The 'Vutters van Bosch'

In 2024, we celebrated our sixtieth anniversary. If anyone can tell the story of Van den Bosch’s sixty year history, it’s the members of the ‘Vutters van Bosch’ boules club (‘vutters’ is Dutch for retirees). Together, these former colleagues account for almost three hundred years of service, and they still get together weekly at Jan Kuijpers’ house in Keldonk (NL) to play boules and billiards while reminiscing about the good old days.

A sign hangs on the door of the wooden shed: Jeu de Boules – de Vutters van Bosch. “That sign dates back to Jan Verhoeven’s place in Erp”, according to Jan Kuijpers. “That’s where it all started in 2004.” After Jan passed away, the club continued there for a while, but eventually Jan Kuijpers decided to build a court himself. “They’ve been coming here every week since 2014,” says Jan who, with his wife Toos, ensures that the club of former colleagues lacks for nothing.

Strong bonds
The club comprises Albert Daniels, Bert van der Vorst, Evert Bergers, Gerard Lemmens, Gerrit van Delst, Hans van Rooij, Jan Kuijpers and Wim van den Broek. Together they served Van den Bosch for a total of 297 years as drivers, in technical services or both. They are all now enjoying their well-deserved retirement. However, the bond with the company and each other has never diminished. Quite the opposite, in fact, as becomes clear spending an afternoon with these passionate former employees. Peter van den Bosch also joins us and the stories soon start flowing.

Pride
“Proud” is a word that comes up a lot. Pride in the company, in the opportunities the friends enjoyed, but especially pride in the equipment they used. Many of these former colleagues started out transporting bagged goods. “That was hard work,” Wim remembers. “Power steering didn’t exist yet and you had to load and unload all those bags of flour by hand.” Around that time, Ad also had a bulk truck and a grain truck. A little later the tippers and low loaders followed. “In the early years, we really transported everything,” says Peter, laughing. “Flour, paper, lime, cement, drinks, fats, animal feed… My father grabbed every opportunity for work.”

Connection
Despite the fact that the company grew, peaking at around seventeen hundred employees, the connection between the guys remained. “The fact that we are still together here every week says it all,” according to Evert. “The reunion we organised recently was also packed out. I’m very proud of that.” Peter is moved. “You’ve spent a lot of time together. I think it’s great that you choose to continue to visit each other after your retirement.”

Enough chitchat. Now it’s time for action. Our former colleagues enter the boules court with as much enthusiasm as ever. Peter also joins in. The scene is set for a thoroughly enjoyable evening in terrific company.

This article appeared in the anniversary edition of our Game Changer magazine. You can read the full story on page 22 via this link.

In the video below, our ‘vutters’ talk more about their fond memories: