Coworkers in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic

The literature on coworking spaces (CSs) often neglects the link between the motives for using coworking in general and the choice of a specific CS. Moreover, their relationship with regional attitudes in different geographical and economic landscapes is rarely studied. We attempt to fill this gap by investigating users’ motives and preferences in the socioeconomic landscape of the Netherlands during the pandemic. The results from semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire answered by 47 CS users show trends that differ partially from those highlighted in the literature thus far. In particular, Dutch coworkers want to find a productive workplace outside home, and they tend to focus strongly on the CS layout and design, while their interest in professional networking is less pronounced. These results can be interpreted as a manifestation of new needs emerging during the pandemic, which could also persist in the reorganization of workplaces following the pandemic.