Roel looks back on 17 years at Freshheads

Love at First Sight

Roel worked as a designer at another agency but was already looking for a new challenge. Through the grapevine, he heard about Freshheads and checked out the websites out of curiosity. A job opening was listed there. “That was the beginning of my career at Freshheads,” he says. “The company I worked for was mainly focused on print, and I was the only one dealing with websites. At Freshheads, the focus was entirely on online and interaction. That really appealed to me. The agency was smaller, with a cool portfolio and a vibe that immediately felt right. What further attracted me was the freedom: I could organize my work and time myself. At first, my focus was on design, later more on strategy, and eventually on organizing and standardizing processes. Everything actually flowed very organically into each other.”

Phases and Highlights Along the Way

“Freshheads was constantly in a new phase: from content websites for EenVandaag, Sanoma, and Audax, to projects for automotive clients and pop venues. Now the focus is more on platforms for, for example, job mediation. That variety kept it interesting for me. Every new market brings different challenges, and I found that much more fun than continuously working on the same product. 

And of course, there were the unforgettable outings with the best colleagues. The weekend in Berlin where the clubs were rocked, trips to Lisbon and Valencia, but also closer to home: a weekend at hostel de Ginkel, the Pink Mondays, or evenings at our own Koetshuis, were amazing. Ultimately, the location didn't matter: the camaraderie with colleagues always made it special."

Roel's Pride: From Werkspot to Service Apotheek

“If you ask me about the projects I'm most proud of, a few really stand out. The second version of Werkspot, for example: it was great to experience that growth. Roadguard from Centraal Beheer was also special because it incorporated many new technologies. Location determination was still very new then. We also created a blueprint there for how to set up a new service within the corporate environment of Centraal Beheer, and that was truly a learning process for both parties. YoungOnes was awesome because it quickly became a huge success. And Service Apotheek, because we could work on it almost continuously and really added a lot of value. But small projects were fun too. Years ago, we conceived a Facebook action for Emté around savings actions with Efteling characters. A game with virtual eggs quickly resulted in three to four times as many followers. Not at all our core business, but still cool to create.”

A Fresh Start at Mosadex

“When our collaboration with Service Apotheek ended, I noticed for the first time that I had difficulty letting go of a project. The client wanted to take the project in-house, and that felt like having to give away something precious. At the same time, I had been at Freshheads for a long time. That made me think.

My next step will be at Mosadex, the parent company of Service Apotheek. The software for pharmacies is in need of a fresh perspective. At Mosadex, I'll be back on the ground. There is a lot to do, and I'm really looking forward to it.

I will miss the nice vibe at Freshheads: the way people treat each other, the coziness that is always there, and of course, the extensive and delicious lunch!”

A Final Tip from Roel as Head

“Stay curious. Learn how the users' world works. Find out the question behind the question. Curiosity opens the door to solutions that really make a difference.”

That advice perfectly aligns with how customers describe Roel: “annoyingly critical and annoyingly good.” We’re going to miss you a lot. Your moves at all our parties, your expertise and experience, your connection, your cocktails, your walking speed, your advice, your... We could go on. Wishing you lots of success and fun with your new adventure!