Gert van der Ent works for Construction company Vrolijk and calls himself ‘the father of the site’ — or rather, the grandfather, since he recently turned 69. But retirement isn’t on his mind yet. With over 40 years of experience in construction, Gert is the central figure at the Xycle Europoort site during this phase — the person everyone turns to with questions. He’s the first to arrive and the last to leave.

What’s your main task on this project?
“My responsibility is to make sure everything goes as it should — safely and according to plan,” says Gert. “Of course, there are challenges. For example, with the stormy weather last month, lifting the roof panels was quite a task. But it all worked out fine in the end. I also handle some administrative work and make sure the site is tidy at the end of each day.”

What makes you proud? What makes you happy on site?
“What makes me happiest is when everyone enjoys their work — and when I can motivate the team,” says Gert. “I like to chat with the guys. They work hard, but there’s always room for a joke. Whether it’s in Dutch, Spanish, German, or English — I manage to make myself understood. I’m proud of what we’ve built so far. It’s great working with the Xycle team.”