

Tell Us, why Austria?

I attended CIOS in Arnhem (*sports and exercise education) and initially wanted to become a mountain bike instructor in northern Italy, but that was a bit difficult, also with the language. So I went with a classmate to Austria and through the internship organization, I started training to become a rafting instructor. I was only supposed to stay for that summer, but then a friend asked if I wanted to stay in the winter as well to work in an après-ski hut, and I did that too. I could have returned to the Netherlands, but I have various diplomas in climbing, mountain biking, and now also rafting, and you need mountains for that. They don’t exist in the Netherlands, so you end up here pretty quickly.

What Does your Workday Look like?

You arrive at the base, as we call it, half an hour before the group arrives, so between eight-thirty or nine o’clock. You hand out gear like wetsuits, life jackets, shoes, and helmets, and give instructions for about fifteen minutes. Then you head to the location where you go on the water and are on the move for an hour and a half, you have to return to the base, and then the next group is ready. If you’re lucky, you can take a break, otherwise, you just keep going. When all the groups are gone, you close up and can go home. After work, I don’t do much more. You’re incredibly active, so you need your rest because you work about 10 hours a day. On weekends, you might go out, but in the summer, almost all the bars are closed. In the winter months, I worked in the après-ski bar from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. I did that mainly to get through the winter, as it’s not my dream job. I prefer being outside. Starting June 1, the season begins again, and this summer, five interns from CIOS will be coming, and I will be guiding them.

How Do You Find Working in Austria Compared to Working in the Netherlands?

It’s very different! There’s a real hierarchy, so you definitely know who’s above you, and you certainly don’t need to have a discussion. I had to get used to that because I tend to have an opinion quickly, but you learn to let that go. And when something is asked, it’s not really a question but an order. You also work much harder because you’re a seasonal worker. In the summer, you can count on working 100 hours a week. Additionally, I had an on-call contract, and no work means no pay. We had two weeks of severe weather, so two weeks without work and also two weeks without pay. Fortunately, now I have a permanent contract for 6 days/65 hours a week. It seems like you have to work a lot of hours, but everything is much calmer and more spacious, so I don’t experience any stress at all.

Did You Have to Arrange a Lot for your Internship/Work?

If you want to become a rafting instructor like me, you have to account for extra costs, about €1500 for equipment. You have to purchase that yourself, and it’s also nice to have your own gear. Furthermore, you need to arrange insurance, which takes some time because nothing is done online. You have to go to an office for everything. I bought a car, and then you have to arrange a license plate, but I hired someone for that because it was easier.

What Tip Would You Give to Young People who also Want to Intern, Work, or Take a Gap Year Abroad?

Just do it and do your best! And if you go, you have to fully commit. You have to show that you want to work and are motivated. Otherwise, you might as well stay home. But if you choose a fun job, it’s naturally enjoyable, and you have fun. With rafting, every day is exciting, and that keeps it fun. You can capsize, and the water isn’t really water you want to swim in; it’s about 6 degrees and flows very fast.

Are You Still Happy with your Decision to Emigrate?

Yes, 100%! I rent a furnished apartment of 35 m2, including gas, water, electricity, and parking spaces for €450 per month. I was able to buy a car, which is much cheaper than in the Netherlands. Health insurance is paid by the employer, so I don’t have those costs either. How I have things arranged in Austria, I could never have had in the Netherlands as a 20-year-old.