María Rivero's Secondment, Working Abroad Without Giving Up Your Life in Spain

Secondment in the Netherlands

Where are you based and which department do you belong to?

I belong to the International Tax department in Madrid. Thanks to the close collaboration between Marian Mariñas, partner in the International Tax department in Madrid, and Marisa Hut, partner in the International VAT area in the Netherlands, I had the opportunity to travel there to work directly with her team.

This relationship between both offices greatly facilitates the exchange of knowledge and coordination on international projects, so this experience was also a way of strengthening that bond.

How long did your experience last?

I was in the Netherlands during the first two weeks of June 2026, working from different offices across the country, such as Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam. One of the things that surprised me most was how well connected the country is, and the fact that even when you change cities, the transport is very efficient and getting around is really easy.

I stayed in Leiden, a very well-located city that allowed me to travel comfortably to the different offices. This offers a lot of flexibility, as each person can work from whichever office is most convenient depending on where they live or are staying.

What was your day-to-day like working from the Netherlands?

In reality, I continued with my usual tasks from Spain, but from the Netherlands. This turned out to be very positive, as it allowed me to maintain my work routine and responsibilities, but in a completely different international environment and alongside international colleagues.

By sharing clients and dealing with similar matters, we took the opportunity to exchange perspectives on tax matters, particularly regarding VAT across different jurisdictions. This type of conversation has enormous value, as it allows you to understand first-hand how regulations are interpreted and applied in other countries.

Why did you want to have this experience?

I have always considered myself a curious and open-minded person when it comes to other ways of working and other cultures. I was very keen to step outside my usual environment and discover how other international offices operate.

The opportunity arose at the IVA Congress in Madrid, where I mentioned that I would like to do a secondment after hearing about the experiences of colleagues who had already done one. I proposed it to Marian, and both she and Marisa agreed straight away.

The secondment at Baker Tilly seemed like the perfect option to me, as it allows you to experience for a few weeks what it would be like to live and work in another country, without having to make a permanent decision. An enriching opportunity in every sense, both professionally and personally.

How was the experience? What was the team like? What did you visit?

The experience exceeded all my expectations. On a professional level, the adjustment was very smooth as I continued with my tasks from Spain, although I did notice some interesting cultural differences, such as working hours or the way the day is structured, which are also part of the learning experience.

The team welcomed me exceptionally well from the very first moment, with a warm, attentive attitude and always willing to help or share their point of view. That kind of reception makes integration into international teams so much easier, even during a short stay.

The weekend also gave me plenty of time to explore: I took the opportunity to visit Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague at a leisurely pace, and of course Leiden, the city where I stayed, a lively university city, comfortable and a wonderful place to live.

What would you highlight most about this experience? Would you encourage your colleagues to take advantage of these secondments?

What I take away most is the shift in professional perspective the experience gives you. Even though you continue doing your own work, the environment, the people and the way things are organised are different, and that pushes you to adapt and helps you develop a more open mindset.

I also found it very interesting to discover the differences in lifestyle, for example the working hours are quite different from ours and getting used to eating lunch and dinner earlier has its charm at first.

Without a doubt, I would encourage any colleague to go for it. It is a unique opportunity to meet people from other offices, expand your professional network within the firm and learn how work is done in other countries. And on a personal level, it is one of those experiences that takes you out of your comfort zone and leaves you with a much more international and open view of the world.