What a wonderful way to wrap up the year

A festive setting

The warehouse was beautifully decorated with Christmas trees and cosy, festive tables. To mix things up, everyone drew a number for their seat. This meant no fixed tables or familiar groups, creating a great opportunity to connect, share stories and get to know colleagues even better across the organisation.

Everyone was invited to wear their best (or worst) ugly Christmas sweater. The prize went to the ladies from Finance & Reception, who showed up in matching beige sweaters, proving that even “ugly” can be stylish when you do it together.

Celebrating special achievements

During the afternoon, we took a moment to celebrate some very special achievements.

A significant milestone was marked as Jan Konings, just shy of 50 years of service, headed into a well-earned retirement. He dedicated many of the best years of his life to Van der Leun — or perhaps they were the best years because he spent them at Van der Leun. Either way, his contribution is immeasurable, and he will always remain part of our story.

The Employee of the Year award went to Madalin Voicu. Although he is not yet officially permanently employed at Royal Van der Leun, he has already made an incredible impact. Through dedication, ownership and a strong drive to improve processes and projects, he played a key role in turning challenges into successes. A well-deserved recognition.

Company of the Year

Van der Leun Vietnam was named Company of the Year. This award reflects the tireless commitment of the entire team, not only delivering an impressive number of projects worldwide, but also their strong involvement in charitable initiatives and social responsibility. A truly inspiring example of who we are as a global organisation.

A festive close

Even Santa made an appearance this year. During a quick cupboard tidy-up, a long-forgotten gift for Wilco Blankenburgh resurfaced and finally found its way to him. Our CEO, Martin den Breejen, was also treated to several cooking gifts from the staff association, setting him up perfectly for the holidays.

After the delicious food, our local DJ heroes took over and turned the afternoon into a full celebration, the perfect ending to yet another successful Christmas gathering.

Looking ahead

As we look ahead, we want to thank everyone who made this year possible: our colleagues, customers, partners and suppliers. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a healthy, successful and inspiring 2026.