Household helps Nurshen, Suzan, Elis and Bilnur shine on our cover
Four colleagues, four friends, one family
Your favourite cleaning hacks Meet Olivier De Cock, a driving force behind our social impact
In my previous letter, I already touched upon this: Happy is a magazine that tells your stories and strengthens our sense of connection within Daenens. This idea is so important to me that I would love to repeat it once more, because we want to make your work and dedication much more visible.
This magazine’s edition does just that as I read about many relatable moments again. Stories that come straight from the field, like the one of Suzan, Bilnur, Elis and Nurshen. Four colleagues, but above all, four friends who support each other, in and outside of work. Their connection touches me because it shows exactly what we stand for as an organisation too: working together, supporting one another and being there when needed.
In this Happy, you will also read how we continue to focus on safety and well-being. The ‘Safe to and at Work’ training course aligns perfectly with that dedication. The training is entirely based on reallife situations that you experience every day. In addition, you will find the familiar, practical sections in Happy. For example, your favourite cleaning tips, which we received in large numbers, clearly show just much knowledge and experience we have within our organisation.
Another stand-out article reveals the massive response to our call for recipes. From Belgian classics to dishes from other cultures: together, they show how diverse and connected we are as an organisation. Just like your work as household helps, cooking is all about care, peace of mind and taking initiatives — values that are clearly reflected in the recipes.
19 June marks another Cleaning Day. For me, it remains a special occasion every year. In the early years, I took to the streets myself, flyers in hand, to raise awareness and call for more respect and appreciation for our household helps. This led to our first national call to share compliments in 2017. Something that started out pretty small back then has since grown into a day that truly unites people. The initiative has now been running online for several years and every year, I am reminded of the power that lies in recognition.
This year, too, we are taking a moment to reflect on the people who make a difference every day. The summer drinks we organise for this occasion are the perfect opportunity to meet up, catch up and enjoy each other’s company. Above all, Cleaning Day is an ideal moment to make a point of saying “Thank you” for your dedication, your reliability and the way you help people every day.
I wish you lots of pleasure reading this
and hope you will enjoy the upcoming get-togethers!
Greetings from
Celebrating you
on 19 June!
Last year, more than 20,000 clients left a kind message for their cleaner! What a wonderful testament to the gratitude you deserve every day.
To mark this year’s Cleaning Day on 19 June, we are taking a moment to recognise all of our household helps. Thank you for everything you do – day in, day out – with the utmost care, dedication and often a big smile. Your work makes a real difference and that deserves a big shout-out.
As household helps, you mean a great deal to our clients. Every day, you step into the lives of others. You provide peace of mind, build trust and offer assistance wherever it is needed.
For many clients, you do more than just clean the house: you become a familiar face and a constant source of support to them. Thanks to you, elderly people can continue to live at home for longer, busy families can achieve a better work-life balance and clients can enjoy genuine support in their daily lives.
This appreciation is clearly on display through our compliments campaign, which we are organising for the tenth time this year. Daenens was one of the first companies to make this campaign a success and it perfectly demonstrates the impact of your work.
Special celebration on 19 June
Your impact is huge, which is why you merit a special celebration in your honour on 19 June. At Daenens, we appreciate your work every day and on Cleaning Day we’re going the extra mile. It’s the perfect moment to reflect on everything you do - time and time again - with care, dedication and commitment.
That’s why we’re making it a warm, festive occasion again this year. Over the coming weeks, you can look forward to a lovely gift and heart-warming messages. So, keep an eye on your mobile, inbox and social media, because this day is all about you! It is a day to say a loud and clear “Thank you!” for your dedication, care, warmth and daily commitment.
Welcome to the summer drinks!
Obviously, Cleaning Day also calls for a cosy get-together: the office summer drinks! They provide the ideal opportunity to catch up with colleagues, discover new faces and simply enjoy the great Daenens vibe.
