Direct, practical, and open: inside Dutch work culture with &CO

When people picture the Netherlands, they often think of Amsterdam canals, bikes everywhere, and busy city streets. What they usually don’t picture is a calm countryside town surrounded by cows, old fortifications, and windmills — and a growing business serving clients all across the country from there.

That’s exactly where &CO is based. In Vuren, a small village near the edge of the Dutch “Randstad” region, we spoke with Martijn Wansink, founder of &CO, and Brandon Markham, Silen’s brand manager at &CO. The conversation quickly moved beyond office pods into Dutch work culture, directness, and why quiet matters more than ever.

What emerged was a clear picture of how the Dutch approach work: pragmatic, honest, and quietly ambitious, even when operating outside from big-city buzz.

Small country, spread-out business

The Netherlands may be small, but business life is not tied to just one city. Some industries naturally cluster in places like Amsterdam or Rotterdam, yet most companies operate nationally without needing a city-centre address.

“You’re never far away,” Martijn explains. “From here, Rotterdam is 30 minutes, Amsterdam 40. That’s normal.”

That proximity makes it easy to work from quieter places like Vuren without losing access to clients, talent, or opportunity. In fact, many visitors enjoy coming out of the city. Fewer distractions, easier parking, and a calmer pace set the tone for focused conversations.

Life and work in Vuren

Working from Vuren feels different. The work itself is just as busy, but the environment is calmer and less hectic. That contrast is intentional.

&CO’s office, production space, and Silen stock all live under one roof. The building looks more like a modern warehouse than a traditional office, which is exactly the point. Clients notice it right away.

“They like that it’s quiet here,” Martijn says. “It fits how we work.”

The calm doesn’t slow anything down. It simply removes noise that doesn’t need to be there.

Dutch work culture: direct, honest, open

If you’ve heard that Dutch people are direct, that part is true. Very true.

“When something’s on your mind, you say it,” Martijn says. “Direct and honest.”

Feedback is straightforward. Hierarchies are flat. You’re expected to speak up, not read between the lines. That openness is closely tied to another core value: freedom. Freedom to speak, to disagree, to be yourself.

It also helps that the Netherlands is small and densely populated. Relationships matter, trust builds fast, and people tend to know each other sooner than expected.

One important tip for visitors: don’t confuse directness with rudeness. It’s not personal. It’s clarity.

Offices after hybrid work: quieter, better, more human

The Netherlands was already ahead when it came to flexible and part-time work. Covid only accelerated that shift. Now, as people return to offices, expectations are higher.

After years of working from home, employees are more sensitive to noise and distractions. Open offices suddenly feel louder than before.

“That’s when people speak up,” Martijn says. “They say they can focus better at home. So companies realise something has to change.”

The response hasn’t been to force people back, but to redesign offices so they actually work. More quiet spaces, better acoustics, softer seating, and places for calls and focus. Less noise, more intention.

Function first, always

Dutch design is often described as minimalist and functional, and that carries straight into office choices. Looks matter, but only after something proves it works.

“If it doesn’t work, we’ll say it doesn’t work,” Martijn says.

The Dutch market is extremely competitive, especially for office pods. Dozens of brands compete largely on price, which often leads clients to try cheaper options first. Many come back later, after doors don’t close properly and sound insulation disappoints.

Quality, once experienced, is hard to ignore.

Meet &CO

&CO started around 15 years ago with custom-made furniture and acoustic solutions. From upholstered elements in industrial settings to tailor-made sofas and acoustic products for offices, schools, and hospitality, the company has always worked hands-on.

Today, the team consists of eight people. Four work in the office, and four are part of the production team, all under the same roof in Vuren.

The team at &CO is warm and close-knit, operating more like a family than a corporation. On Friday afternoons, they follow the very Dutch tradition of Vrijmibo, or Friday afternoon drinks, when work conversations fade and the focus shifts to weekend plans, children, or upcoming hikes. It is a simple ritual, but an important one that keeps the team connected beyond daily tasks.

That same spirit shows up in how they work together. In January, Martijn is taking the entire team to Barcelona to install a project for an international client. Work, travel, and time together blend into one shared experience, with long dinners, local food, and a chance to step outside the usual routine as a team.

&CO x Silen: how a simple search turned into a partnership

&CO’s clients kept asking for better places to take calls, focus, or step away from the open office. The need was clear and growing.

Then came a weekend Google search. Looking for inspiration around silence, Martijn landed on our website. The products looked exactly like what his clients had been describing. By Monday morning, he was already on the phone, calling Estonia to find out who was behind them.

At the time, Covid restrictions were just lifting. As soon as travel was possible, Martijn booked a flight to Tallinn. Seeing the products in person confirmed what he suspected right away. The acoustic performance, build quality, and overall concept fit the Dutch market perfectly, and the partnership was signed soon after. That was around 2020.

The first project followed quickly: 20 Chatbox units installed at a university. It was a new product and a new process, installed entirely by the &CO team themselves. Challenging, hands-on, and impossible to forget.

Since then, growth has been steady and intentional. “We want long-term relationships,” Martijn says. “Not fast sales and never seeing clients again.”

Visiting tips for Vuren and beyond

Vuren sits near Gorinchem, one of the Netherlands’ most beautiful fortified towns. Think old city walls, rivers, windmills, and wide skies. It’s perfect for walking, slowing down, and seeing a different side of the country.

Beyond that, the Netherlands offers a lot in a very small area. Beaches near The Hague, forests you can walk through for days, tulip fields in spring, and historic windmills still pumping water out of land below sea level.

Spring is the ideal time to visit, though autumn has its own charm. Winters are rainy, sometimes snowy, but rarely dull.

As for food, try stroopwafels, liquorice, and traditional Dutch “farmer’s food”. Simple, hearty, and honest. Much like the people.

One last tip

If you come to the Netherlands to work, be open. Speak your mind. Don’t be offended by honesty, and don’t hold back your own opinions.

That’s how things get done here.

And if you ever find yourself in Vuren, there’s a good chance you’ll be welcomed with coffee, straight talk, and a quiet place to focus — exactly how the Dutch like it.