What Digital Nomads Can Learn from Traditional Nomadic Tribes
A Note from the CEO, Eduard Schaepman

The rise of the digital nomad culture offers a fascinating parallel with the traditional nomadic lifestyle of tribes that have been roaming the world for thousands of years. While the context is different—Amsterdam’s Zuidas versus the vast steppes of Central Asia or the deserts of Africa—there are lessons from the original nomads that are surprisingly relevant to modern, digital workers.
Adaptability and Flexibility: Traditional nomads are masters at adapting to their environment. They understand that rigid structures rarely hold, and their success depends on their ability to quickly shift in response to changing conditions. For the digital nomad, this is a fundamental principle. Technology, client needs, and even workspaces are constantly evolving. Like the original nomads, digital workers must be able to adapt quickly to new software, trends, and environments. Whether you’re working from a café in Bali or a coworking space on the Zuidas, flexibility remains key.
Sense of Community: For traditional nomads, the collective is more important than the individual. They live in small communities where everyone plays a role and collaborates to survive. While digital nomads are often seen as individualists, creating a community of like-minded people can help boost motivation, productivity, and success. By building networks, both online and offline, and sharing knowledge with other entrepreneurs and freelancers, a culture of mutual support and growth can flourish.
Living with Less: Nomads are accustomed to living with limited resources, carrying only what they can move. Minimalism is a lifestyle that digital nomads can also embrace. Thanks to digitalization, you often don’t need much to work: a laptop, a good internet connection, and some basic essentials. This simplicity can lead to more focus, fewer distractions, and ultimately more freedom, both in work and life.
A Strong Connection with Nature: Many traditional nomads live in harmony with nature, drawing their sustenance directly from their surroundings. For digital nomads, who are often confined to urban environments, learning to appreciate natural rhythms and spending more time outdoors can help foster mental clarity and creativity. Even in busy environments like the Zuidas, making time for parks, walks, and fresh air can contribute to well-being and productivity.
Resilience and Perseverance: The life of a nomad is not always easy. Weather conditions, food scarcity, and long journeys require great resilience. As a digital nomad, you will also face obstacles: unstable internet connections, cultural differences, loneliness, or unforeseen financial challenges. The resilience that traditional nomads have built over time can inspire modern nomads to overcome challenges with perseverance and creativity.
Learning from the Journey Itself: Travel is embedded in the DNA of both traditional and digital nomads. For the original nomads, travel was essential for survival; for digital nomads, it offers opportunities for personal development and growth. The experiences gained from traveling—from meeting new people to learning new skills—become an invaluable source of inspiration and innovation.
Sense of Community: For traditional nomads, the collective is more important than the individual. They live in small communities where everyone plays a role and collaborates to survive. While digital nomads are often seen as individualists, creating a community of like-minded people can help boost motivation, productivity, and success. By building networks, both online and offline, and sharing knowledge with other entrepreneurs and freelancers, a culture of mutual support and growth can flourish.
Living with Less: Nomads are accustomed to living with limited resources, carrying only what they can move. Minimalism is a lifestyle that digital nomads can also embrace. Thanks to digitalization, you often don’t need much to work: a laptop, a good internet connection, and some basic essentials. This simplicity can lead to more focus, fewer distractions, and ultimately more freedom, both in work and life.
A Strong Connection with Nature: Many traditional nomads live in harmony with nature, drawing their sustenance directly from their surroundings. For digital nomads, who are often confined to urban environments, learning to appreciate natural rhythms and spending more time outdoors can help foster mental clarity and creativity. Even in busy environments like the Zuidas, making time for parks, walks, and fresh air can contribute to well-being and productivity.
Resilience and Perseverance: The life of a nomad is not always easy. Weather conditions, food scarcity, and long journeys require great resilience. As a digital nomad, you will also face obstacles: unstable internet connections, cultural differences, loneliness, or unforeseen financial challenges. The resilience that traditional nomads have built over time can inspire modern nomads to overcome challenges with perseverance and creativity.
Learning from the Journey Itself: Travel is embedded in the DNA of both traditional and digital nomads. For the original nomads, travel was essential for survival; for digital nomads, it offers opportunities for personal development and growth. The experiences gained from traveling—from meeting new people to learning new skills—become an invaluable source of inspiration and innovation.
Modern digital nomads can learn a lot from traditional nomadic tribes. Adaptability, a sense of community, minimalism, respect for nature, resilience, and the value of travel are all timeless lessons. Whether working from the Zuidas or a remote beach, the art of nomadic life—in any form—revolves around freedom, flexibility, and embracing change.
By applying these insights to your work and life, you can not only become more successful but also happier and more balanced as a digital nomad.
By applying these insights to your work and life, you can not only become more successful but also happier and more balanced as a digital nomad.