Fleur Bakker is one of the most successful social entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. She is the founder of “A Beautiful Mess”. Asylum seekers and refugees receive paid job training in the fashionable restaurants. People who don’t speak the language also have the opportunity to participate.
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Bakker started eleven years ago with practically no capital. Today, her successful company already comprises eight restaurants and cafés for refugees in three cities: “We expect turnover of five million euros in 2026. Around 300 people are on our training programmes. This makes me proud.”
Public authorities and the private sector support the initiative, as do mayors of large cities. They know how important it is to integrate refugees into the job market as early as possible.
The newest branch of “A Beautiful Mess” opened in Arnhem six months ago. Head chef is Ayman Momo from Syria. In Damascus, he owned a restaurant with 250 seats, “Crispy Ayman”. Then came the war. “My dream is to have restaurants all over Europe,” says Momo, “in Germany, Belgium, Sweden…”
Even the mayor of Arnhem dines at “A Beautiful Mess”. Ahmed Marcouch in an interview with Euronews: “I come from a faraway country myself. I was 10 years old when I arrived here. What helps is that you feel welcome as a newcomer, start training, learn the language, adopt the culture of the new country, get involved in the labour market and get to know people. And this is exactly what they take care of at A Beautiful Mess: Work, training and contact with the locals.”