You should have received your invitation by now, so be sure to sign up and mark the date in your diary. Don’t miss out, because everyone who attends will be treated to a lovely little gift! Enjoy Cleaning Day and the office summer drinks!
Great perks for a budget-friendly summer
Summer is just around the corner, so you may already be looking forward to family trips, days out at amusement parks, buying new summer clothes or going on holiday. To do just that, here is some good news: as a Daenens employee, you have access to a wide range of discounts through the Benefits at Work platform.
Through the Benefits at Work platform, you can enjoy discounts on fashion, electronics, days out and much more. The platform is free and has been tailored entirely to you and your colleagues.
Daenens is happy to offer this additional advantage. It is a convenient way to save money on the things you actually use. From small purchases to surprise days out, every benefit is a bonus — especially in the summer, when fun plans and costs often add up.
Signing up is very simple. Take a look at the flyer included to see just how the platform works, step by step. And if needed, feel free to ask your consultant for help – they’ll be more than happy to assist.
Useful training helps to arrive and work safely
At Daenens, we make a conscious effort to invest in training and support. The training team plays a crucial role in this, ensuring that you have the necessary knowledge and confidence to complete your daily rounds. In this edition, we take a look behind the scenes at one of the training sessions to show you what it actually involves.
The ‘Safety to and at work’ training course is organised with great commitment and has already attracted considerable interest. Happy attended one of the sessions and we learned, once again, that safety involves so much more than just rules. It also includes daily habits, staying alert on the road and knowing what to do if a situation feels unsafe.
The training is closely aligned with your own daily reality and participants are encouraged to draw on their own experiences. How do you get to work? What risks do you encounter on the way? What would you do if a client asked you to do something that you are not allowed to do as a household help? Discussing these issues together led to immediate recognition within the group.
Learning to recognise risks
Take a look and find out which benefits you can take advantage of this summer. Are you planning a day out, a home improvement project or a holiday discount? With Benefits at Work, make the most of your summer – for less.
The first part of the training focused on road safety. It was clear and practical, not dry or academic at all. Participants considered various traffic risks, such as slippery pavements, distractions and dangerous crossings. Traffic rules were also covered in an accessible, interactive way.
The focus then shifted to the workplace. Now working in smaller groups, the participants analysed how to spot risks in the home more quickly and how to work more safely. This included topics such as handling broken glass carefully, using equipment correctly and properly assessing what is and isn’t safe in a home.
“The most important thing I’ve taken away is that small things can make a big difference,” says Dinorah. ‘I always drive to clients with my car and I now know what to pay extra attention to in order to stay safe on the road.”
“Here
you learn that you’re allowed to set your boundaries and that you’re not alone in this.”
Dinorah
“I found it interesting that we started with concrete situations that we experience every day, that made the training very useful and relatable.”
Dinorah
Respect as a common thread
A particularly valuable part of the course focused on dealing with difficult or uncomfortable situations at work. Participants reflected on their own boundaries and discussed how they could handle a situation that does not feel right. This topic made a big impression. “We all do the same work, but we don’t hear from each other very often,” says Dinorah.
The open atmosphere amongst the participants made this training course particularly effective. Everyone listened to one another, shared experiences and contributed ideas. At the end of the course, everyone returned home full of energy and armed with practical tips, new insights and greater confidence. Exactly what a good training course should do: make you stronger in your work, day after day.
Interested?
If you would like to take part in a future ‘Safety to and at work’ training course, please feel free to contact your office. They will be happy to provide you with more information about the planned sessions and the various locations. Together, you can find out which location is most convenient for you.
Good to know
This course is organised regularly and the hours spent on it are paid for as working hours. Your consultant will be happy to help you with registration and will subsequently send you an invitation with all the practical details, such as the address, date and time of the course.
Enjoying beautiful moments together
Daenens is not all about work, but also about experiencing things together. The past year saw many wonderful moments where colleagues could meet outside of work again. From cool summer drinks to cozy New Year’s receptions, any reason is a great occasion to come together.
