40 Years of Passionate People
You don’t celebrate 40 years of Niverplast with a circle of chairs, a slice of cake and a speech from the owner. No. You build your own Wild West. You divide your colleagues into rival teams. You bring Bökkers to Nijverdal. And you end the party with a pile of burning pallets that we’ll have to come back to later…
Welcome to Niverstone. Our very own Wild West, where we spent four days celebrating 40 years of Niverplast with the people who made Niverplast what it is today.
In 1986, Gerrit Jan Nieuwenhuis started out from home with boxes, bags and a telephone. Forty years later, we build complete packaging lines for customers all over the world. Quite a lot has changed. But one thing hasn’t: we still like doing things our own way. So, naturally, our 40th anniversary wasn’t going to be your average company party.
Relationday on Wednesday
First: the people we do it with
We kicked off Niverstone on Wednesday with our Relations Day. Customers, suppliers, familiar faces and new ones came to Nijverdal to experience Niverplast up close.
They toured our facilities, saw our machines in action and met the people behind our organisation. Then it was time for good food, drinks and a chance to celebrate everything we’ve built over the years.
Because 40 years of Niverplast? You don’t do that alone. You build it together with the people around you.
Thursday
The Battle of Niverstone
Thursday was all about our own people. Colleagues were divided into teams for The Battle of Niverstone, with one important first assignment: build a fort. Next came a strategic water game. Work together. Play smart. Fill the other team’s water tank while trying to capture their flag. At least, that was the plan. It ended in one massive water fight. Mission accomplished? Maybe not. Did we have fun? Absolutely.
Friday program
Listening, making and stirring things up a little
On Friday, we actually started with something serious. Jos Burgers shared his take on customer focus and how to turn customers into true fans. His own biggest fan? Apparently, that’s Snuf, his loyal four-legged friend. He’s always excited when Jos comes home. Even more often than his wife Julia.
Then Frank Evenblij and Erik Dijkstra took the stage. Founder Gerrit Jan Nieuwenhuis was called up as well for a no-holds-barred interview. No rehearsed anniversary speech. Instead, he was put on the spot with some pretty direct questions. Gerrit Jan held his own.
In between, colleagues got stuck into all kinds of workshops. Making guitars, preparing meat, creating jewellery and plenty more. And the evening hadn’t even started yet.
Friday Night
Niverstone, the big party
With the Bökkers on stage, Jorieke Sterken, Swingo Bingo and karaoke, there was already plenty going on Friday night. But apparently, ‘enough’ isn’t really a thing at Niverplast. So, naturally, there was also De Hupsakee: a secret tent hidden somewhere in the cornfield. Those who found it know what happened there. The rest should have looked harder. 😉
Everything breathed Wild West. From the ranch and decorations to the food, music and smallest details. It turned into the kind of party that even the artists and speakers told us they had never experienced at a company before.
Saturday
And it still wasn’t over…
After three days of Niverstone, you’d think that would be enough. Not quite. Once the hangovers had cleared and the alcohol had evaporated, we opened the gates to the ranch one more time on Saturday for our Family Day. Colleagues brought their families along for yet another day of Wild West adventures.
With music, a carousel for the little ones, a bouncy castle and a proper soapbox race, there was plenty more madness to go around. It was a chance to celebrate not just with our colleagues, but also with the people at home who, in their own way, have been part of the Niverplast journey all these years.
And then, after four days of Niverstone, it really was over. Well… There were still those pallets.
Thank you!
A big shout-out to the people
In the end, Niverstone wasn’t about the water fight, the music, the barbecue or the burning pallets. It was about the people. About everyone who has made Niverplast what it is today over the past 40 years. And there was really only one thing we wanted to give them: an unforgettable time. So our apologies to everyone who unexpectedly had to spring into action, like the police and fire brigade. And above all: thank you for your swift and professional response. Let’s just say that some things are worth turning into a tradition. Others are perfectly fine as a one-off.
We couldn’t have created Niverstone on our own either. So, a huge thank you to EVHands, De BBQ-sommelier, Mike Rikken Fotografie and all the suppliers, artists, speakers, makers and everyone else who helped turn our anniversary into something special. We already know that by mentioning just a few names, we’re leaving others out. So most of all: thank you to everyone who played a part.
Forty years ago, we started small. Today, we work with colleagues and customers all over the world. But as we grow, we want to keep thinking small. Stay close to each other. Stay close to our customers. And leave just enough room to occasionally do something that makes everyone think: Typical Niverplast.
Tomorrow, we’ll go back to being modest, hardworking and down-to-earth. For today, we’re just enjoying the aftermath.