After three years as a furniture maker and before that as a maintenance mechanic in the dairy industry, Lieuwe joined Henri Willig through a friend who already worked at Henri Willig. "I first worked through a technical company already in the dairy industry as a welder/mechanic where I solved breakdowns and was in technical service. Because of corona, that work stopped, after a period as a joiner I still ended up back in the dairy. "Although shift work pays a nice salary, I wanted above all to do something I really enjoyed - not just for the money."
Behind the Cheese: Lieuwe, from Welder / Mechanic and Furniture Maker to Cheese Maker
17 Nov 2025
From welder/fitter and furniture maker to cheese maker: Lieuwe finds his niche at Henri Willig
After three years as a furniture maker and before that as a maintenance mechanic in the dairy industry, Lieuwe ended up at Henri Willig through a friend who already worked at Henri Willig. "I first worked through a technical company already in the dairy as a welder/mechanic where I solved breakdowns and was in the technical service. Because of corona, that work stopped, after a period as a joiner I still ended up back in the dairy. "Although the shift work pays a nice salary, above all I wanted to do something I really enjoyed - not just for the money."
The move to cheese maker
Lieuwe started in the pre-factory and soon also rotated at the bins/curd makers and in the field (press and circulation).
"I felt right at home and soon started the MBO 3 course in food technology. The great thing about this work is that you are involved in the whole process - from milk reception to the brine bath. You literally see the final product being created. That makes it very tangible and gives a lot of satisfaction."
Although he can still progress to become an experienced cheesemaker via the VOB Cheese course (mbo level 4), he is not in a hurry to do so at the moment. "My wife is now also doing training, and to be honest, I think it's just fine like this for now. I have nice colleagues, lots of variety in my work and I enjoy going here every day."
Family and shift work
Lieuwe has three young children aged 2, 4 and 6. "Many people think a five-shift job is difficult with a young family, but for me it is actually ideal. I have a lot of free time in between, and that means I can be with my children regularly during the week. That's worth its weight in gold."
Job satisfaction and balance
"The best thing about my job is the variety and the team. Everyone helps each other, and we really work together on a beautiful end product. You feel that we are all proud of what we make."
In his spare time, Lieuwe likes to get out on his mountain bike or enjoy quality time with his family. "That balance between work and home is perfect for me this way. I can see myself doing this job for years to come - frankly, until retirement though. Why change something if you're enjoying it so much?"