The pictures on these pages truly capture this feeling of togetherness. All those smiling faces, lovely conversations and moments of genuine connection show the true strength of those gatherings. They bring colleagues together, foster a sense of belonging and create a space to catch up and enjoy each other’s company.
In an organisation like ours, this is especially valuable. After all, many colleagues are out and about independently every day as you work at clients’ homes. That is why meeting up now and again is beneficial: it is a chance to see familiar faces again, get to know new colleagues and feel that you are part of a big family.
Are you up for another beautiful moment together? Then make sure to mark your office summer drink in your calendar It is a perfect occasion to catch up with colleagues, discover new faces and enjoy the great Daenens vibe. Don’t miss out, because everyone attending will also receive a little gift!
Four colleagues, four friends, one family
Within the group, everyone has their own role. According to the others, Suzan is ‘the manager’ because she always organises everything. Bilnur is ‘the GPS’ because she always knows the best way to get anywhere. Nurshen is the group’s positive force, always cheerful and good-natured. Elis is the quiet one who capture everything beautifully in photos. “Sometimes we have to pose ten times over,” the others laugh.
Always there for each other
Suzan has been with Daenens the longest. “Then the rest followed,” she laughs. First Bilnur, then Elis and finally Nurshen. How did that happen? Pure coincidence! Bilnur already knew Suzan and was looking for work. Suzan told her that Daenens was looking for staff and that’s how she joined the team. Later, Suzan got to know her new neighbour, Elis. First, they became friends, then colleagues. Nurshen joined the group via the school gate, where she and Suzan became acquainted because their daughters attend the same school.
Meeting up regularly
The four of them have become a warm, close-knit group. They celebrate birthdays together, go out with the children and constantly get together. “Far too often,” they smile. In the summer, they often get together in the evenings in Rozebroeken Park. Everyone brings something to eat, the children play and the women catch up. Simple moments that matter. The group of friends is even bigger because they also have friends in other Daenens offices.
Put Suzan, Bilnur, Elis and Nurshen together at a table and you can be sure to end up with warm, laughter-filled conversation. The four household helps from the Sint-Amandsberg office are more than just colleagues. Above all, they are friends and, as they say themselves, they truly feel like family.
Their friendship goes deeper than just having fun together, by the way. When Suzan couldn’t find childcare for her little boy, Bilnur’s husband stepped in without hesitation to look after both their son and Suzan’s.
At work, they’re always there for each other, too. If someone is ill, if the nursery is closed or client appointments need rescheduling, one message in the WhatsApp group is all it takes to start looking for a solution. They even took over clients from one another during pregnancy or when someone needed temporary support.
Strong bond
Consultant Asmae also witnesses this strong teamwork every day. “It’s lovely to see how well these four work together. There’s such a strong team spirit; they help each other out whenever needed. Suzan often takes the lead when something isn’t clear immediately. When there are small gaps in the schedule, they actively look for new clients for each other. That mutual trust and commitment is what makes them truly special.”
The fact that they are colleagues is wonderful. Even lovelier is the fact that they mean so much to one another. Suzan, Bilnur, Nurshen and Elis really show just how strong a bond can be.”
Asmae
Do you have a lovely story or a nice anecdote about your colleagues? Make sure to let us know! Send your story to happy@daenens.be or contact your consultant. You never know, your story might soon be featured in the Happy magazine too!
From left to rightElis, Nurshen, Bilnur and Suzan
Your favourite cleaning hacks
In the previous Happy, we asked about your favourite cleaning hacks. We received so many responses and are grateful for this win-win: the winners were given the promised movie tickets and we received quite a few handy tips. Ranging from streakfree windows to a fresh toilet and from a clean bath to smart habits that make the work easier, here is our recap.
