Hans Langeveld

In 1985, Bert Heemskerk asked Hans if he would like to start a route to England. From then on, an exciting chapter of his life began for Hans. Every week, he would travel back and forth on the Olau boat between Vlissingen and Sheerness. With the arrival of internet sales, Hans thought it would be a nice challenge to start serving his customers online. He became account manager for England for Heemskerk Flowers. It quickly became clear that this was not his thing. His passion was and is being in direct contact with customers. Luckily, Hans was able to return to the fold and went back to work as an "old-fashioned" mobile wholesaler. And he is still doing that today.

In 1981, at the age of 18, Hans went to work for Henry Heemskerk (line driver on Germany) and thus entered H.A & A. Heemskerk as the staff of a commission customer. In 1985, Bert Heemskerk asked Hans if he might fancy starting a line on England. From then on, an exciting boy's book began for Hans. Every week back and forth on the Olau boat between Vlissingen and Sheerness. What a treat! Playing a serious game on the way there, with the colleagues, but on the way back to the disco. They were the success years on England. The van became a Mercedes 1114 and then came the biggest hatch car ever ( built by Theo Mulder).

Hans has always been and still is a highly seen salesman in England. Partly because of this, he had an impressive customer base and still supplies major events such as: Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, Royal Good Wood and the British Open (Golf). Still today, customers of the first hour, are customers of Hans.

That Hans has a "little angel" sitting on his shoulders is just an under estatement! On three occasions he came out of a crash without significant physical damage. The first time, he drove a replacement truck for a week. However, that one was 80 cm higher than his usual one. This went wrong near a railway bridge. Four and a half hours of no train traffic and 100 metres of flowers and shutters on the road. The second time just after a hill full on a tractor (with those concrete slabs on the back), leaving steering wheel, cooler and gear lever in the back of the body. Exactly the 40 cm where Hans had pushed himself over was spared. On the third occasion, his trailer broke down completely and swept away the front facade of a listed building. Fortunately, the occupant had just got off the toilet!

With the advent of Internet sales, Hans thought it would be a challenge to start serving his customers in this way. He became account manager in England for Heemskerk Flowers. It soon became clear that this was not his cup of tea. His passion was and is direct contact with customers. Fortunately, Hans was able to return to the "old nest" and, together with colleague Daan Wolthaus, went back to driving in a "good old-fashioned" way. The freedom you have as a line driver, the weekly contact with your customers, the game you have to behave like a chameleon with different customers makes Hans feel like a fish out of water in his work for 37 years now, and he would like to add a few more years..