After 42.5 years, Johan Buys is calling it a day. Thanks to the heavy work scheme for the construction industry, he is able to retire early at the age of 64. And although he still thoroughly enjoys his time at Vroom Funderingstechnieken, the Purmerend resident is also looking forward to more leisure time.
8 August is officially his last working day, but with accrued holiday days included, 20 June was his actual final day at work, followed by a pleasant evening with the management and fifteen close colleagues. Johan: ‘We had a very enjoyable meal at the Koemarkt.’
From carpenter to foundation worker
Johan began his career at Vroom on 20 December 1982. ‘That was a Monday, and the Friday before I had already spent a day on the road on a low-loader. In the first weeks I mainly accompanied others in various activities. I learned the job itself on site. I trained as a carpenter and after completing my training I started working for a contracting company which, due to the early 1980s crisis, had to downsize considerably. A colleague there moved to Vroom, and not long after I followed. I was still young and wanted to save up for a house. At Vroom they offered me the security I was looking for.’
His first project was the foundation for a Van der Valk motel in Rotterdam. ‘Plaswijck it was called, if I remember correctly. Wooden sheet piles had to be pressed into the ground using a mobile crane. That was not easy at all. The piles wouldn’t go in because of all the stones in the ground.’
Pile types
In his early days, Vroom was just starting with vibro piles. ‘So that was where I started too. I joined the team with my former colleague from the contracting company and crane operator Johan Veerman on a site in Arnhem. I did that for a few months and then moved on to precast piles. I was often the fourth man on the team. I never aspired to become a crane operator, even though I was offered the opportunity. I didn’t have the knack for it and I prefer working outdoors and staying active. I’d rather be walking around — that’s what I enjoy doing in my free time too.’
The text continues below the photos.
Away from home
For a large part of his working life, he spent the entire work week away from home. ‘The longest was almost a year at the same project while lodging on site. We would leave early on Monday morning and return home on Friday afternoon. That was for a project in Eemshaven, more than two hours each way. I met my girlfriend when I was already lodging away from home, so she didn’t know any different and I never minded. It would have been irresponsible to drive two hours back home after a long day. And while lodging, I earned well too. We could put in extra hours by working long days from Monday to Thursday, sometimes until 7 p.m. Otherwise, we would just be staring at each other in the hotel or cottage. On top of that we received a lodging allowance. Those extras came in handy — I certainly saved up enough for a car.’
Camaraderie
Thanks to the intense time spent together with colleagues while lodging, Johan has kept in touch with many of them outside work. ‘That camaraderie made the work enjoyable. Sometimes we would run into each other on different sites again and agree to go out for Chinese food with the crew. Even after shoulder surgery, a group of colleagues came to my house with Chinese. There were very few people I couldn’t work with. Of course, I will miss that camaraderie, but I’m sure we’ll stay in touch. The first plans are already in place.’
Keep learning
Johan has rolled up his sleeves on countless projects. ‘In recent years I’ve switched teams quite a lot. I think I must have worked with at least 50 to 60 different colleagues. From driving vibro piles to vibration-free drilling in the city — I learned something from every type of pile and every system. And from colleagues, even from the younger lads, I picked up tricks and clever solutions. Of course, the work was sometimes monotonous, but usually it was challenging, especially on projects with stricter supervision. I never minded that; I find it important myself to work safely. I always wore safety goggles and even on hot days I preferred to wear overalls rather than shorts. The one time you forget your goggles, something will happen — it always does.’
Wearing down
Being away from home so much, and especially the long commutes, took its toll in recent years. ‘I’m now 64 and still had three years to go until retirement. But we would leave Rotterdam on time, I’d be thinking of everything I could still do at home and then all my energy would be completely drained sitting in traffic. By the time I finally got home, I couldn’t be bothered anymore. I still feel physically well now, but I’ve also had less good periods. And I’m not getting any younger. This is physically demanding work and at this age my body needs more time to recover. The last few weeks I worked with a crane I’d already been working with for 15 years. I really enjoyed rounding off my career at Vroom that way.’
Future
Because he was away from home so much during the week, his private life was pushed to the weekends. ‘Now that I’ve retired early, I have all the time for that again. First, I want to do some jobs around the house, including renovating the attic. I’m not one to sit still, although I can lose myself in a puzzle book. I also now have more time to go out with my girlfriend, especially when she retires too in six months’ time. In August we’re going on a beautiful cruise to Norway and I’d also like to visit my brother and sister in Canada again. I can now also devote more attention to the children and three grandchildren, and I have all the time to go walking and cycling. I enjoy both, preferably in good weather. In that respect, I stopped working in the right season!’, Johan concludes.
