Window Cleaner at Vrije Universiteit: "You Are a Guest Here"
Victor Nendissa has been working in window cleaning for nearly forty years. At Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, he is not only the familiar face of Breedweer, but also the team leader. On a quiet summer morning, we talk about craftsmanship, how the profession has evolved, and why respect matters more than ever.
The summer holidays are just around the corner, and you can already feel it on the campus of Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. It is remarkably quiet as Victor Nendissa picks me up at the loading bay and escorts me through the security gate. After parking the car, we walk across an almost deserted square towards one of the university’s many buildings. Along the way, Victor is greeted several times. He knows everyone here, and everyone knows him.
That is hardly surprising. As the team leader, Victor has been Breedweer’s familiar face on campus for many years. It is time to get to know the man behind nearly four decades of craftsmanship.
"You were born in Brazil. How did your story begin?"
Victor smiles and begins to tell his story. In the late 1950s, his parents emigrated from the Netherlands to Brazil, where he was born. His father was of South Moluccan descent. When illness and rising medical expenses forced the family to return to the Netherlands, they had to start over, this time with five children.
My parents returned with nothing, but I am still incredibly proud of them. They were true pioneers.
"How did you end up in window cleaning?"
After a difficult time at school, Victor found his way into window cleaning through a temporary employment agency.
“Back then, being a window cleaner was considered cool. You worked hard, earned a good living, and spent the entire day outdoors.”
What started as just a job grew into a lifelong career. Victor worked at a wide variety of locations, from hotels in the heart of Amsterdam to the Rijksmuseum. Along the way, he witnessed the profession evolve firsthand.
"What makes window cleaning at Vrije Universiteit different?"
According to Victor, it is about much more than simply cleaning windows.
“You are a guest in someone else’s building. You should always behave accordingly.”
That is why he starts work early in the morning, while the campus is still quiet. The classrooms are cleaned first, followed by the public areas. Everything is planned to minimise disruption for students, researchers, and staff.
Alongside his own work, Victor leads the window cleaning team. He maintains contact with the client, supports his colleagues, and often resolves issues personally.
"If something can't be resolved by email, I simply drop by in person."
"What do you think is the most important thing in this profession?"
Victor doesn’t have to think long about his answer.
“Respect.”
Respect for the client, for the building, for your colleagues, and for yourself. That is why he tries to teach new colleagues not only the technical aspects of the job, but also how to communicate with people.
“In the past, you had to figure everything out for yourself. I try to share as much knowledge as possible with new colleagues. Knowledge is meant to be shared.”
"What has changed the most during your career?"
When Victor started, window cleaners climbed tall ladders without a second thought. There were hardly any safety regulations. Fortunately, that has changed. He also believes that much more attention is now paid to ergonomics.
“I’ve put my body through a lot over the years. That’s why I encourage younger colleagues to work smarter. Not harder, but better.”
"You've also been through difficult times."
After working seven days a week for many years, Victor suffered a severe burnout.
“I completely lost myself.”
Through regular exercise and taking a hard look at himself, he gradually found his way back. Today, he recognises the warning signs much earlier and tries to support colleagues whenever he sees someone approaching their limits.
What are you most proud of?"
This time, Victor doesn’t hesitate.
“My children.”
A moment later, a smile appears on his face.
“Recently, a professor called me a master window cleaner.”
That compliment meant a great deal to him. Not because of the title itself, but because it recognised his craftsmanship.
"What would you say to people who look down on cleaning work?"
Victor falls silent for a moment.
“You should never look down on other people. It doesn’t matter what kind of work someone does. Be proud of what you do and of the way you treat others.”
It may sound like a simple message, but after nearly forty years in window cleaning, Victor knows better than anyone that this attitude is what truly makes the difference. Clean windows are visible, but true craftsmanship is often found in the things people don’t immediately notice.
