Entrepreneurial Waterland has named our director Wiebe Willig Entrepreneur of the Year 2025. A wonderful boost for our family business Henri Willig, where over 500 passionate colleagues in three countries bring the tastiest cheese to consumers worldwide every day. The innovative cheese maker from Katwoude was praised by the jury for his strong entrepreneurship with guts, vision and perseverance.
At Henri Willig, we believe in the power of opportunities for all. That is why we are extra proud that during the Werkgeversontbijt 2025 of Werkgeversservicepunt Zaanstreek-Waterland, we were awarded the MVO Partner Award - a recognition of our commitment to creating employment opportunities for people distanced from the labour market.
For us, this award is not only a confirmation of our social commitment, but also a great opportunity to highlight Lies' inspiring story.
Linde (25 years old) - Organic dairy farm manager
After an apprenticeship in Canada, Linde found exactly what she was looking for at Henri Willig: a place where animal welfare is paramount.
"Here, the cow's welfare really comes first. That may sound obvious, but at Henri Willig you notice that it really is," Linde says. "Here, the health and welfare of the animal is taken care of first, and only then production. The cows then reward this with very high contents in the milk. This fits well with my beliefs - and with what I learned during my education."
From shop floor to feed: our sales staff are also brand ambassadors
At Henri Willig, it's not just about top-quality cheese, but also about the people who enjoy being in our shops every day. Our sales staff are more than just colleagues on the shop floor: they are the face of our brand. Not only offline, but this can now also be done online. If you want to, of course.
De afgelopen 10 weken werkten Marketeers van de toekomst van het Talland College aan een uitdagend vraagstuk van Henri Willig:
Hoe vergroot je de naamsbekendheid onder Nederlanders?
Na een inspirerend bezoek aan de Henri Willig Experience en onderzoek in de winkels in Amsterdam, presenteerden eerste- en tweedejaarsstudenten hun creatieve communicatieplannen – inclusief slogan en campagne – tijdens een posterpresentatie op het Talland College.
What 2 cool days it was on 20 and 21 March in the RAI Amsterdam. More than 25,000 visitors, many of whom were (prospective) vmbo and mbo students looking for vocational training, internships or (part-time) jobs. We were present with our stand on the retail square with our Cheese Board Challenge. Retail Rocks, Cheese & You Rocks!
Welcome aboard, Sophia!
Sophia is studying MBO 4 Marketing & Communication at Talland College Zaandam and she is joining us as an intern Content Marketer, bringing her creativity and fresh ideas to our socials.
This year marks not only our 50th anniversary, but also our ongoing commitment to social responsibility, animal welfare, biodiversity and environmental friendliness. Together, we are building a sustainable future.
Find out how we are making a difference together with our partners. For 50 years!
Discovering new talent starts early at Henri Willig. And vice versa, we naturally hope that new talent will discover us too! That is why we are always open to students who come to us for a so called 'snuffer' internship. Ties scouted us and that tastes like more!
In recent months, Henri Willig's employee satisfaction survey was conducted. Some 500 employees were asked to give their opinions about working at Henri Willig. The results are to be proud of and still on the rise compared to previous years:
Work content = 8.3 (on a scale of 10)
Teamwork = 8.0
Involvement = 8.2
Sustainability / CSR = 8.4
"April does what it wants", this saying is telling about the capriciousness of the weather in this month, but at Henri Willig we know for sure every year that this is the busiest month on the farms. From the opening of the Keukenhof, many buses with groups of tourists visit us at the Jacobs Hoeve in Katwoude, The Catherina Hoeve on the Zaanse Schans and the Alida Hoeve in Volendam.
At Henri Willig, excellence in hospitality is not just a goal, it is our standard. In all our shops, we strive to create an unforgettable experience for every visitor who walks through our doors. That is why, during our annual 'shopping competition', we highlight our great teams and celebrate their unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional service. On National Compliments Day, a shout-out to all in-store teams!
On 3 March next, you can apply for jobs in shop, restaurant, ice cream parlour and canal boat at our location in Giethoorn!
Come along for a job interview, canal cruise and cheese tasting! We will be happy to welcome you and engage you directly in conversation at this beautiful location. There are both full-time and part-time opportunities for all ages, with or without experience. Please do apply via Henri Willig Giethoorn application form (google.com)
Last Thursday 25 January, the first Hospitality safari travelled through the region. Four tours with MBO students, secondary school students and jobseekers, each drove past four learning companies in the region to discover what kind of job and internship opportunities are available. They got all the ins and outs, a tour and they literally took a look behind the scenes. "It's really nice to be introduced to a company like that, it really gave me more insight," said Noëlle, a Hospitality student at Horizon College. Another Hospitality safari is planned for 15 February.
