He is certainly no handyman himself, which makes Maarten van der Vlist’s (37) respect for skilled tradespeople all the greater. Through his Praktijk Campus, this entrepreneur has been committed to hands-on construction education in the region for many years. When the De Verbinding carpentry workshop went bankrupt in late 2025, Maarten decided to give this social enterprise for deaf people a fresh start. “This craftsmanship must not be lost, and I see serious business opportunities.”
“The ambitions I have for this factory align with the personal growth I’m currently experiencing,” the entrepreneur realizes halfway through the interview. “As a social entrepreneur, I could certainly be a bit more business-oriented, and that’s exactly what De Verbinding needs. Yes, the social character and societal value will definitely remain. This company was founded in 2007 with that approach in mind, but I’d like to take it a step further. What we’re capable of here has every potential to allow this factory to seriously compete with other players in the construction and manufacturing industries. That’s why we’ll soon be focusing primarily on quality, and there are three core products that really stand out: our window frames, dormer windows, and ready-to-install meter cabinets.”
What Maarten wants to make especially clear is this: “Deaf employees and other skilled workers who are distanced from the labor market may have to work harder to break into the workforce, but once work processes are properly organized, they can perform just as well as anyone else. I see it as my greatest challenge to ensure that we organize the factory’s structure and processes in such a way that they can deliver. The foundation is making choices that lead to suitable work. Not taking on everything, but focusing on the products we’re already really good at. That’s when craftsmanship and passion come together to create the quality that sets us apart. The people are what make the business, and the social impact of our factory is a wonderful bonus.”
Knowledge, ingenuity, and passion
He’s brimming with ideas, but over the past few months he’s also learned to channel his enthusiasm effectively. “De Verbinding didn’t go bankrupt last year for no reason,” says Maarten, who, as the new owner, is now the third director since founder Toine van Bijsterveldt retired two years ago. “For me, this fresh start with the factory is a unique opportunity to continue Toine’s passionate work from a slightly different perspective: we’re going back in part to the basics of how it all began, but outwardly we’re placing a little less emphasis on the social aspect. We want to enter the market primarily on a business-to-business basis. Although we still have some groundwork to do here first: creating stability, building trust, regrouping the team, standardizing processes, establishing clear agreements, and then showing once again what we’re capable of.”
“And we’ve got some real talent here,” the entrepreneur says proudly. “Our carpentry shop is staffed by top-notch professionals who combine knowledge and ingenuity with passion. They love their craft, and from my role at the Praktijk Campus, I know how important it is to pass on that love for the craft. My hands-on training school for construction and De Verbinding are and will remain two separate companies, but they complement and reinforce each other perfectly. At Makeport Mercurius in Stadskanaal, too, we work from a Praktijk Campus location to train and retain skilled professionals in the construction and manufacturing industries. Because I recognize the great importance of skilled craftsmanship, and that’s what I want to build upon in the northern region.”
"It’s important that a love for the craft is passed on."
Maarten van der Vlist
Depending on skilled workers
Right after completing his degree in education, Maarten stumbled into this sector by chance, and he’s been passionate about it ever since. “Personally, the most I can do is put together an IKEA cabinet, and the point is: that’s typical of the largest group in our society. The focus is very much on digital technology, but AI doesn’t do renovations or come to repair our leaky roofs. And the more electronic systems we have in our buildings, the more dependent we become on skilled workers. Yet they’re becoming increasingly scarce in the labor market! Still, there’s plenty of potential in the Northern Netherlands for construction and engineering, even among people who need a little extra support. We just need to give them the opportunity and train them properly.”
“I get energy from discovering talent and helping it flourish,” Maarten says, explaining his dedication. “That benefits us all: the craftspeople themselves and society as a whole. That’s why I’m committed to hands-on learning and want to use De Verbinding to demonstrate, in concrete terms, what’s possible. The biggest challenges are time and mentors who can pass on their craftsmanship. Shortages put pressure on the work itself, while training new skilled workers is essential for the future. And you certainly don’t become a fully-fledged craftsman in just a few months—it takes years. Both at the Practical Campus and at the carpentry factory, I’ll organize this as effectively as possible, together with the teams who make it happen. Looking ahead, I envision De Verbinding as the new standard: the go-to institution where construction companies naturally turn to for their window frames, dormer windows, and meter cabinets.’