Winfred de Nijs: 'We live in a culture where you cannot afford to make mistakes'

This year, the family business M.J. De Nijs en Zonen celebrates its 101st anniversary. The construction company was responsible for restoring the old tram depot De Hallen, the Hermitage Amsterdam museum, building the Eye Film Museum and currently renovating the former KPMG office in Amstelveen into luxury homes: The Mayor. At the helm is the [...]

This year the family business is celebrating MJ De Nijs and Sons its 101st anniversary. The construction company was responsible for the restoration project of the old tram depot De Hallen, the Hermitage Amsterdam museum, the construction of the Eye Film Museum and currently the renovation of the former KPMG office in Amstelveen into high-end homes: The Mayor. The 64-year-old is at the helm Winfred de Nijs. He is the third generation of the family business and is preparing to hand over the company to the fourth generation. His career started in South Africa and he has now been general manager for twelve years, but who helped Winfred build his career? Text: Patrick Stoffer
Image: De Nijs and Sons

What was your very first job?

''At 21e I left for South Africa to work there as an intern and then as a production employee at a very large company called Iscor. Iron was organized here and at that time it was still done with a brick oven through which the iron passed. They sometimes fell apart and terrible accidents occurred. I helped build a new aluminum line here. This new line came from America and was set up there. I was allowed to participate in this.”

How did you end up in your current job?

''Construction company MJ De Nijs en Zonen is a family business that has been around for 101 years this year, my surname is also De Nijs. In 1980, a major project was taken on in Amsterdam: the renovation of the Piet Lodewijk Takbuurt. These are houses that were built in the 30s in the Amsterdam School style. That year my father asked me to return from South Africa and I started working in the family business as a work planner. After this I went to manager and seven years later to financial director. For the last twelve years, since 2009, I have been general manager of De Nijs en Zonen. ''

Who was your wheelbarrow in that?

The company has now existed for 101 years. My grandfather passed it on to his sons, of which my father was one. So at home nothing was really talked about other than the company, it was basically taught to me from a young age. So my first wheelbarrow was my father, who attracted me to the company. I also received a lot of inspiration from employees who worked in the company, but also from people we worked for. Architects of name and fame, such as Joop van Stigt en Theo Boss, who have already passed away. People often do not realize that they are a wheelbarrow for someone. A good wheelbarrow always does it unconsciously. Photo: Rob Verhagen

What is your greatest passion in your profession?

''People are proud of the buildings they have created. We have a profession where we can leave something behind in the world. We can give the world something that makes it more interesting. For example, we were able to create the Hermitage, the Eye Film Museum and the Pontsteiger. Amsterdam is an important spearhead. We are everywhere, but always in the city center. My greatest passion is making the world a little more beautiful. You leave behind something that people can enjoy, live and derive joy from. The passion with which this is done internally and externally is wonderful."

What has been the biggest learning moment in your career?

''One of my biggest learning moments was that I made the move to South Africa at the end of my school career. Not because of South Africa, but it breaks you away from a certain way of thinking. By taking that step you end up in an alien country where you have to fend for yourself, because you were raised here in a protected environment. You arrive there and are picked up at the airport. Save yourself here and the next day you have to go to work by bus 10 kilometers away. That will keep you upright and not think after a week: 'I want to go home'. That helped me a lot. And of course my father's coaching in the company. I later managed the company with my brother and cousins. In the mid-90s, the company was having a hard time and was on the verge of collapse. Nevertheless, we continue and put our shoulders to the wheel together. It is more about moments in a private atmosphere than creating a building."

What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?

''Dare to learn and dare to make mistakes. I have learned the most from the mistakes I have made. I learned to drive through Amsterdam by making mistakes. Now you have a TomTom, but it wasn't there then. Getting to know Amsterdam by driving wrong. Then you only drive around three streets, then you know exactly where that street is. That's the imagery. Try to learn, both theoretically and in practice. Allow yourself to make mistakes. We live in a culture where you are no longer allowed to make mistakes. Where does that lead? That people no longer take responsibility.”

Have you been a wheelbarrow for someone?

''I try to be a wheelbarrow for my children. Live with pleasure, but use your talents. I hope to transfer the company to the fourth generation in a good way. My grandfather is the first generation, his sons the second and I the third. The fourth is coming. The fourth generation differs from the first three, because we have realized that we can also put a woman in charge of the company. My niece Danielle is also on the board. A construction company is a man's world, but fortunately here you also see that there are more women in the world. Maybe it's more for women, because men bounce from one thing to another. In the culture it is good that women walk. The whole macho thing is getting rid of it and that's good. If you want the company to have a good future, you have to move with the times.”

The Mayor – Amstelveen