Working with Dutch: a training for our nearshore colleagues in Prishtina

On June 16 we ran a low-key, interactive session in Prishtina, together with Business Match Kosovo, for employees of several of our clients on what it's really like to work with the Dutch.

On June 16, 2026, we stood in front of a group of employees from several of our clients in Prishtina. The topic: 'Working with Dutch'. No long history lesson, no dry culture theory, just a low-key, interactive session about what it's actually like to work with Dutch colleagues and clients day to day.

We organised the training together with Business Match Kosovo, our partner in Prishtina that connects Kosovar and international companies. Their experience with cross-cultural collaboration matched perfectly with what we at tre plus see every day between our developers and Dutch product teams.

What the session was really about

Communication. How the Dutch say things, what they actually mean, and how big the gap between the two can be. Being direct in the Netherlands is seen as respectful, not rude. 'That's not a good idea' is not an attack, it's an invitation to keep the conversation going.

We talked about giving and receiving feedback, how meetings work, consensus, and that very Dutch habit of putting everything on the table, including the price of the coffee. From 'going Dutch' to Tikkies, from stand-ups to honest retros.

Interactive, because that's the only way it sticks

The session was full of examples, recognisable situations and questions from the room. People shared their own experiences with Dutch colleagues and clients. What surprised them, what they still find tricky, and what actually works really well once you get it.

That's exactly what these trainings are for. Not to tell people how things should be, but to understand together why things work the way they do, so that collaboration with Dutch teams becomes even smoother.

Why we invest in this

Our nearshore developers work with Dutch product teams every day. What stands out: there are far more similarities between the Netherlands and Kosovo than differences. Both cultures are direct, pragmatic and focused on results. Of course there are differences too, for example in how feedback is given, how people relate to hierarchy, or how explicitly expectations are voiced. By talking through those nuances together, the collaboration becomes stronger, for our people and for our clients.

Want to know how we get Kosovar developers to integrate into Dutch teams? Get in touch or read more about our Team as a Service model.