At 66 years old and approaching retirement, Willem Mulder reflects on four decades at HAVI — a journey that began in 1986 and evolved into a career defined by growth, teamwork and dedication. From driver to Coordinator of Facility Services and Safety, Willem’s story is closely interwoven with HAVI’s own development in the Netherlands.
A Life Full of Energy — At Work and at Home
My name is Willem Mulder, I’m 66 years old (nearly retired), and I’ve been living with my wife, Janny, in Nijkerk, the Netherlands, since 1989. Together we have three daughters, three sons-in-law, and four grandchildren aged 4 to 19. So life is always busy!
My wife and I love traveling in our camper van. I guess you can say I’m Janny’s personal chauffeur! Last year we spent four weeks hiking through Norway, with climbing Preikestolen a real highlight. One day we hope to return and travel to the North Cape via the Lofoten Islands.
Music is another passion of mine. I sing bass in our church choir and also in a few other groups. On Sunday mornings I often help run sound and lighting at our local church, so there’s never a dull moment.
From Driver to Safety Leader — A Career Built on Variety and Responsibility
I’m currently a Coordinator of Facility Services and Safety, although I’ve held many roles since joining HAVI back in 1986 as a driver. I worked in the warehouse and technical department before growing into my current position. Even today I still step in to help if someone is out sick or on leave, from early morning cleaning shifts to preparing lunches with the catering team.
My job brings a lot of variety and no day is the same, so there’s always something to keep me busy. Whenever something in the building breaks down, people come to me. After 40 years, I know the place inside and out — but I don’t do it alone. My colleague Pascal Coumans helps me keep things running smoothly.
As the Head of Emergency Response (BHV), I also lead the emergency response teams in Amersfoort and Barendrecht. I served as a volunteer firefighter for 30 years, which has helped me a lot in this role. Safety is integral to my work, so I regularly organize drills and annual evacuation exercises to instill this ethic in the working culture at HAVI.
My HAVI journey began in 1986 when I was working as a driver for a local transport company, DENI. McDonald’s was one of their clients. When the opportunity came to help start a new distribution center for McDonald’s, I immediately said yes and, looking back, I’m really happy I made that decision.
We started with a team of just 11 people in a rented building in Barneveld, even helping set up the facility ourselves before operations began. Back then, we supplied around 30 restaurants in the Netherlands and several in Belgium. On Mondays we would leave at 4:00AM for deliveries, and afterwards continue working in the warehouse — planning, picking orders or cleaning — whatever was needed. Looking back, we already had the spirit of One HAVI.
I’ve sometimes thought about writing a book about the past 40 years. Maybe one day!
Growth, Learning and the Power of Team Spirit
HAVI is so diverse with a lot of young people, and I think that helps keep you young as well. People get real opportunities to grow, but you do have to put yourself out there and work hard.
The variety in my job always keeps things interesting. Most days don’t go exactly as you planned, and you have to expect the unexpected — but that’s taught me how important it is to be flexible. I’m proud to have contributed my skills and knowledge to help HAVI Netherlands become what it is today.
My motto has always been: “The impossible we do immediately; miracles take a little longer.”
I earned my diploma as an electrician and later worked as a heating engineer and plumber. I’ve also taken a few language and technical courses — you’re never too old to learn.
I’ve always liked learning new skills and understanding how things work. Usually I try to solve problems myself first, and if that doesn’t work, then you call in the experts.
On Saturdays, I often help a friend in his bakery with various tasks from early in the morning. My experience in the fire service has also given me valuable knowledge and skills. Through it all I’ve gained a broad skillset and experience which really helps in my role at HAVI where adaptability is key.
There’s definitely a strong team spirit within my teams, in both good and challenging times.
For birthdays, we always arrange a card and a small gift, and for jubilees or farewells, we add a special touch. People who have committed themselves to HAVI for many years deserve that recognition. In the end, showing appreciation pays back dividends for the company and the individual, so everyone’s a winner.
Almost 120 years of HAVI Experience. Left to right: Willem (40 Years HAVI), Anja de Greef (38 Years HAVI), Frits van de Pol (40 Years HAVI as well)
As I always say: “Do good, and good will come to you.”
Witnessing Change — and Preparing for the Next Chapter
It’s been great to see how much HAVI has grown over the years. In the early days, it truly felt like a small family business — close-knit, hands-on and very personal — which created a strong foundation and team spirit. As the company expanded, the culture naturally evolved alongside its growth and ambition. HAVI continues to look ahead, striving to be at the forefront of innovation. With growth comes change, and while transformation can bring challenges, it also creates new opportunities and drives progress for the future.
For example, we’re transitioning our fleet to electric vehicles. At the same time, we have been rolling out a more efficient Warehouse Management System (WMS), which I believe has already improved ways of working and productivity.
HAVI gives people room to grow and develop, and I am living proof of that.
After 40 years at HAVI, my HAVI story has become a story of family in more ways than one. One of my daughters worked in Customer Service, and today my son-in-law Rob is a team leader at HAVI. So I’ll probably be keeping up with HAVI even after my upcoming retirement!
But before I leave, I want to make sure my skills and knowledge from 40 years of experience are passed on properly. Then it will be time to spend more time with my wife and family, and enjoy more adventures exploring Europe with our camper.
Who knows — maybe I’ll stop by a HAVI distribution center during one of those trips.
