From BUas to the Olympics: Thijs van Boekhold’s journey to TeamNL House

You can read our previous interview with Thijs here: https://media.buas.nl/acting-content-creation-interview-thijs-van-boekhold 

What are you doing in Milan at the Winter Olympics? 

Thijs: ‘At the moment I’m in Milan for the Winter Olympics, volunteering at TeamNL House. It’s basically the Dutch “home base” during the Games, the place where athletes are celebrated and where fans from all over the world come together. I’m part of the “horeca team”, so I work behind the bar or at one of the food points. It’s busy, energetic and very Dutch in the best possible way.’ 

‘We’re here for the full period of the Games. There were around 800 applications for roughly 110 places, so I’m really grateful to be selected again. I also volunteered at the Summer Olympics in Paris two years ago, and that experience definitely helped.’ 

How did you get selected? 

Thijs: ‘There’s quite a serious selection process. First, you have to submit a motivation video and your CV. After that, there’s a physical selection day where you have an interview with someone from your specific team. Because I’m in the “horeca team”, I spoke with someone from that department.’ 

‘They look at experience, but also at whether you fit the atmosphere of the House. It’s such a high-energy environment that you really need people who can handle pressure and still keep smiling. I talked about my previous experience in Paris and my work in hospitality, and luckily that was enough to be selected.’ 

What does a typical day look like for you? 

Thijs: ‘We all stay in the same hostel, so there’s a real sense of community. Depending on your shift, you either start at 3:30pm or 5:00pm. In the morning, I usually have time to explore the city a bit, go for a run, or edit content.’ 

‘During a shift, you’re constantly switching between serving drinks, preparing food or helping at the entrance. Around 8 or 9pm, the place really fills up. If there’s been a major event like speed skating, hundreds of Dutch fans come straight to TeamNL House afterwards. That’s when the atmosphere peaks.’ 

‘The medal ceremonies are the most special moments. The entire venue is packed, the TeamNL anthem plays, and you realise why the House exists in the first place: to honour the athletes. Even though we’re working, we always try to step into the hall for a moment to witness that.’ 

You’re also creating content while you’re there, right? 

Thijs: ‘Before I even knew I would miss an important assessment, I had already offered to create content for the BUas HUB. I really wanted to make the most of being here. Eventually, it became a replacement assignment for my pre-assessment.’ 

‘In the mornings, I film and edit. I try to approach it from a fan perspective rather than as an insider, because there are strict media rules. I focus on what a visitor could also see, the atmosphere and the celebrations at TeamNL House.’ 

‘I’m also planning to make a few longer, more in-depth videos that will still be relevant after the Games. That way, it’s not only short-term content but something valuable for my portfolio as well.’ 

What direction is your career moving in? 

Thijs: ‘I’m definitely leaning more towards radio at the moment. Next block, I’ll most likely be working with BredaNu for my client project. I’ve already gained experience at the BUas HUB radio station, and next block I’ll have a more coordinating role within the radio projects at the HUB.’ 

‘I’m still figuring out if radio is the path I want to follow long-term, but for now I genuinely enjoy it. And being here at the Olympics, seeing organisations like NOS Sport working just around the corner, makes it even more inspiring. You suddenly see the professionals you’ve been watching for years walking past you.’ 

What makes this experience so special for you personally? 

Thijs: ‘It’s the mix of everything. The sport, the media, the energy, the people. You constantly run into well-known athletes, influencers and broadcasters. One moment you’re serving drinks, the next you’re watching a medal ceremony or spotting a famous sports reporter.’ 

‘And then there are the small, unexpected moments. We met an American ice hockey player on the street who was really interested in our TeamNL pins. She even walked back to our hostel with us to trade pins. That kind of spontaneous interaction is so typical for the Olympic atmosphere.’ 

‘For me, this is the perfect combination of my studies in Creative Business and my passion for sport and media. It’s intense, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.’ 

Connect with Thijs van Boekhold on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thijs-van-boekhold-312504348/