Friday, November 15, 2024: Entrepreneur's Day
By: Hans Risseeuw
Every year, MKB-Nederland calls on the whole of the Netherlands to celebrate Entrepreneur's Day on the third Friday of November. FHI member Betronic was in the spotlight on Friday 15 November. Member of Parliament Rosemarijn Dral (VVD), Petra Tiel on behalf of MKB-Nederland/VNO-NCW and Andreas Meijer on behalf of FHI Federation of technology branches, visit Betronic in Amsterdam.
Johan Vonk and Jasper de Jonge, the CCO and CEO of Betronic, form the welcoming committee and open the door warmly. Betronic is located in a neat office building in Amsterdam. Nothing on the outside suggests that forty smart minds are developing the products of the future here. Betronic takes up two large floors; a true inventor's paradise. Cabinets full of electronics, work tables full of mysterious equipment and unscrewed devices, large and small, are spread throughout the space. "We have tidied up for you," says Johan, proudly pointing around him. Of course, the table tennis table cannot be missed. "We work in the office," Johan explains. "We work from home on one fixed day and can do so whenever we need to. But I prefer the office. Everything is here, you have everything at hand and you can find each other."
“What we do is difficult,” Jasper adds. “Customers come to us with a question. A wish. And we translate this into a practical product. We need each other. And that’s why we like everyone to be in the office.”
During the short introduction, Rosemarijn emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurs for the Netherlands. And she says how important she finds it to have contact with the field: the creative minds who stick their necks out. She likes to hear what is needed. "How can I help you?", she asks directly.
That's easy, laughs Jasper: "Stable and predictable government policy. We do difficult things and our projects often run for several years. Stable policy is very important to us. Our specialty is knowledge. And this knowledge is mainly in the heads of our people. Does this make us vulnerable? Yes. But we have almost no turnover. Betronic offers technicians the opportunity to develop sustainable products. And every technician has their own projects from start to finish. Developing and producing."
Petra Tiel adds that the Netherlands has been naive and that more guidance is now needed to keep production within Europe. More stability and clarity are very welcome for this.
We proudly conclude the Day of the Entrepreneur after an extensive tour. The technicians of Betronic are sitting around a large table at the Friday afternoon drinks. The Friday afternoon drinks have officially started.
With pride and dedication, Johan and Jasper thank us for coming, whereupon Andreas takes the floor and thanks Betronic, MKB-Nederland and Rosemarijn Dral. Traditionally, FHI hands out a present to all attendees and Andreas emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurs who together form the driving force of the Netherlands, work hard and always think in solutions.
“Stable and clear policy,” he repeats, as messages pour in about a cabinet that is surviving the weekend by a thread.
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