Bernt Van den Bergh co-chaired port operator Mexico Natie for many years as a Nation boss, but has opted for a more stress-free quality of life. He now works as warehouse supervisor at Katoen Natie and runs a B&B in France.
Bernt Van den Bergh is working as warehouse supervisor at Katoen Natie, managing two warehouses on Canadastraat in Zwijndrecht. There, he is responsible for the logistical and physical handling of goods from rubber producer Arlanxeo in Zwijndrecht, which closed its doors in 2023. This mainly involves metal crates of rubber bales imported in containers from Canada and Singapore and distributed further across Europe by trucks from Katoen Natie’s warehouses.
Van den Bergh studied as an accountant and started his logistics career in 1995 at Mexico Natie – today owned by Katoen Natie – on the Antwerp right bank. “I started at Mexico Natie as a clerk and bought into the company five years later as a Nation boss. I couldn’t sit still and eventually ended up on the quay,” he says. “As a nation boss, you have to ensure that everything runs smoothly. You are not only in charge of the operational side, but also of administration and salaries. In addition, you also offer a listening ear and watch over the mental well-being of your staff,” he points out.
The asphalt was still warm and the first goods were already being placed
In 2000, he started work on the left bank to run Antwerp Euroterminal – initially a 33/66 joint venture between Mexico Natie and Grimaldi Lines – at Kaai 1333. He was closely involved in the start-up of the ro-ro terminal and was responsible for day-to-day operational management, such as loading and unloading ships and ordering shifts, for more than 17 years. Partly under his leadership, AET grew from a terminal of around 20,000 sq m to a 150,000 sq m site. “These were tough times. The asphalt was still warm and the first goods were already being placed,” he says. “In the early years, we ordered about two or three shifts per shift. Over the years, it became about 15 to 20. We regularly picked ‘the kot’ (the then recruiting office for Antwerp dockworkers ed.) empty. It was therefore a challenge to keep some of the cowboys among them in check and ensure safety.”
“The opening of the new car terminal brought quite a bit of stress in the first few years. They were long and hard days. But, my work always gave me a lot of satisfaction,” he continues. “You strive daily to ensure that every ship is loaded and unloaded on time. I also learned to let go of certain things. As a manager, you have to dare to give your people responsibility.”
We’ve lost our hearts to Provence
Besides his busy job at Katoen Natie, Van den Bergh runs the Bed and Breakfast ‘Le Rougadou’ in Bédoin near Mont Ventoux in France. “I went on annual leave with my wife in Provence, where we had lost our hearts. For about 20 years, we returned to the same B&B each time during the summer months. When the managers of that B&B announced in 2017 that the property was for sale, we actually did not hesitate to take over the B&B, run it ourselves and embark on a new adventure. When we were finally able to start after six months of renovations, COVID-19 was on our doorstep.”
“Fortunately, in the aftermath of corona, many people started looking for a small-scale hotel or B&B and we were soon fully booked,” he continues. “Meanwhile, we were able to build up a steady Belgian clientele. Many of our guests have also become good friends.”
Wine lover
As a hobby chef, he enjoys conjuring up dishes from classic French cuisine. “I have a passion for good food and wine. So I took a three-year professional course in Sommelier-conseil and successfully completed it at the University of Suze-la-Rousse. With that full degree, I could work in a star restaurant,” he says. “I enjoy making our guests have a pleasant time and being able to offer them delicious wines from the region. In turn, my wife excels in her hospitality. She likes to pamper people and make them feel at ease. We are both very sociable.”
In his spare time, he particularly enjoys hiking and cycling near Mont Ventoux. “Running a B&B is a combination of work and enjoyment,” he says. “It gives enormous satisfaction when people go home with tears in their eyes and fill our guest book with words of praise.”
Despite his love of running a B&B in ‘la douce France’, he is considering taking up another challenge with his wife. “After our successful fifth season, we have put the B&B up for sale,” he says. “Possibly we will turn it into a holiday home, but we are already itching to start a new adventure. Our heart does remain in Provence, close to ‘the bare mountain’ Mont Ventoux,” he concludes.
Below are some more photos of Bernt Van den Bergh and B&B Le Rougadou.
