Ben Schaap is a green maintenance employee at the Municipality of Rotterdam. Since childhood, he has dreamed of working in greenery. I ensure that plants and trees remain beautiful and do not cause problems, like bushes blocking the bike path.
‘As a child, I already loved working in the garden. I have a thing for plants. No idea why, I didn’t inherit it from my family,’ Schaap says. ‘I still live at home and I am also the gardener there. Our garden looks a bit wild; I like to let plants grow. I am not one for a neatly laid-out garden. But when plants get too big and grow over each other, I prune them. I enjoy it, so whether I am working or not: I love maintaining greenery.’
Schaap has made his love for greenery his job. ‘A friend told me two years ago that they were looking for people in the green maintenance department of the Municipality of Rotterdam. I didn’t have to think twice. I now work throughout the city and I really enjoy it.’
Cycling Paths and Fences
Now it is summer and the temperature outside is pleasant. Plants, bushes, and trees are in full bloom. ‘Then the world looks a lot prettier, Schaap continues. I ensure that the greenery remains beautiful.
Schaap responds to reports coming in from colleagues and residents. ‘Especially in the warmer months, when everything is growing, I am quite busy. Because greenery is beautiful, but it can also get in the way. Bushes sometimes grow over bike paths and block the way. I prune those, just like branches from trees on the street that hang over someone’s fence or grow into a facade. If I don’t remove such a branch, a pipe can get damaged.
“We had been suffering from it for so long!”
Schaaps work does not go unnoticed. ‘What gives me a kick are the reactions from residents, like “It’s great that you pruned those bushes or removed that plant. We had been suffering from it for so long!” That is nice to hear back.’
From Outside to Inside
Although he now mainly works outside and enjoys it, that may change in the future. ‘There are opportunities to grow here. In a few years, I would like to work a bit more in the office. Not that I’m tired of being outside, but I think it would be fun to have a supervisory role.’
Greener and Cozier
‘I would also like to share my ideas on how and where we should create greenery in the city. For example, I am a fan of green spots that can be used for creativity. So a grassy area where you also have a bench and a barbecue, for instance. Such spots make the city greener and cozier.’
More Information
Have you been inspired by this story and want to know what vacancies are available at the Municipality of Rotterdam? Check out www.werkenvoorrotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page.