Meet Bertie
Nedlin provides laundry services for Healthcare, Industry, and Hospitality. But who are the people behind Nedlin who ensure that the laundry for our customers is done every day? What do they do exactly, and what do they enjoy about their work? We would like to introduce you to our colleague Bertie van der Meer. She is a production worker at Nedlin Industry in Hoensbroek.
Who is Bertie? Born in Heerlen and raised in Hoensbroek. I've moved a few times, but I'm back living in Hoensbroek now. This is where I intend to stay for the foreseeable future. Next year, I'll be completing 39.5 years of service at Nedlin and retiring. So, I'll just miss reaching the 40-year anniversary.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy going to the theater. I particularly like comedy shows or music performances, but lately, I've been drawn to ballet as well. I also love dining out, weekend getaways, and traveling. Recently, I visited Urk, and I often explore the Dutch coast. This year, I went to Texel. However, due to the pandemic, I've stayed in the Netherlands. The Dutch coastline and the Wadden Islands are beautiful destinations. One of my most memorable trips was to Dubrovnik in 1985. It's such a beautiful city with a stunning location on the Adriatic Sea. In the past, you could find me in Tenerife or Salou. Besides work, I enjoy sports, whether it's Zumba or working out at the gym. I also love cycling and hiking in the nature.
As a production worker at Nedlin, what does that entail exactly? I started in 1985, when the laundry at this location was just 2 years old. Because I've been here for quite a while, I've experienced a lot: all the renovations, the takeover of Nedlin Elsloo. It's never boring, that's for sure. During my time here, I've worked at almost every workstation available for a production worker. I started at the press, then moved on to the sheet ironer and towel ironer, but I also spent 13 years at our sorting machine. We no longer have that sorting machine and sheet ironer here. Additionally, I've coded and labeled laundry. So yes, I'm familiar with almost every workstation by now. Currently, I mainly work with personal laundry, which is laundry from people residing in places like nursing homes.
"Next to the hair salon where I worked was the laundry of the De Win family."
How did you end up at Nedlin? Before I started at Nedlin, I worked in a hair salon for 9 years. Cutting, perming, blow-drying, setting: I can do it all. During that time, perming and setting were very popular. Next to that hair salon was the laundry of the De Win family, where we brought our towels. Around 1985, it was a tough time; the shopping center where the hair salon was located gradually emptied out. So, the hair salon eventually closed as well. It was very difficult to find work at that time. It was the mother of a friend who said to me, "Go see Mr. De Win. He always needs people." So, I did. Nedlin was still very much a women's company back then. But most of them stopped working once they had children. That was different five years later, as women often continued to work alongside their families. When I started, we still had a 40-hour workweek, but that has now been reduced to 36 hours.
What do you enjoy most about your job? In the beginning, it took me a while to adjust, but once I got the hang of it, I found the work enjoyable too. Nedlin, and therefore the De Win family, is a great employer. I've known Stef and Luuk since they were in high school and used to work here on Saturdays. We also have a very good Plant Manager. I've worked with different managers, and although they were all nice and kind, I'm really happy with Sander. What is the most enjoyable experience you've had during your time at Nedlin? What is the most enjoyable experience you've had during your time at Nedlin? I would have to say the anniversary celebrations. And when Erik de Win turned 50. We had a big party then too. The staff, together with the employee association, gave him a helicopter flight as a gift. We were taken by bus to a party center in Kaatsheuvel, and he was brought there by helicopter as a surprise. Nedlin's parties are always very well organized and enjoyable.
