‘Working at STAR is all about the feeling’ – Lea and Mariëtte on STAR’s 25-year journey

Mariëtte Aertssen and Lea Schipper are sitting at the conference table in a meeting room at Vopak’s Rotterdam office, overlooking the Nieuwe Maas. They’ve known each other for a long time. You can tell straight away. Mariëtte joined fourteen years ago as a temp – ‘one thing led to another’ – and grew from Front Office to Consultant, Team Lead, and now Key Account Manager. Specialist Lea found her way in through her network: a STAR consultant who kept calling until she finally decided to try it. Today, Lea works as Procurement Support at Vopak and has two years to go before retirement. Together, they represent a part of STAR’s 25-year history. Neither of them ever expected things to turn out quite like this.

Lea’s sister worked at several companies, and that comparison has never left Lea. “STAR simply stands head and shoulders above the rest. It’s a human company. No matter what you go through in life.” She pauses for a moment. Mariëtte places a hand on her shoulder. Lea’s parents passed away three months apart. The compassion was there, the warmth was there, and her hours were simply paid as usual. “You don’t see that anywhere. I’ve always been open and honest, and STAR has always been open and honest with me. So why would I go looking elsewhere?” Mariëtte came in differently – through people she knew – but arrived at the same conclusion. She watched as François Claeijs built the company up single-handedly, day after day. “When you see how hard he worked and what he’s built, you can’t help but develop a kind of STAR heart.” She laughs at her own choice of words. But it’s true.

‘It’s a human company, whatever you go through in life’ – Lea

The family atmosphere
That STAR heart – Mariëtte smiles at the phrase briefly – but it explains a lot. Because for her, the family feeling isn’t just a feeling; it shows up in concrete things. She remembers the shift from paper to digital, when everyone sat together scanning files. And the Friday afternoon drinks that kept starting earlier (or ending later). “We always push the boundaries a bit. Work hard, play hard,” she says with a small smile. It’s not casual togetherness – it’s how the culture gets passed on. At STAR, everyone works from a sense of personal responsibility – no internal competition, but a culture where you keep each other sharp. “It gets said, we’ve talked it through, and we move on. It’s never held against you.” That openness, says Mariëtte, is what makes the difference. You know where you stand. And that gives you peace of mind. But this culture of openness and personal responsibility also has another side – a positive one. It challenges you to bring out the best in yourself.

‘You’re pushed to become a better version of yourself’ – Mariëtte

Quality Over Age
Lea started as a project secretary, then worked for a while at Huntsman, and now works on-site at Vopak – including rubber boots and all. That journey, she says, is typical of how STAR works with people. Not looking at age, but focusing purely on what someone can do and wants to do. “If I don’t know something, I ask. Bring it on.” Mariëtte nods and goes on to share what she believes is the secret behind 25 years of growth. “It’s the drive, the mindset. Without specialists like Lea, we’re nothing. The only way to do it right: be human, and care about people.” She captures STAR in a few words: “Family feel. Loyal. Reliable. Helpful.” Lea doesn’t need much time to think either. “STAR just gives you a really good feeling.”