Koen is the third generation of Buntinx at H.Essers: a family story that lives on

Koen’s H.Essers story didn’t begin on his first day of work, but years earlier. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather—both of whom worked here as drivers—he is the third generation of the Buntinx family to work at our company. “At home, people always spoke proudly of H.Essers,” says Koen. Those stories shaped not only his image of the company but also his motivation. He was already familiar with our organization before he started working here.

Which values from your father and grandfather do you carry with you in your work?
Koen: “Taking responsibility, doing your job properly, and showing respect for everyone, that’s what I learned from them.” He links that to his own core values: reliability, teamwork, simplicity, and efficiency, as well as staying humble yet driven. “No one does it alone here. By working together, you always achieve more.”

What do those values mean for you in your day-to-day work?
Koen: “Reliability means doing what you promise and communicating clearly. Teamwork means helping each other move forward and not creating silos. And finding solutions without making things unnecessarily difficult. That aligns with the simplicity and efficiency I value.” These are principles that guide him in his role and in his collaboration with colleagues.

What was your impression of H.Essers before you started working here?
Koen: “In my mind, H.Essers was a warm family business. That started back when I used to get the chance to ride along with him in the truck during school vacations. When I started working here myself, that image was really just confirmed. What I did discover, though, is how technologically advanced and complex the logistics world is behind the scenes.”

What is your role today?
Koen: “I work in IT as an Application Support Engineer, a varied role where you make a real impact. I support and improve business applications, JEF for example, and resolve technical issues. To do this, I collaborate with various teams, including the Business Analysts.”

What advice would you give to new colleagues?
Koen: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You’ll quickly realize that everyone is willing to help. And perhaps even more importantly: be flexible and positive, because the logistics sector is dynamic and changes rapidly. That’s what makes it exciting and challenging. An open mindset will help you move forward.”

What evolution do you notice most strongly in your work today?
Koen: “Very clearly: the rise of AI. Processes that used to take a lot of time are now being made smarter and faster through automation, analysis, and predictive systems. It helps us work more efficiently, identify problems faster, and make better decisions.”

Why do you enjoy working at H.Essers?
Koen: “I enjoy working here because there’s a warm, collegial culture combined with a forward-thinking environment focused on growth. You feel that your work really makes an impact and that you’re part of a bigger story. For me, that takes on an extra dimension because my family has been working here for three generations.”