The thing that stood out immediately was that you did not just propose products but good work approaches too. For example, start out by organising everything properly. Work in a calm and easy way. Clean room by room. Proceed logically. This may seem like simple habits but they make a big difference. Music also turns out to be a real help for many of your colleagues. Because with a good song playing in the background, work sometimes just seems to go more smoothly.
In addition, many practical classic cleaning hacks were suggested. Think of cleaning windows and mirrors with a microfiber cloth, using cleaning vinegar in the bathroom or
wiping things dry immediately after a wet clean. All those little miracle remedies ensure a spic and span end result.
Some tips dealt with more than just cleaning. The importance of a friendly hello, a smile or a brief chat came up frequently and that really says a lot. Because as a household help, you don’t just provide a clean house; you often also bring peace of mind, a sense of trust and an all-round good feeling.
What we take away most of all from your responses is that a good cleaning tip involves more than just a handy trick. It represents the experience, care and pride in your work. Thanks to everyone who submitted suggestions, because that is how we keep learning from each other.
Coffee grounds beat odours in the fridge
Putting a small bowl with dried coffee grounds in the fridge helps to absorb odours. What a smart way to give coffee a second life!
These three tips stood out:
Lemon makes your microwave sparkle and smell
Placing a small bowl of water with a few slices of lemon in the microwave works wonders. Let it heat up for a few minutes to create steam: the steam will loosen dirt and grease, allowing you to easily wipe the inside clean with a cloth afterward. An added bonus is that your microwave will smell nice and fresh too.
Newspaper no longer guarantees streak-free windows
Using newspaper to clean windows used to be a classic. However, a microfiber cloth or squeegee works better these days. That is because the modern-day newspaper material absorbs moisture much less effectively, releases ink and tears more easily.
Simple exercises before, during and after work
As a household help, you give your all every day. That is why it is important to look after your body too. A few simple movements can help reduce tension, prevent aches and pains and maintain your energy levels.
The following exercises are really easy to do. Feel free to give them a go whenever and wherever suits you best. Find out what works for you and you’ll notice that they help you stay supple, strong and relaxed. Just remember that small steps can make a big difference too!
BEFORE WORK
WARM UP YOUR WRISTS AND FOREARMS
• Hold your arms out to the sides of your body and make circles with both wrists, first clockwise and then anti-clockwise.
• Now, stretch one arm forward with your palm facing downwards.
• Use your other hand to gently pull your fingers towards your body, with your fingers pointing upwards.
• Hold for eight seconds - then switch arms.
AT WORK
RELAX YOUR LOWER BACK IN 30 SECONDS
• Stand nice and tall and place your hands on your lower back, as a support.
• Then, lean back slightly as you breathe in.
• Gently return to the upright position as you breathe out.
• Repeat five times.
• Do these short micro-exercises to relax during the day, for example after doing the laundry.
AFTER WORK
STRENGTHEN KEY MUSCLE GROUPS
• Go stand in front of a stable chair with your feet hip-width apart.
• Slowly lower yourself until you are almost touching the seat of the chair.
• Then slowly stand back up straight.
• Repeat eight to ten times.
• This will strengthen your legs and abdominal muscles.
Let’s answer your important questions
What do I need to know about my 2026 holiday pay?
How is my holiday entitlement calculated?
Your holiday entitlement for 2026 is based on the number of days you have worked in 2025 (the ‘holiday reference or service year’), with some absences being equated to days worked. These include pregnancy, accidents at work, illness and short-term leave. For blue-collar workers, the National Annual Holiday Office (RJV/ONVA) calculates the number of holiday days based on working days and periods of absence that equate as days worked. Please note that not every absence counts towards your holiday pay. Long-term illness (longer than one year), time credit, parental leave and leave without pay do not count towards the calculation of your holiday entitlement and pay.
How is my holiday pay calculated?
Your holiday pay is based on the number of days worked and salary earned in 2025. On top of the days on which you actually worked, the calculation also takes into account some days on which you were unable to work, called ‘equivalent or equated days’, such as maternity leave and illness. If you have worked as a blue-collar worker for different employers in 2025, all of this information is assembled and taken into account in the calculation.
