“At Quooker, we create a product that no one else makes, and with that product we are conquering the world,” says Isabel Salomons, HR Director at Quooker. “That is something we all feel at Quooker — it makes us proud and connects us. Quooker is a company where people truly matter. We really want new colleagues to experience that feeling as well. That’s why we developed the international onboarding programme.” Nienke Jongenelen, Employer branding specialist at Quooker, explains what the programme involves: “New international colleagues are invited to come to Ridderkerk for a few days. It gives them the opportunity to see the company they work for, meet colleagues and, above all, experience the Quooker feeling.”

Tours and presentations When the colleagues arrive in Rotterdam, where they stay in a hotel, the programme starts with an informal welcome dinner. “This evening is all about breaking the ice,” Nienke explains. “Colleagues from all over the world sit together, talk and exchange experiences: what is your role at Quooker, how are sales developing in your country? It’s really inspiring.” The following morning, the group travels by minibus to Ridderkerk, where HR Director Isabel shares the story and culture of Quooker. “After that, there is an extensive tour of the company. We visit different departments, including the hub in Rotterdam. The sales department also gives a presentation: what makes the Quooker tap so unique? Which sales strategies do we use? On the second day, every colleague follows a personalised programme tailored to their own area of expertise.”

Immersed in the Quooker culture “We really want new international colleagues to feel welcome and experience that they are part of something bigger,” says Isabel. “The onboarding programme contributes enormously to that.” “When you walk through our production hall, where forklifts move around and taps are assembled, and when you see colleagues at R&D developing new ideas, the story behind Quooker truly comes to life. Especially when you also meet colleagues in person whom you may previously have only spoken to over the phone.” According to Nienke, the new colleagues learn an incredible amount during those two days. “They learn about the company and its history, about the product and how it continues to evolve. But they also learn a lot about each other. It’s great to see how they connect, exchange knowledge and share ideas — both with each other and with Dutch colleagues. That’s incredibly valuable.” There is also plenty of room for fun.

“There is almost always a group that explores Rotterdam’s nightlife together after the daily programme. We absolutely encourage that! After those two days, they usually fully embrace the Quooker spirit.” Isabel adds: “It helps ensure that Quooker does not become a collection of separate islands in different countries, but remains one close-knit organisation with its own culture.”

Published on 26-09-2025