TechLab by Bol

By Anthony Moendir & Tim BeerenTechnology

TechLab by Bol episodes

April 15, 2025 Queer Bol
This week, Ernst and Daniel from Queer Bol share how they're transforming workplaces - not with big policies, but through real, everyday actions. Like that time an educational poster in the bathroom made a colleague say: "I never knew this - thank you for opening my eyes."
"It's not just about acceptance," says Daniel. "It's about creating space where people can truly be themselves." From rainbow pins to brave conversations, this is how small changes make big impact.

What this episode covers
• How Queer Bol started – from a simple question to a beautiful community
• Why workplace inclusion matters – for employees, companies, and society
• The impact of visibility – pins, posters, and safe spaces
• Personal stories – overcoming challenges and fostering allyship
• What’s next? – Pride collaborations, education, and expanding outreach
• https://pro-now.com/en/
• https://coc.nl/en/ (One of the most important LGBTQIA+ focused organisations in the Netherlands)
• https://www.transgendernetwerk.nl/
• https://www.movisie.nl/publicatie/feiten-cijfers-lhbtiqa-rij (Lots of numbers and facts)
• https://reports.hrc.org/being-an-lgbtq-ally (Great overview about what allyship means, plus a lot of additional useful info)
36 min
March 25, 2025Chaos Engineering Day
What happens when you dedicate a day to breaking things on purpose? Chaos Day! Join us as Bart Stroeken and Quido Meijer from Bol.com dive into the world of Chaos Engineering—a discipline focused on building confidence in your systems by intentionally causing failures. Learn how Bol.com organizes Chaos Days, the surprising findings they’ve uncovered, and how you can apply these lessons to your own systems.

What this episode covers
What is Chaos Engineering and why it matters
How Bol.com runs Chaos Days twice a year
Real-world examples of chaos experiments and their outcomes
Tips for starting your own Chaos Engineering initiatives
The importance of preparation and community involvement
36 min
March 11, 2025How Bol Adopted GraphQL
Join us in this deep dive with Lars and On from Bol.com as they share their incredible journey of adopting GraphQL in one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the Netherlands and Belgium. Discover how they tackled architectural challenges, influenced teams, and built a thriving GraphQL community within their organization. Whether you're a developer, tech lead, or just curious about GraphQL, this episode is packed with insights, lessons, and practical tips you won’t want to miss!

What this episode covers
Why Bol.com embarked on the GraphQL journey
Overcoming challenges in a large-scale organization
Building a GraphQL stewardship program
Tools and strategies for successful adoption
Future plans and community contributions
GraphQL Conf 2024 Talk
34 min
January 28, 2025 Discovering Cloud FinOps
Why is it crucial to track your cloud expenses? In this episode, we chat with two experts about mastering Cloud FinOps—how to monitor costs effectively and scale without breaking the bank. Plus, plenty of laughs and lively discussions along the way!

What this episode covers
Get ready to explore the essentials of Cloud FinOps! This episode dives into why managing cloud expenses is a must and reveals tips for monitoring and scaling effectively. Packed with insights and humor, it’s a perfect blend of knowledge and fun. Tune in and join the conversation!
40 min
January 14, 2025 Design & Engineering
What this episode covers
In this episode, we’re joined by our talented friends from the design community, Cansu and Wendy! The dynamic between engineers and designers is endlessly fascinating—and sometimes, a little chaotic. How can these two worlds collaborate more effectively? What are the biggest challenges (and funniest moments) that arise? We dig into the details, share some laughs, and uncover insights to help bridge the gap. Tune in and enjoy the ride!
47 min
December 10, 2024 100 Days as Director of Technology
What this episode covers
Join us for an inspiring and in-depth conversation with Ronald van Rijn, Senior Director of Engineering at bol.com (http://bol.com/), as he reflects on his first 100 days in the role. Ronald shares insights from his journey—starting as a passionate programmer with a Commodore 64 to becoming a leader of over 900 engineers. Discover how his experience as a former CTO, volleyball athlete, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast shapes his leadership style and problem-solving approach. Learn how he tackles challenges like scaling technology teams, fostering impactful innovation, and creating an environment where engineers thrive. Tune in to hear about his plans for bol.com (http://bol.com/)'s future and valuable lessons in navigating discomfort and change.
38 min
November 26, 2024 Canary Testing | Road to Pro
What this episode covers
In this episode, we dive into the world of canary releases—a modern deployment strategy that minimizes risk while delivering new features to users. Joined by Sonja Nesic and Diego Lira, we explore how tools like Argo Rollouts empower teams to test in production safely, offering seamless integration with Kubernetes environments. Learn how automatic rollbacks can safeguard your deployments and why progressive delivery is becoming a must-have for agile teams. Whether you're new to canary releases or looking to refine your strategy, this conversation is packed with insights and best practices to elevate your DevOps game.
38 min
November 12, 2024 Accessibility in Tech
In this episode, we dive into the crucial topic of Accessibility in Tech with special guests Leanne Scheepers, an engineer with a passion for inclusive design, and Niels Peter Foppe, our lead product designer and driving force behind accessibility at bol. Together, we explore how accessibility is approached at bol.com, from strategy and implementation to the practical tips and tricks that can make a real difference. Join us as we discuss the challenges, solutions, and key insights that can help tech teams everywhere make their products accessible for all. Whether you’re a developer, designer, or just interested in inclusivity, this episode has something for everyone!

Guests
Connect with Leanne Scheepers: • LinkedIn
Connect with Niels-Peter Foppen: • LinkedIn

Notes
European Accessibility Act (2025): https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1202
WCAG: https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/
Level Level webwinkel toegankelijkheids onderzoek 2023: https://level-level.com/nl/webwinkel-onderzoek-2023/#h-resultaten-de-top-15
30 min
October 31, 2024 Tips for Data Engineering
What this episode covers
In this episode of TechLab, we're diving deep into the world of data engineering! Join us as we chat with Robin, a data scientist from bol.com, who shares how his team tackled complex data pipeline challenges by using layered approaches and innovative solutions like Apache Airflow. Robin makes it easy to understand by comparing data workflows to baking bread (yes, really!) and highlights how his team built a robust, reliable system to handle critical logistics data for bol.com. Tune in for insights, laughs, and some surprising analogies that bring data science to life!

Guests
Connect with Robin van Schaik:
• LinkedIn

Notes
48 min
October 15, 2024Performance Testing & Chaos Engineering
Join us as we explore performance testing with experts Nithya and Marcel from bol. They share insights on ensuring system reliability during peak seasons through chaos engineering and isolated testing. Discover best practices, tools, and strategies to tackle performance challenges and enhance user experience. Tune in for valuable tips from industry professionals!

Guests
Connect with Nithya Thirugnanasundaram
LinkedIn
Connect with Marcel Blok
LinkedIn
Connect with Tim Beeren:
Blog
Twitter
Connect with Anthony Moendir:
Twitter
LinkedIn

Notes
29 min