When is my holiday money paid out?
It is paid out between 2 May and 30 June 2026 by the National Annual Holiday Office (RJV/ONVA).
Are you a new employee at Daenens?
Don’t forget your holiday certificate!
If you joined us in 2025 or 2026 after working elsewhere, we need your holiday certificate to calculate your holiday entitlement correctly. If you were employed as a bluecollar worker, you will receive this certificate in May from the National Annual Holiday Office (RJV/ONVA). If you were an office worker, you should have received the certificate from your previous employer when you left. Please send this certificate to your office as soon as you receive it.
Where can I check this out?
You can log in to ‘My holiday account’ on the RJV website (www.rjv.fgov.be – in Dutch) and the ONVA site (www.onva.be – in French).
There, you will find the following:
• The amount of your holiday pay
• The date on which your holiday pay is scheduled to be paid
• The balance of your accrued holiday entitlement
• How to enter or check/change your bank account number
In your personalised area, you can also provide a correspondence address or download certificates.
Quick and easy!
What is the current situation regarding paper service vouchers?
In Flanders, the paper service voucher system will virtually disappear by the end of 2026, as users have not been able to order new paper service vouchers since 1 June 2025. However, some paper vouchers are still circulating and they can be used until their expiry date. Therefore, if you still have clients who want to pay with paper service vouchers, check their expiration date carefully.
In the regions of Wallonia and Brussels, clients can still use paper service vouchers. However, they are increasingly being encouraged to switch to electronic service vouchers here, too. If you are working with clients who pay with paper vouchers, please bring this matter up with them. If you have any questions or need support, your office will be happy to help.
Let’s meet Olivier De Cock
Happy often focuses on social impact, which includes empowering people, creating opportunities and making a difference every day. Do you know who is one of the main driving forces for social impact at Group Daenens? Meet Olivier De Cock, an enthusiastic colleague who works hard every day to ensure that social impact becomes a permanent feature within Group Daenens.
Hello Olivier, tell us who you are and what you do at Group Daenens?
“I am Olivier De Cock and I work on social impact within the group. This involves initiatives that empower people, create opportunities and offer prospects, both within and beyond our organisation.”
“Social impact is no add-on or an afterthought; it represents who we truly are.”
What does social impact mean to you personally?
“Helping people grow is something that’s deeply ingrained in me. It gives me the energy and motivation to keep going every day. Within the group, it means daring to look beyond the corporate numbers and results. Social impact is all about people and building relationships with our household helps, colleagues, customers, partners and the wider community around us. It’s about warmth, respect and providing space to grow. When these values are embraced, they shine through in everything you do.”
Why is social impact so important to Group Daenens?
“Because it really is part of our DNA. ‘Empowering people’ isn’t just a slogan, it’s a conviction. You can see it in the partnerships we form. Through YouthStart, for example, we support young people who need extra help to discover their talents. JINC helps young people from vulnerable neighbourhoods on their way to school or work. And Starterslabo supports unemployed people who dream of starting their own business. We build lasting relationships with all these partners with one goal in mind: to help people move forward.”
Where do you see the impact of this most clearly in your day-to-day work?
“Undoubtedly with our household helps. You make a difference to your clients every day. Thanks to you, families get to have more breathing space and quality time together. Elderly clients can continue to live at home for longer, surrounded by their familiar things and close to family and friends. That is invaluable.
The impact is significant for our household helps themselves, too. Thanks to the service voucher system, you are able to work within a safe and legal Belgian framework with a full employment contract. For many of you, this is your first experience of work and it enables you to build their own network and work towards your future, step by step. Some of you even evolve towards new opportunities within or outside Daenens. That is where social impact really comes to life.”
Finally, what is your vision for the future of social impact at Group Daenens?
