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Working at Aelbers
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Working at Aelbers
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Our history
More than 25 years of Aelbers
From local employment agency to ...
...pioneer in civil concrete construction
Our story begins on 9 January 1997. This is the date our founder and name giver Hans Aelbers registered his company with the Chamber of Commerce. Its name? AA Point. On that day, Hans and his brother together laid the foundation of what we now know to be Aelbers.
In the 1990s, Hans worked as an interim manager for several clients. One of them asked him to fire employees. We don't know how many exactly. Anyway, what we do know is that this sudden lay-off gnawed at Hans. Why wasn't the organisation helping them to find new jobs? Instead of dismissing the thought, he decided to act: he started his own employment agency in Ede to give those very people a future again.
In the early years, AA Point focused on local customers and on different profiles: small manufacturers and window frame makers. It was a period of trial and error, searching for a specialism. After the passing of his brother, Hans continued alone. He had the desire to grow, but how exactly was not yet clear.
In the 1990s, Hans worked as an interim manager for several clients. One of them asked him to fire employees. We don't know how many exactly. Anyway, what we do know is that this sudden lay-off gnawed at Hans. Why wasn't the organisation helping them to find new jobs? Instead of dismissing the thought, he decided to act: he started his own employment agency in Ede to give those very people a future again.
In the early years, AA Point focused on local customers and on different profiles: small manufacturers and window frame makers. It was a period of trial and error, searching for a specialism. After the passing of his brother, Hans continued alone. He had the desire to grow, but how exactly was not yet clear.
Hans Aelbers with Michaël
Kempka in the background
Kempka in the background
The Dresden job fair
"Kommen Sie zur Arbeit in die Niederlande!"
When Hans met Michaël Kempka at a job fair in Germany, he found the turn he was looking for. Michaël, known for his personal approach and commercial skills, was working at a competitor and looking in Dresden for candidates willing to work in the Netherlands. He knew how to motivate migrant workers and saw the potential of cross-border cooperation. Hans therefore tried to bring Michael into Aelbers, the new name of AA Point. At first without success.
Around the same time, Hans found John Winters, the man to put the business and financial foundations in order. While John and Hans were building Aelbers' future, Michaël's situation changed. The company he worked for merged, suddenly doubled in size and many colleagues left. That was Michaël's moment to reach out to Hans.
Around the same time, Hans found John Winters, the man to put the business and financial foundations in order. While John and Hans were building Aelbers' future, Michaël's situation changed. The company he worked for merged, suddenly doubled in size and many colleagues left. That was Michaël's moment to reach out to Hans.
Michaël Kempka in
his former office
his former office
Pioneering and specialising
Positively headstrong
They understood that construction - specifically civil concrete construction - offered stable projects. Not the quick, isolated jobs, but large infrastructure projects that offered years of work. To distinguish itself, Aelbers specialised exclusively in civil concrete construction. Not only did it invest in skilled workers, but also in all the preconditions that made the work enjoyable and safe. Decent accommodation, translated safety instructions, reliable tools: it was all taken care of. And that is how confidence grew: clients knew that Aelbers did more than just 'supply hands'.
VCU certification
Genuine attention to safe working practices
Meanwhile, John ensured that Aelbers was the first temporary employment agency to obtain the VCU certification, become a member of the NBBU collective agreement and that the back office ran like clockwork. Not with grand gestures, but rather by getting the details in processes, administration and certifications in perfect order.
first temporary employment agency
to obtain the VCU certification
to obtain the VCU certification
Proud of our journey
Connecting people
It’s worth saying: we are proud of our international skilled workers. Together with this group of concrete carpenters, concrete finishers, and construction assistants, we help build the most impressive projects in the Netherlands. From energy-neutral tunnels to the largest bridges, viaducts, aqueducts, and runways.
It’s no coincidence that we treat our people so well. In a world where time is money and project pressure is high, Aelbers was different. With genuine attention and personal contact, they built sustainable relationships. Project managers who were initially skeptical about foreign skilled workers soon saw that Aelbers delivered on its promises. Not with fancy words, but by getting up early, traveling far, and solving problems quickly . Always with personal contact!
This approach paid off. Before long, Aelbers was on speed dial for many site managers. When Hans Aelbers reached retirement age, he handed over his life’s work. Michaël Kempka & John Winters took the lead. Under their leadership, Aelbers has grown into an established name in Dutch construction. Not because we are the biggest or the cheapest, but because we stand by our skilled workers and clients.
It’s no coincidence that we treat our people so well. In a world where time is money and project pressure is high, Aelbers was different. With genuine attention and personal contact, they built sustainable relationships. Project managers who were initially skeptical about foreign skilled workers soon saw that Aelbers delivered on its promises. Not with fancy words, but by getting up early, traveling far, and solving problems quickly . Always with personal contact!
This approach paid off. Before long, Aelbers was on speed dial for many site managers. When Hans Aelbers reached retirement age, he handed over his life’s work. Michaël Kempka & John Winters took the lead. Under their leadership, Aelbers has grown into an established name in Dutch construction. Not because we are the biggest or the cheapest, but because we stand by our skilled workers and clients.
Acquisition by Flexfamily
A fresh chapter of the same trusted story
In 2018, Aelbers was acquired by Flexfamily. But its core values - personal contact, quality and reliability - remained intact and Aelbers retained its individuality. Even when Peter van Zaanen took over from Michael and John in 2020, Aelbers continued to believe in the long-term strategy, in nurturing workmanship and taking employees seriously.
Employees come from far away but more often than not they still stay for many years. We know the market, know what is going on and stick to our principles, even when the world around us is changing.
Aelbers' story is no fairy tale, but a down-to-earth and human entrepreneurial story. It shows how we built something valuable with a combination of common sense, daring and consideration for people. Something that reaches beyond the figures and that makes clients, employees and partners feel safe and at home on the construction site and outside of it.
Employees come from far away but more often than not they still stay for many years. We know the market, know what is going on and stick to our principles, even when the world around us is changing.
Aelbers' story is no fairy tale, but a down-to-earth and human entrepreneurial story. It shows how we built something valuable with a combination of common sense, daring and consideration for people. Something that reaches beyond the figures and that makes clients, employees and partners feel safe and at home on the construction site and outside of it.
