The students of the Breedweer Academy who are close to completing their MBO Level 3 qualification recently received a special opportunity: a visit to the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in The Hague. Accompanied by our own Willem van Spaendonck, better known as Brother Tuck, they were given a glimpse into the world behind policymaking.
As a networker for the inclusive labour market, Willem has connections in many places, including the ministry itself. He had previously spent a day with the Regional Deals Team and later welcomed them to Breedweer. This time, it was the turn of our future site supervisors to broaden their horizons.
“Today, I had the opportunity to visit the ministry together with the exam candidates from our MBO Level 3 programme,” Willem explains. “It turned out that I wasn’t registered, but after a brief discussion I was still allowed to join the group on the sixteenth floor. There, we entered what they call the ‘living room’ – a space with two sofas, a large oval table, and awards from internal competitions. It immediately became clear how practical our students are: they quickly and creatively solved the shortage of chairs around the table.”
What Does the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Do?
We received a warm welcome from Tara Bakker and Rens Boer, who kindly stood in for Willemien Vreugdenhil, who was unfortunately unable to attend. The students were curious about what the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations actually does.
It was fascinating to learn that, for example, more than ten people can be involved in answering all the questions that arise following a parliamentary debate as quickly as possible.
What I personally found particularly interesting was hearing that Tara had sent a memo to the Secretary-General requesting more internships and job opportunities for MBO students. It is encouraging to see people finally thinking about these issues from the perspective of those directly affected and truly understanding their situation.
Recognition on Both Sides at the Breedweer Academy
The highlight of the visit for everyone was lunch. After some disappointment about the absence of croquettes, a few of the ministry’s cleaning staff joined us at the table. There was an immediate sense of recognition on both sides. Among other things, they talked about the introduction of microfibre cloths. It also turned out that their biggest frustration was exactly the same: a lack of respect. Why would someone stand right next to you while you are cleaning the sanitary facilities?
After lunch, the remaining dishes were cleared onto the trolley in no time, and someone immediately pointed out that a cleaning cloth was missing. Wonderful!
A Tour with a View
After lunch, we were given a tour of the building. The view from the 35th floor was particularly impressive: the Port of Rotterdam in the distance, and closer by, the Binnenhof, the North Sea, and the Kurhaus in Scheveningen. We then visited the mailroom, the cleaning staff’s supply area, and concluded this educational day with a group photo in the lobby.
Rens and Tara, thank you for the warm and generous welcome. And remember: if a cleaner is busy cleaning a restroom area, please wait a moment or use another toilet. It’s simply a matter of respect, and my colleagues truly deserve that.