A Spanish woman living in the Netherlands, delighted with the working hours there.

Every day, social media allows us to see realities we're likely unaware of without having to actually go there. This is the case for all those Spaniards who travel to another country to make a living and pursue education, and who use digital platforms to share their discoveries or offer advice to those who decide to travel to their home country. This is the case of Carmen, a Spaniard living in the Netherlands who uploads content on TikTok under the username @_carmeen23.

The Netherlands is known for several unique aspects, such as its canal landscape, windmills, tulips, Gouda cheese, bicycle culture, coffee shops, and Delft pottery. The country is also famous for its economy based on the export of flowers and agricultural products. Another highlight is its healthcare system and ease of work-life balance .

The young Spanish woman wanted to make a post about this in one of her latest videos, where she shares her interesting facts and daily life living in this northwestern European country. However, before starting, she takes precautions when addressing a topic she describes as "a potentially problematic issue" and clarifies that this is merely her point of view.

"I didn't know I would notice such a difference between the working conditions in Amsterdam, Holland, and the ones I had previously in Spain," he says at the beginning of the recording, which begins with the topic of the workday.

The content creator points out that in Amsterdam, working hours can be shorter without a significant loss in salary. "They can be much shorter and are just as well paid. It doesn't mean that working less means you get paid much less," she explains, addressing the recurring question in Spain about productivity and work-life balance.

The young woman also talks about flexible working hours in the viral video, and explains how to adjust the start times to suit each employee's needs.

"You can come in from eight to nine-thirty, within that time frame, you can come in at any time you want," she says, adding that they also adapt to personal and family situations. "If something comes up during the day because you're a mother and your child has become ill, sick, or whatever, you have complete freedom to leave, no one will say anything to you, you won't feel judged or pressured because they understand that you're a mother and have a child," she assures, emphasizing that understanding of personal difficulties is a value embedded in the work culture.

This flexibility Carmen mentions also affects the ability to adjust working hours according to personal needs: "If you have to start or leave early for some personal reason, that's perfectly fine. No one asks you for explanations, no one tells you anything. As long as you do your job, do it well, and know how to organize yourself."