SUCCESS STORY
“My role in the restaurant is to make people feel at home.”
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Five years ago, Nienke van der Neut (23) decided to trade the South Holland ‘islands’ for big city life on the Maas. Her culinary journey started long before then, with a varied succession of restaurant jobs in Zeeland. From her very first encounter with the Suicide Club concept in RCD, she was sold on the nightlife scene. Today, she knows she’s lucky to have found her passion early on.
place was sold, and me with it.” Despite this, Nienke and MESS decided not to part ways, and took the leap together to build a whole new business. The result is Restaurant OX on Schiekade.
BUDDING ENTREPRENEUR Taking risks, starting trends, lis-
Figuring out what you want to study and do in life is rarely
tening to your intuition and taking an interest in the peo-
easy. It certainly wasn’t for Nienke, who studied commu-
ple you work with have made MESS entrepreneurs Nikki,
nication back home in Zeeland for a year until a friend
Roeland and Tijmen inspiring role models for Nienke. From
persuaded her to come to Rotterdam. “I got a place with
the moment she arrived in the Central District and the
a friend in Rotterdam and enrolled in a university psychol-
Suicide Club, she discovered a go-with-the-flow mentality
ogy programme. My dad is a psychologist and, to me, that
that fuelled her growth as a budding entrepreneur. “Over
felt like the right fit. It was interesting and academically
the past couple of years I’ve realized I enjoy that ongoing
enriching, but I decided a career path as a psychologist
process of looking at what’s missing or what can be done
wasn’t for me.” While still a student, Nienke applied to
to make things more fun and exciting. I’m still only 23,
MESS for a job at the Suicide Club. When they offered her
though, so I’m on a massive learning curve. Right now, Res-
a full-time position, she seized the opportunity.
taurant OX is a brilliant opportunity for me to learn.” Nien-
TEXT Céline Boute
PHOTOGRAPHY Ruben Stam
PASSION
ke says taking care of people comes naturally to her and that makes her job as a hostess ideal. “My role in the res-
Nienke’s love of the restaurant scene was never a secret.
taurant is to make people feel at home. I welcome guests
She loves going out for a night on the town and started do-
with open arms and make sure the evening is perfect for
ing different restaurant jobs in Zeeland early on. “The Su-
them from start to finish.”
icide Club really brought out my passion for this industry. Their approach to hospitality and the concept of offering
RETURNING THE FAVOUR
people a complete experience instead of just food service
Nienke also raves about the collaboration between all the
hugely appealed to me. Just before the Suicide Club closed,
businesses in the Schieblock and RCD. “There’s always
Beau – a friend of mine – had become the restaurant man-
someone you can call on or who’s willing to help you out.
ager, with me as his assistant manager. Ayla was also still
It’s not everywhere you have that impetus to keep striv-
part of MESS at that stage, which is where the ball started
ing to do better or to think about new events or parties.
rolling really fast. I went straight to assistant manager at
And my tip: come to OX! I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve
Ayla, and manager a year and a half after that, until the
created here.”
