Welder Meike breaks stereotypes in engineering
You don't have to be male to practice this profession.
April 14, 2026, is Girls' Day: the day when girls throughout the Netherlands are introduced to science, technology, and IT. For Meike, a permanent welder at machine manufacturer Dinnissen, it is a perfect opportunity to share her passion during a special welding workshop. In conversation, she speaks candidly about her journey to the workshop, the dynamics in a male-dominated sector, and her mission to get more girls into technology.
“When I tell people what I do, they are always positive, but invariably surprised,” says Meike. The reaction ‘oh, a woman in engineering!’ has become a standard part of her introductions. Although the perception still prevails that heavy, physical work in engineering is exclusively for men, Meike pays little attention to that. “To me, it doesn’t matter at all that welding has traditionally been seen as a male profession.” “I am just there to do my job, exactly like my male colleagues.”
From the school benches to the workshop
That she would end up in technology was not a foregone conclusion from a young age, although creativity was always present at home. Her parents preferred to make everything themselves. Nevertheless, after HAVO, Meike initially chose a MBO (vocational) course in Media Design at SintLucas. She soon realized that this was not her path. “It was too much theory and too much sitting still,” she explains.
The switch came unexpectedly when her boyfriend taught her to weld as a joke one weekday evening. She was immediately hooked. Meike decided to change course and opted for a practical BBL (vocational training) program in technology. “I wanted to work, earn money, and learn the trade in practice.” “That was the perfect combination for me.”
Need for proof and prejudices
However, that transition was not without its struggles. As one of the few girls in the class, she regularly encountered misunderstanding and frustration from her male fellow students. “I noticed very clearly that a group of boys genuinely struggled when I performed better than them,” she recalls. “If I got a higher grade, I immediately had comments hurled at me.” “Suddenly there was something wrong with my work, and they thought they could secretly do it much better.”
While that would be a reason for some to drop out, for Meike it acted as fuel. “It actually gave me the motivation to do even better.” “I was often stronger in theory, and that head start caused them quite a bit of frustration.” She does emphasize, however, that schools play an important role in this. Teachers must be alert to the atmosphere in the classroom, because not every girl dares to speak up in such an exceptional position. After all, you don’t want to be known as the one who constantly complains.
Equality in the workplace
By now, Meike stands firmly on her own two feet on the shop floor at Dinnissen, where she was the very first female welder. Fortunately, she sees a positive shift there; four women are now working there, and three female apprentices recently started again.
The dynamic with her colleagues has matured. “In the beginning, I really noticed the men’s tendency to want to help me with everything and explain everything to me.” Now I am truly treated as an equal. They simply compare my work with that of the other guys on the shop floor and judge me purely on my skills. “That is exactly how it should be.”
A role model for the new generation
With her precise welding, Meike not only contributes to sustainable machines for the food industry but also builds the future of young girls. Her main goal is to make the technology sector more accessible. Together with others, she is currently working on launching a TikTok channel to get students—and specifically women— excited about technology.
Her message is as clear as it is powerful: “The most important thing I want to convey is that you absolutely do not have to be 'masculine' to succeed in this sector. You don't have to pretend to be someone else. You can remain one hundred percent yourself. “Your commitment and the quality of your work, that is the only thing that counts.”
For girls who secretly doubt on Girls' Day, or on any other day, whether technology is for them, Meike has one crucial piece of advice. “Go attend shadowing days.” Don’t let yourself be held back by other people’s prejudices or the idea that it wouldn’t be for you. Every company is open to talent. “Just go for it and experience it for yourself.”
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