Page 56 - Damen Shipyards Group

56 ZEELAND FOCUS | A LAND APART
Yunzhu Jin
“THERE ARE LOTS OF
LOVELY SECRETS TO
DISCOVER HERE.”
Yunzhu first came to Zeeland, from China, to
attend the Hogeschool Zeeland University of
Applied Sciences in Vlissingen. During studies
for her MBA in Business Administration, she
carried out an internship at Damen Schelde Naval
Shipbuilding (DSNS). This led to her working for
9 years at Damen’s head office in Gorinchem, as
sales support for the Asia Pacific region. During
that time, she met her husband, Erik Luiten, who
works at DSNS as a contract manager for weapons
systems. Around the same time, Amels was looking
to increase its presence in Asia, paving the way for
Yunzhu to return to Vlissingen.
“Zeeland is a great location for me. In my role I travel
to some of the busiest cities in the world, Tokyo,
Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai. So when I come
home I am happy to be in a peaceful, quiet place.”
Yunzhu, who has a young son, also feels the region
is a good place for family life.
“It’s not just that it’s beautiful and unspoiled, there
are also some of the best schools in the country
here. And the house prices are very good, too. You
get a lot more for your money here than you do in
the big cities of the Netherlands.
“Some people have this idea that Zeeland is very
far away from everything. It can certainly feel that
way as it can be very quiet and relaxed here, but,
really, it’s a very convenient location. Rotterdam,
Amsterdam, Bruges, Gent, Antwerp and Brussels
are all easily reachable for a day trip. Though,
actually, the cities of Zeeland have everything you
need anyway. The shopping is very good and there a
lots of excellent restaurants.”
The cuisine is something that particularly appeals
to Yunzhu.
Marking the turn of the seasons
“The seafood is outstanding here. There are lobsters, There is always something happening in
oysters and mussels, all harvested from very pure Zeeland and events cater for all tastes – often
water and served fresh in restaurants that know by the sea. There’s Whisky by the Sea, Film by
how to serve these local specialities.” the Sea, Concert at Sea…
“Working here is also very pleasant. It’s unique to
have heavy industry this close to such an unspoiled In May, Vlissingen celebrates ‘liberation day’,
coastline. It makes it very nice to leave the office in July Middelburg parties to the City of Dance
and go for lunch with colleagues on the Boulevard. Festival. Throughout the summer numerous,
assorted food and drink festivals pop up all
“Despite all this, Zeeland is still relatively unknown, over the place.
but there are lots of lovely secrets to discover here.”
57
Something for all
On a summer’s day, the sails abound on the
calm waters of the Veerse Meer. All along
the province’s coastline are the safe, clean
beaches that bring visitors from afar. The
Zeeuwse coast is the perfect place to relax,
but also to indulge in watersports – there’s
blokarting, surfing, wakeboarding and
kitesurfing in abundance, including plenty of
schools to get you started.
Roberto Santoro Inland, the countryside is the perfect setting
for a relaxed cycling tour. Get lost in the back
lanes, pedalling through seemingly endless
fields of green and quiet, slumbering villages.
“LIVING IN ZEELAND IS LIKE BEING ON HOLIDAY, If mountain biking’s more your thing, you
BUT ALL THE TIME!” can also go offroad through the thick forests
Roberto Santoro has lived in Zeeland’s capital city, “So it was the work that brought me to Zeeland, but that line the dunes.
Middelburg, for the past three years. He moved I’m very glad that it did.” And when it’s time to rest, in the towns and
cities you’ll find a diverse choice awaits you.
to the area after taking on the position of design What does he like about living in the region? Thriving café terraces and bars provide
engineer combatants for Damen Schelde Naval
Shipbuilding (DSNS). Prior to his locating in the “The quality of life is very high here. With easy access to Dutch gezelligheid (cosiness),
south west of the country, Roberto had lived for Middelburg being a small city, there’s less while fine restaurants rub shoulders with
countless Golden Age historical treasures.
two years in the Randstad – the urban area that pressure on the municipality and so everything
contains most of the country’s larger cities in the functions very well. Things are arranged very Keeping traditions alive
centre of the Netherlands. quickly and efficiently. Zeeland is an important place in the
operations of the Damen Shipyards Group.
“Zeeland is a distinct place,” he says. “Coming “And there’s no stress. In Italy I had a commute The province is home to companies
from Italy I expected the Netherlands to be this of just 5, maybe 6 kilometres, but it was on busy encompassing a wide range of the
highly developed country with an extremely dense roads. It used to take me 40 minutes. 40 minutes group’s activities – Damen Schelde Naval
population, busy roads… That’s not Zeeland at all!” of dealing with congestion and aggression. There’s Shipbuilding, Amels, Damen Schelde
no traffic here. I don’t even know if the horn in my Marine Services and Damen Shiprepair
Roberto’s decision to move to the Netherlands was car still works! Vlissingen. Damen is proud to play its part in
career-based. “During my time as a naval architect sustaining the ancient maritime traditions
in Sicily, designing fast ferries, I worked on “I like the fact that I can step outside my door and
projects that gave me a taste of northern European I’m instantly surrounded by nature. In my spare of this vibrant, unspoiled corner of the
culture and I liked the way it was structured. After time I like to cycle and the cycling network here Netherlands.
my son was born, we decided to move and it was in is wonderful. I also enjoy nature photography and
the Netherlands I found an opportunity.” the landscape here is perfect for this. For example,
the forest, dunes and unspoiled beaches at the
He first worked at a yacht builder, but was Oranjezon nature reserve.
attracted by the technical challenges available at
DSNS. “Living in Zeeland is like being on holiday. All the
time.”
As the season comes to a close, the
Nazomerfestival (after summer festival) marks
the turning of the seasons with music, drama
and temporary works of publically displayed
art. Then, as winter approaches, the lights go
out in Middelburg for the Nacht van de Nacht
(night of the night). People dine and drink by
candlelight as lantern-lit processions weave
though the cobbled lanes. With winter in full
swing, the cheer is kept alive with Dickensian
markets and ice-skating rinks.
Beautiful cobbled lanes are to be found in Zeeland’s cities, a reminder of the Golden
era of the 17 century. In this quiet corner of the country, the old and
th
new exist harmonioulsy side by side.