Clear! Doekle Terpstra: From napkin to tablecloth

After eight and a half years of chairmanship, Doekle Terpstra bids farewell to Techniek Nederland. What started with doubts - does a man from the trade unions and education sector fit into a classic employers' association? - grew into a period of deep connection, progress and pride. "This association fitted me like a glove," says Terpstra, looking back on a time when the installation sector emerged as a full, visible and respected player in the social and political landscape.

Under his leadership, Techniek Nederland made the transformation from "napkin to tablecloth" - from a modest advocate to an association that counts in the big themes of our time: energy transition, labor market, education, digitalization. Not as a caller in the desert, but as a discussion partner for politics, government and society. "I sought the stage, but always with food from practice. Every visit to a member company gave me stories and inspiration. Wonderful handles that I could use again in my daily work and in lobbying towards the government."

Terpstra speaks with warmth about that practice. About companies with committed entrepreneurs, rooted in their communities. About the power of collaboration in the chain: architects, builders, installers. About how the role of the installer changed from subcontractor to guiding partner. He says, "The installation sector is becoming the top party in a number of places." And he describes an unforgettable moment after the first coronapers conference, when within a week the industry created the Safe Working Protocol. A textbook example of creativity and decisiveness under pressure.

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More than just visible

His legacy is in more than just what is visible. The establishment of the Bouwberaad, the Administrative Agreement on Digitalization, the place of TKI Bouw & Techniek in innovation policy: all examples of how strategic thinking, connection and vision come together. But perhaps what typifies him most is his belief in people: "We did this together," he repeats repeatedly.

Mark Harbers knows how the rabbits walk

With Mark Harbers, a new chairperson is ready to take the helm. Terpstra is confident the transition will go smoothly. “He knows the playing field, the people, and he understands the nature of our sector.” His only hope: that Harbers stays connected with the members. Because that’s where, in practice, the stories that matter are found.
Doekle Terpstra is stepping down, but his influence remains palpable. The sector is stronger, more visible, and more connected than ever. The napkin is no longer small—the tablecloth is spread out firmly.