“For me, it’s simple: without social impact, there would be no Group Daenens. That’s why we want to make our impact even more visible, talk about it and continue to make it stronger. So that everyone is aware that what we do here matters, every single day.”
Olivier De Cock
Thanks for sharing your favourite recipes in such large numbers!
We recently launched a warm request to share your favourite recipe with us. The result was heartwarming, as more than 500 colleagues took the time to send in their favourite dish. Some were brief while others added an extensive story to go with it. This enthusiastic response reveals so much commitment from your part — thank you for that!
Daenens boasts world cuisine
When reviewing the submissions, its enormous diversity stood out. From Belgian classics like hutsepot to fragrant Moroccan couscous, fresh Peruvian ceviche, Asian noodle salads … Recipes with influences from all over the world poured in.
That varied richness of flavours perfectly reflects who we are as an organisation. At Daenens, people with diverse backgrounds, cultures and stories work together and the kitchen is definitely an area where all those worlds come together.
Cooking and caring go hand in hand
It is no coincidence that cooking evokes so much emotion. As household helps, you provide peace, structure and a sense of trust in someone’s home every day. That goes above and beyond cleaning: it is about attention, care and warmth, with a kitchen often as the heart of the home.
The fact that you shared a piece of yourselves through recipes therefore feels very natural. It shows how connected, warm and caring our group of colleagues really is. Thank you to everyone who submitted a recipe. Together, you have created something special — and this is just the beginning.
Recipes full of stories
What made the submissions extra special was that so many recipes represented more than just a list of ingredients and the way to prepare them. Often, there was a personal story attached to them, a piece of family history being passed down. Every dish tells something about home, about memories and about what people like to share with others.
For instance, Elias shared his recipe for an Algerian tortilla, a dish with a special origin. In the 1990s, his uncle, a teacher and his mother’s brother, moved to Algeria to teach. From there, he brought the recipe home. Elias’s mother was the only one of his family in Syria who learned to make it. It became a rare but beloved dish in their home. While no one in the neighbourhood knew it before, they all loved it. A clear example of a recipe that melts together flavours with memories of travel, family and home.
A first taste: Brazilian coxinhas
Happy is giving you a first sneak peek from the many submissions with this delicious recipe from colleague Christiane from the Maldegem office: Brazilian coxinhas. These crispy, golden-brown chicken-filled bites are a true classic in Brazil. They are perfect to serve as an aperitif on a cozy summer evening with friends or family. We bet these yummy bites will disappear in no time, so enjoy them while you can!
“Serve the coxinhas while still warm, together with a fresh dip sauce or a spicy sauce. That will really complement this snack.”
Christiane
Ingredients How to make them
500 g of chicken breast
1 litre of chicken broth
2 cups of flour
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of cream cheese
2 eggs
breadcrumbs
salt and pepper
parsley (optional)
frying oil
Can you find all the flowers?
Cook the chicken breast until done in the chicken broth (and keep the broth aside). Remove the chicken from the broth and shred it into small pieces using two forks.
Fry the onion and garlic in the butter. Add the chicken, cream cheese, pepper, salt (and optional parsley) and mix well. Let the mixture cool down briefly.
Bring the broth back to a boil and add the flour. Stir vigorously until a firm dough forms. Let this cool down a bit.
Take a piece of dough, flatten it in your hand and place a spoonful of the chicken inside to fill the center. Fold the dough around the filling and shape it into the typical teardrop shape of coxinhas
Dip the snacks, first in beaten egg and then in breadcrumbs. Fry them in oil until they are golden brown and let them drain on kitchen paper.
To stay in the Cleaning Day mood, we have hidden a number of cheerful flower bouquets throughout this Happy magazine. Can you figure out how many there are exactly?
Count them all (excluding the bouquet in the corner here), scan the QR code or send an email to happy@daenens.be and send your answer before 31 July. This may give you the chance to be going on a summer adventure as we will raffle duo tickets to amusement park Walibi.
