Cheese & Christina and Diego
From Aruba to Amsterdam - Hospitality runs in the family
At Henri Willig, it's all about people - and sometimes that comes in a special combination.
Meet Christina and Diego Calderon, an energetic father-daughter duo working together within our cheese family. After years abroad, they returned to Amsterdam with a shared passion for hospitality and experience.
Christina works at Cheese & More by Henri Willig on Dam Square. She is cheerful, multilingual (Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento) and has a background in hospitality, childcare and snorkelling excursions. "I have always been involved with people," she says. "At Henri Willig, I really feel like a host. I learn every day and get the space to grow."
Her father Diego is an experienced hospitality professional with an impressive career in hotels and retail. He welcomes guests to our Cheese Cellar shop with calmness, class and a customer-focused attitude that inspires confidence. "I have always worked in customer service," says Diego. "From hotel receptions to retail, it's all about attention and respect. At Henri Willig, I feel those same values return."
What makes this story extra special is that returning to the Netherlands also meant a family reunion. Christina, her father and mother as well as her brother now live together again in Amsterdam. "We had to miss each other for a long time," Christina says. "Now we are together under one roof again. That gives peace, energy and a feeling of coming home." Diego adds: "It is a blessing to be together again as a family. We support each other, also in work. That makes everything lighter."
Together, they show what Henri Willig stands for: craft, authenticity and connection. Whether presenting a cheeseboard or sharing a smile - Christina and Diego prove that hospitality is in their DNA.
What Christina appreciates most? The personal atmosphere and mutual support. "Everyone helps each other. Even in busy times, you feel you are part of a family. That's rare."
Diego also recognises that feeling: "It's a family business, but professionally organised. You feel seen, and that makes all the difference."
Christina looks to the future with confidence: "I am now a first salesperson, but I am already learning for an assistant manager role. And who knows, maybe one day something with marketing. There are plenty of opportunities at Henri Willig."
To them, working at Henri Willig is not a job, but a shared story - a story of generations, hospitality and growth.
