Then and now: Martijn Veenhoven

From Floppy to Cloud: 26 Years of Growth at Heisterkamp. Martijn Veenhoven from Borne has been with Heisterkamp for nearly 26 years. As Supervisor of the Payroll Department, he has witnessed the company change in many ways — from old-school time sheets and floppy disks to digital tax filings and international expansion. In this edition of Then and Now, he reflects on his career, technological developments, and the traditions that still define Heisterkamp today.

How long have you been working at Heisterkamp, and what has your career path been like?
“I started working here in 1999, so it’s been almost 26 years now. Like many colleagues, I began in the invoicing department. Around 2001 or 2002, I moved to payroll, which was a completely new team at the time with Jan Meijer and Danny Wolsink, who joined from outside the company. I was transferred internally. After that, I pursued training to become a payroll administrator and kept developing my skills over the years. When Jan left, I took over his role and have been leading the department ever since.”

What have been the biggest changes in your role since you started?
“Digitization has changed everything. In the beginning, we still received thick stacks of time sheets on continuous forms, where we made corrections with a pen. Everything was paper-based and done manually — even for institutions like the Tax Office and the Employee Insurance Agency. For example, pension fund data used to be sent by mail on floppy disks! Now everything is digital and much more efficient. The number of entities we process payroll for has also grown significantly. We started with two companies, and now there are many more, including foreign entities.”

How has the team and the HR department changed over the years?
“Payroll has always been a bit in between finance and HR. Now it officially falls under HR, which is led by Raymond Hofste. The team has grown and become more specialized. Nicole and I focus on payroll and social security, while colleagues like Denise and Sierra work on HR processes and policy.”

"It’s amazing to see how large and diverse Heisterkamp has become, and at the same time comforting that the traditions and team spirit have remained."

Martijn Veenhoven - Supervisor Payroll Department

How are projects or changes handled nowadays?
“We don’t work in formal projects. But managing payroll goes far beyond just paying wages. We have to maintain accurate employee records, calculate and verify taxes and social contributions, and comply with ever-changing labor laws. Within that framework, we’re free to create our own procedures and suggestions.”

What do you think is the biggest change within Heisterkamp as a whole?
“The range of services. In the past, nearly everyone worked in Transport, with a smaller group in Truckservice. Now we have much more: equipment, technology, trailer and truck service, fleet rental, and more. The diversity and complexity make the work interesting.”

Has the company culture changed?
“Colleagues are now spread across more locations and divisions. That means you no longer have personal contact with everyone like in the old days. But it still feels like a family business with a good atmosphere. If something comes up, the lines of communication are still informal and short.”

What do you consider milestones during your time at Heisterkamp?
“The office renovations, the opening of new workshops, the increase in the number of legal entities... and of course, the golden truck celebrating Heisterkamp’s 100th anniversary. Personally, my 25-year anniversary was also a big milestone. Those are the moments that really stick with you.”

Are there traditions from the past that still live on today?
“Absolutely! The Christmas party, the summer get-together, Friday afternoon snacks, birthday treats... And with Carnival, we still go to Rosenmontag with a group of colleagues — we’ve been doing that for about twenty years now!”

Which technological development has saved you the most time?
“Digital payroll tax filing, without a doubt. In the past, everything had to be submitted manually to the authorities. Now we submit a digital report each month that gives the Tax Office and the UWV nearly all the necessary information. Recently, we also started submitting digital pension reports, which makes things even more efficient. Less manual work, fewer mistakes.”

Lastly, is there anything else you'd like to share?
“It’s great to see how large and diverse Heisterkamp has become. At the same time, I really appreciate that many traditions and the team spirit have remained. That’s what still gives me a lot of enjoyment.”