Working at De Vries Hanze..., Halbe Braaksma!

In Blije stands the company building of De Vries Hanze. This is where their own Minifix reed-binding machines, Cleanfix reed cleaning modules and DVC 2025 mowing heads are assembled. In the workshop we meet Halbe Braaksma (36), who has been working as a mechanic since January 2026.

Halbe lives with his wife Agnes and their young daughter Lieke in the Frisian village of Hantum. They are expecting their second child soon. His great passion is restoring classic cars. He is currently working on a 1975 VW Beetle 1200 and a 1924 Citroën C3, which he tinkers with and occasionally takes for a drive.

How did you actually end up at De Vries? "I used to work for a company that unfortunately ceased all operations. There I handled the assembly and subsequent installation of machines for the potato processing industry, including weighing machines, sorting machines and conveyors. When it became known that the company was shutting down, De Vries called me several times. They really wanted to take me on as a mechanic."

That’s hardly surprising. Good mechanics are always in demand. How did you become a mechanic? "I completed an MBO training for second mechanic in Leeuwarden. Before that, I studied metalworking at the LTS. After finishing my MBO work-study programme, I happily got straight to work."

"What I really like about working here is the variety. One day I’m assembling a machine, the next I’m making parts or working in the warehouse. No two days are the same..."

What exactly do you do at De Vries Hanze? "We manufacture machines for the reed processing industry. Machines that neatly bind reed into sheaves so that thatchers can use them perfectly, machines that clean reed by filtering out everything that isn’t reed from the bales, and reed mowing machines. I assemble the machines from loose parts that are either ordered or manufactured in-house."

Do you do anything else? "Yes, my metalworking background comes in very handy here. We’re getting more and more machines so we can make parts ourselves — just look at the beautiful lathe that arrived recently. I also do welding work more and more often, so we don’t always have to outsource it, and I make sure the warehouse stays tidy. This week I still have to install a special safe for goods deliveries. So there’s a lot of varied work!"