Marijn started working at our nursery as a Saturday helper when he was fourteen. In the years that followed, his knack for and interest in operating machinery soon became apparent. Marijn is now 24 and is known as the ‘machine man’ at Overbeek Bomen. As not everyone has a clear idea of the amount of machinery work involved at a tree nursery, we’re going to talk to Marijn about his job.
During his secondary school years, Marijn focused on carpentry, particularly interior fit-out. He looked for an internship and a holiday job, but nowhere did he really get the chance to learn the trade. Eventually, he changed course and approached Maarten van Overbeek for a part-time job at the nursery.
Whilst working part-time, Marijn naturally found his way into the profession, and he has never regretted it.
“It’s the can-do attitude here that appeals to me most of all. I think that’s true across the sector: you quickly see the results of what you do. It’s not endless meetings, but simply getting on with the job together.”
Marijn was drawn to working with machinery from an early age. As a young boy, he was fascinated by the machinery, and as soon as he was allowed, he was given the chance to gain some hands-on experience. Step by step, his role grew, partly because he showed initiative and clearly had a knack for the work.
Marijn works with tractors, loaders and various specialised machines, such as a remote-controlled pruning machine. The variety is particularly important to him:
“It’s the combination of manual and machine work that makes it enjoyable. I don’t want to spend weeks on end sitting alone on a machine.”
He prefers tractor and loader work, but the work varies greatly depending on the season. During the pruning season, he is busy tying up trees with the crown binder. In spring and autumn, new trees are planted and fields are prepared for catch crops and other crops. In summer, the focus is, amongst other things, on irrigating plots. This variety ensures that the work remains challenging.
Marijn sees clear benefits to mechanisation within the nursery. As many of the machines are operated in-house, planning can be carried out flexibly. This benefits the trees, the soil and the crops alike. After all, with many tasks, it’s all about getting the timing right. And because mechanised work is carried out more quickly, this has a significant impact on initial growth.
As well as carrying out the practical work on the machinery, Marijn is also responsible for planting new trees, overseeing the planting team. This role developed gradually when a colleague left and Marijn was already involved in organising the work. He doesn’t see this as ‘leading’. “I don’t want to be the boss, but I do set the direction. We sort things out together.”
That way of working suits him: taking responsibility without being hierarchical.
As mentioned earlier, Marijn derives a great deal of satisfaction from the variety in his work, but above all from days when there’s clearly a lot going on. Sometimes that means a busy day on the machine, other times it’s a day spent planting with colleagues. “Working together, catching up with each other and seeing what’s been achieved at the end of the day – that’s when I go home feeling satisfied.”
Marijn is proud of where he is now: the trust that has been placed in him, the fact that he gets to work with machinery a lot, and that he can pass on his knowledge to colleagues. At the same time, he emphasises that working in a tree nursery is often underestimated.
“Many people only see the manual labour, but there’s so much more going on behind the scenes.”
His advice to young people who are unsure about working in this sector is clear: come and have a look, then give it a go.
“It’s only when you shadow someone that you understand what the work really involves. Then you’ll see just how modern and versatile a tree nursery is these days.”
