At The Dining Company, Julia Jorritsma offers a unique service where connection, depth, and enjoyment form the heart of her success formula. Her mission is to enrich the experience of internationals living in the Netherlands by creating meetings that truly matter. With her background in psychology, Julia knows exactly how to guide an evening so that conversations go beyond small talk and people genuinely get to know each other.
Not everyone thrives in group settings. That’s why Julia also facilitates one-on-one meetings for people from all walks of life, including professionals who sometimes feel “lonely at the top.” Meaningful conversations and encounters with people on a similar professional level make real connection possible. In a time when face-to-face interaction is becoming increasingly rare, she is dedicated to fostering authentic bonds.
Julia is an experienced entrepreneur and founder of The Dining Company. With over twenty years of experience in mental healthcare, she has gained deep expertise in human behavior. Her open mindset, love for diverse cultures, and passion for refined dining make her an exceptional companion.
As the daughter of an expat family, Julia knows firsthand how challenging it can be to feel at home in the Netherlands. The country is wonderful, but highly individualistic: people live in their own bubbles, are busy, and don’t always make it easy to meet new people, especially for those over thirty who are focused on their professional network. Julia has experienced this reality up close.
It is precisely this insight, combined with her expertise in psychology and human behavior, that forms the core of The Dining Company: a space where internationals and locals connect in a warm, relaxed, and equal way. Where meaningful conversations happen naturally, both in groups and one-on-one and where everyone feels genuinely welcome.
Julia was born in Moldova and moved to the Netherlands at the age of six with her mother due to Julia’s severe illness. Fortunately, she fully recovered and eventually stayed in the Netherlands. Her mother remarried, which gave Julia her Frisian last name.
She grew up in a remarkable family: her mother was a top athlete, and her father a man of literature. Julia has a younger brother who is a doctor and currently studying to become a surgeon. It is clear that a strong work ethic and perseverance run in the family. However, Julia’s childhood was far from easy. She faced many challenging periods, and happiness did not come to her effortlessly. Nevertheless, she managed to create her own happiness and success through hard work, continuous self-development and an optimistic approach to life.