Sports at ASML. Or to the doctor, supermarket, hairdresser, masseur or a restaurant. ASML in Veldhoven is a village within a village with 18,000 people working every day. They just need to go home to sleep. The chip machine manufacturer will hold an open house on Tuesday evening. Omroep Brabant already got a unique glimpse into the ‘ASML bubble’.
During the intermission, the restaurants are teeming with people. Asian, Italian or simply ‘typical Dutch’ as they call it: a frikandel from the wall. It’s all there. Even a “Dutch sausage roll” as it is described on the sign. “We have 139 nationalities, so there is something for everyone,” says Kristel Gijsbers-Voets of ASML.
The head office and the many buildings of the chip machine manufacturer are in Veldhoven. It is a huge area where you just lose half an hour to walk from the parking garage to a building. ASML brings employees from all over the world to Veldhoven. However, they are not the majority. “Two-thirds of our employees are still Dutch and they do like a frikandel from the wall,” says Kristel. She gives us a tour.
“It’s immense how many men come here every day.”
The special suits for the ‘cleanrooms’ remain. We don’t go past the machines that make the chips. This time we get to see how this global player in the chip machine industry takes care of its people.
There is a supermarket on site. Open 24 hours a day. Seven days a week. Joeri van Lieshoud will soon be running an errand. “It’s immense how many people come here every day. There is a lot to do.” He’s looking for a map. “Someone from my team happened to get married. I must have a card to congratulate. You can also get it here.”
“It’s cozy here too, but different.”
The tour continues and we arrive at a room where the hairdresser, nail technician and telephone repairman are located. Hairdresser Marscha van Herk asks what Shafik’s wishes are. The sides are short and the top a bit longer is the ASML coup. “Often. It is usually men who come. Women come more for the nails. Men find it easy to come by during working hours, because it often falls short. So far there have been many positive reactions that it can be done during working hours.”
“We still have a hairdressing salon in Veldhoven. A real Brabant cozy salon. It is also cozy here, but different with so many nationalities. Here you have more stories about where everyone comes from and what they do here, rather than gossip.”
“We also have a covid test street.”
Shafik Fatah is satisfied with the end result: “Many people who work five days have little time to go to the hairdresser. It’s a village here. You just don’t have a hotel.”
Kristel fits in well with that. “In a village you also have doctors. They are also here on site. In case of complaints, you can simply visit the doctor during working hours. You don’t have to take time off. We also have a covid test street. For example, if someone flies to Taiwan.”
The masseur and gym are also still there. Despite the many facilities, according to an employee, something is missing. “A swimming pool would also be nice.” But that’s not going to happen, says Kristel. Well, with a half hour walk to the car, the condition is also sufficiently updated.
