Master and apprentice: a special bond in sailmaking

At Zeilmakerij de Vries Maritiem in Lemmer, it is daily (quite literally) a hustle and bustle on the shop floor. Teun, the sailmaker with 46 years of experience and Pieter his enthusiastic 17-year-old apprentice form a duo that not only works efficiently, but also has fun working together.

Their story is one of mutual respect, learning from each other and, above all, passion for the craft!

A click from the first meeting!

When Pieter first entered the sailmaking business during an internship, it was an instant hit when he met Teun. "Teun exuded an enormous passion for the trade. He came across as someone who is not only incredibly good at what he does, but also very sociable," Pieter says. "That made it super fun to get to work with him."

Teun quickly realized that Pieter is a special talent. "His enthusiasm and eagerness to learn struck me immediately," he says. "He really wants to understand how things work, has an eye for detail and picks things up at lightning speed. Sometimes I can hardly keep up with him, that's how fast he goes, haha!"

The trust between them was there from day one. And that trust is the basis for their special cooperation.

What makes this collaboration unique

The strength in the cooperation between Teun and Pieter is due to their shared working mentality but also, on the contrary, their differences. For Teun, the strength lies mainly in Pieter's motivation to learn: "His enthusiasm is contagious. He really has a hands-on mentality, I really enjoy sharing my knowledge with him."

Pieter finds the trust Teun has in him especially special. "That trust helps me grow. Teun has so much experience and always remains patient. That is very special."

Together they have found a natural balance. While Pieter sometimes wants to work faster, he is also learning to slow down and pause for a moment. "If we're not sure about something, we just take the time to discuss it. That way we always come out of it," Pieter says.

Humor in the workplace

In addition to hard work, the sailmaker also plenty of room for humor. Pieter recalls a car ride on the way to a client, during which they sang along loudly with the radio together. "At the traffic lights, people next to us started joining in too! Apparently the fun we have in our work is contagious everywhere, haha!"

Teun shoots into laughter as he thinks back to the moment he had Pieter independently drill holes in a very expensive ship. "Bystanders watched in amazement and wondered aloud if he knew what he was doing. But I was sure it would work out - and it did. The result was perfect!"

Learning from each other

For Teun, working with a younger generation is inspiring. "You hear their stories and see their fresh outlook on things. That is incredibly instructive. "He tries to pass on to Pieter above all that being critical of the products you make and taking responsibility is important. "You make something for a customer, and it has to be good."

Pieter especially admires Teun's patience and passion. "He radiates so much pleasure in what he does. Even after all these years, he remains cheerful and driven. I want that too."

Looking to the future

Despite the rise of new technologies, craft remains hugely important to Pieter. "Modern techniques make things faster but the old methods are much more creative. In 30 years I hope to still be working with molds. That variety is exactly what makes the work so much fun."

Teun stresses the importance of trusting yourself. "Stay calm, don't let yourself go crazy. That applies not only in the profession, but also in life."

A tip for each other

When asked if they have any tips for each other, Teun is resolute: "Keep it up and, above all, stay yourself." Pieter laughs, "How do you give tips to someone who has been in the business for 46 years? I'm just glad I get to work with him!"

The collaboration between Teun and Pieter goes beyond work. It shows how young and old can inspire and strengthen each other. In the sail-making workshop, they not only work on beautiful products but also on a special bond with each other.

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