After almost 26 years, Gertruud Duijn is saying goodbye to Vroom and will start enjoying her early retirement. She saw the company grow, the work change and the rules increase. But what always remained was the contact with people. “It has always felt like a warm bath here,” she says, looking back on her career.
When Gertruud started at Vroom almost 26 years ago, she didn’t expect to stay that long. “Before this, I had several jobs in different fields, and I began here in the hours administration,” she explains. “Wim Vrolijk combined IT, administration and HR and could use some help. That’s how I rolled into it.” The handover followed the approach that characterizes Vroom: practical and direct. “We spent one evening together at the office, went through everything, and I just got to work. In those early years I did everything that was needed. Roles overlapped, and no one found that strange. That freedom was exactly what appealed to me. I had room to figure things out and execute them in my own way. That suited me and Vroom at that time. I noticed I enjoyed digging into people’s questions. What is someone entitled to? How does it all work? That’s where I found joy. I immediately found HR work so enjoyable that I never left.”
Text continues below the photos.
Growing along
What began as a modest HR role grew significantly in the years that followed. “I learned the profession step by step. If something new came along, I dove into it. Especially the amount of rules and obligations changed drastically. In the past, it was mainly about health checks (PAGO’s) for machine operators. Now there are annual medical examinations for almost everyone, consisting of PAGO’s or sustainable employability assessments (DIA’s) combined with a soil remediation examination. That simply didn’t exist 25 years ago. This means we now really need to plan ahead, taking into account ages, roles and legal requirements. It’s truly a puzzle. You can’t just do this on the side anymore; it requires focus, structure and someone who keeps the overview.” The organization became larger and more professional. “You’re no longer hired as a machine operator just like that. Papers, experience and ambitions are all considered. Proper recruitment and selection—critical where needed and flexible where possible—also demands more from our department.”
Learning alongside work
To strengthen her position, Gertruud followed an HR course at InHolland University of Applied Sciences in 2003. “That was tough,” she recalls. “I worked four days a week, had a household with two teenage children and spent evenings in the classroom, with a study load of fifteen hours a week on top of that. Still, I look back with satisfaction. It gave me a solid foundation. I understood better what I was talking about, and it made me more confident. I’m very glad I completed that course.” That development characterizes her career at Vroom. As Gertruud herself puts it: “I grew along with the company, not only in knowledge but also in responsibility.”
Collaborating and sparring
The arrival of her first HR colleague, Corali, meant an important change. “It was simply too much to handle alone. With her arrival, we could divide the work, consult and replace each other. Right up until my final working day we worked together wonderfully. Later a manager joined our department as well. That was also pleasant—this allowed us to focus on the content, while someone else kept the overall direction and conducted strategic discussions with the management. By now, the department has grown to four employees, and I have always experienced the collaboration as close and positive. During our Monday morning meetings we discussed everything and knew what was going on with each other. That created clarity and peace.”
People at the centre
What made her work especially rewarding was the contact with people on the shop floor. “They always knew how to find me with their questions—whether it was about leave or working less in the run‑up to retirement. I always enjoyed finding out all the possibilities for them, and I found it important to treat people with respect and answer their questions as well as possible. When someone showed they were happy with the help, that really gave me satisfaction. That’s what I did it for. Interacting with people was what I valued most.”
Changes in the workplace
The job market changed as well. “In the past, boys from the area would just walk in to ask if there was work,” Gertruud remembers. “Now you have to actively approach people, and almost everything goes through online channels. The entire sector faces the same challenge of finding good employees. The work in our field is heavy and demands commitment. I’ve always had great admiration for our construction workers: waking up early, working in all weather conditions and performing physically demanding work.”
Handover
Fortunately, her departure does not mean 26 years of knowledge and expertise will disappear. “I’ve written manuals and documented processes,” Gertruud says. “And of course, much of my knowledge has already been shared with colleagues. If they really get stuck, they can still call me for now. My decision to stop earlier has nothing to do with job satisfaction, but I do notice my energy has decreased. Then it’s right to say: it’s been enough. My husband is already retired and we lead an active life. I walk a lot, we love going out to cycle network routes across the country, and I’ll soon start e‑gym—not for my fitness, that’s fine, but to strengthen my muscles. I also read a lot and have been babysitting for one of my daughters for years. My other daughter is expecting her second child in March. I’d love to lend a hand there too.”
Looking back with pride
Gertruud has always considered Vroom a special company. “I also worked with the previous generation of the Vroom family, and thanks to the family the company has become what it is today. Even in difficult times, they kept things going and persevered. I have a lot of respect for that. Of course, my farewell is bittersweet. On one hand, it’s the right decision. I’m listening to my body and consciously taking things slower before reaching my official retirement age. On the other hand, I’m leaving something behind, because Vroom has been much more than just work. I look back on a wonderful period with great colleagues, a lot of trust and work that truly mattered.”
