Tradition, a trumpet, and a touch of theatre
Anneke's story
Tradition, a trumpet, and a touch of theatre
In the warehouse, on a horse, in a stable. Or somewhere in between. Anneke likes to stay in motion. She always has. Her journey with Niverplast began fifteen years ago, but the real start was with horses. And a trial ride through the sandpit.
Here’s how it went. Anneke was taking care of Gerrit Jan’s horses. “One day he said, ‘There’s a position opening up in logistics soon. Is that something for you?’ I said, ‘Sure, but I don’t know anything about metal.’” She got the job. Employee number 65. At the time, there wasn’t a single woman on the floor. “That took some getting used to,” she says with a smile. “For the men, that is.”
Just do it
Like many colleagues, Anneke started by simply doing what needed to be done. Receiving goods, preparing packages, answering customer questions, unloading trucks. “You roll up your sleeves. And if you don’t know how to do something, you ask. Or you just give it a try. Most of the time you’re done quicker than if you wait for an explanation.”
Today, Anneke runs the warehouse. She prepares parts for technicians, arranges clothing, answers questions, and guides the Saturday helpers. And yes, sometimes she clears out things no one can even identify anymore. “Classic warehouse work.”
“What I enjoy most? No day is ever the same. We’ve got a good team. We laugh a lot, help each other, and try things out. If something doesn’t work, well, then you know that too.”
After work: boots on
Horses are still a big part of Anneke’s life. In the mornings she brings them outside. In the afternoons she rides with her daughters and keeps the stable in shape. It’s not a trend. It’s just part of everyday life.
Dressed to ride
“Gerrit Jan used to take part, so the horses had to be in top shape. You’d ride through places you normally wouldn’t go. Across fields, through ditches, following the hounds. Everyone dressed in hunting gear: red jacket, white breeches, black boots. With trumpet signals along the way and, of course, the sherry stop halfway through. Quite the experience.”
Freedom works
Combining work and horses takes flexibility. And there’s room for that at Niverplast. “I work part-time. If I need to leave a bit earlier, I arrange it and catch up another time. Around here, we think in solutions. That works.”
With each other, for each other
What makes Niverplast special? “The culture. The freedom. The trust. And above all, the team. We’ve achieved a lot in a short time. We’re proud of that. Because we do it together. With each other, for each other. And if things get tough, we just keep going. That’s worked well for fifteen years now.”