Bouke Boersma, Head of New York Office, HOUTHOFF

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Where are you from and what was it like growing up there? I am from the Netherlands. It was an idyllic childhood, lots of playing outside, playing football (or soccer as you call it here), and cycling to the beach in summer.

What is your Hometown famous for and what do you think about it? My home town Rotterdam is well-known for its port. It was almost completely destroyed in the Second World War, and many decades later that open space has now been repurposed into beautiful buildings designed by world class architects such as Rem Koolhaas. Its people are resilient, hard-working and always speak their mind; all qualities I admire.

Does your Hometown have a famous dish and do you like and why/why not? Rotterdam is a melting pot and the best food is Indonesian.

What brought you to NYC? I moved to NYC 15 years ago for an one-year work assignment. For the past 15 years I have been saying: “this is my last one in NYC”.

What inspired you to pursue your chosen career path? I am an international arbitration lawyer, which speaks to some of my interests, namely dealing with complex legal issues that at times are novel, engaging with people from different backgrounds, and having the opportunity to work and travel to many places in the world.

What was a defining moment in your career? I changed careers a few years ago from being a transactional lawyer to being primarily a litigator, it was scary in the beginning and sometimes still is, but I have learned new skills and I believe ultimately I will be the better lawyer and hopefully person because of it.

What about NYC has made you stay? It is a special place. It has a very positive energy and is vibrant, with lots of stuff to do and never boring.

What’s the biggest cultural difference you’ve noticed between America and your home county? I believe the Netherlands and America have many things in common, including peanut butter sandwiches which are a staple back home, but to also put jelly on top of that would never have occurred to me.

What do strong European-American relationships mean to you, your life, and your organization? They mean the world to me personally. My great-grandfather was a sailor on the Holland-America line, and my children are American, as well as European. Houthoff’s New York office was set up to facilitate European-American relationships and assist American companies to invest and do business in the Netherlands.

Thank you, Bouke, for sharing your story !