Starter Story Michiel van Engen
From the big ships to the small powerhouses
Can I do what I love and trust that we'll make it? That's the question Michiel van Engen (35) asked advisor Marion Schepers of Starterscentrum Limburg. This passionate, authentic man, with a love for nature, lives in Scheulder, South Limburg, with his wife and three young daughters. His dream is to turn his passion for bees into a full-time profession and build a sustainable, bee-friendly apiary. High-quality bee products, an active contribution to maintaining bee populations, and promoting biodiversity in beautiful Limburg.
Michiel wasn't always a beekeeper. As a young lad, he attended maritime school on Terschelling and spent several years on the high seas as a handyman. Love for his wife, then his fiancée, turned him back to being a landlubber. Friends asked Michiel for help, and the step to set up a handyman business was quickly taken. His friends became his clients, which meant there wasn't enough revenue. He also felt something was missing. "It's quite a lonely existence," says Michiel.
When he had to explain what to do to helping hands on a larger project, a lightbulb went on. Coming from a family of educators, it wasn't surprising that he enjoyed the helpers' explanations and guidance. And so, Michiel transitioned to electrical engineering teacher training at a vocational school. The handyman business remained dormant. While teaching young people and working in a team was enjoyable, Michiel lacked recognition from management. He became ill, and in May 2023, his teaching career abruptly ended.
To regain his strength, he turned to nature. He created a vegetable garden of about 300 m2, with the idea of being self-sufficient, like a market garden, where people could harvest vegetables and fruit for a fee. And… he wanted to do something with bees. To approach this properly and safely – Michiel is extremely allergic to stings – he took the beekeeping course at the Dutch Beekeepers Association. To turn his passion for bees into a profitable business, he turned to the Starterscentrum. ‘I learned a lot from Marion, including the steps I need to take to give my company ‘Kleine Krachtpatsers’ a chance of success, but I also felt a supportive hand on my back. At ‘Kleine Krachtpatsers’ everything revolves around nature. Our bees are the buzzing heroes that not only produce honey, but also play a key role in preserving our ecosystem. My mission is to combine tradition, sustainability, and education so that together we can understand and support the value of bees and biodiversity.