Executive Chauffeur Cornelis: “I simply went along to Dubai to drive our client there.”

*For safety and confidentiality reasons, "Cornelis" is a pseudonym. Cornelis is not visible in the picture above.

How did you become a chauffeur?
My name is Cornelis*, I’m 32 years old, and I’ve been working as an executive chauffeur for Taylor for about seven years. I started out as a taxi driver at a stand, and from there I moved into the luxury segment. Funny enough, I never planned this. I impulsively bought a car, went into the market, and things just unfolded from there. As they say, it went the way it went.

What do you consider most important in your role?
I think it’s important to give guests a pleasant and safe experience. They need to feel completely at ease. You have to sense what the guest wants: Do they prefer to get to their destination quickly? Do they want to relax for a moment? You must be able to read the mood. That’s absolutely crucial in this job.

What does a perfect ride look like for you?
When the flight is on time, the guest gets in on time, traffic is smooth, the route is fully prepared, and we arrive as comfortably and efficiently as possible. But the best moment — and perhaps the greatest compliment someone can give me — is when they say: “Are we there already? That went fast.”

When people ask what you do at a birthday party, what do you say?
I usually say I’m a taxi driver but different. Many people don’t know the term “executive chauffeur,” so I often have to explain what sets it apart.

How do people respond to that?
Not necessarily surprised, but most people don’t really understand this world. They think of Mercedes cars with blue plates or the taxi app. But we are very different “taxi drivers.” We transport celebrities, high-ranking officials and wealthy families. Not someone who needs a ride home from the Leidseplein on a Saturday night. You won’t find us at a taxi stand, we drive pre-booked assignments for Taylor.

“Are we there already? That went fast” — that’s the greatest compliment.

Where do most of your rides take you? Short trips or multi-day bookings?
It can be anything. We often do A-to-B rides, but sometimes I’m with one guest for an entire day, doing multiple appointments across the country. Short and long rides. Everything comes along.

What’s the longest trip you’ve ever driven?
The farthest I’ve been was during COVID. The airspace in the Netherlands closed, and I drove to the Polish border near Berlin to pick someone up. That’s the furthest for me, quite a distance. I stopped briefly on the way there, but on the return trip I drove straight through.

What do guests typically do in your car?
Most people are working or on the phone. Some guests have had a long, exhausting day and like to take a nap. But about 90% are working.

Do you ever have conversations with clients?
I usually leave that to the guest. During pickup I’ll say the usual things “How are you? How was your flight?”. But from there, I let the guest decide whether they want to talk.

Have you ever noticed that a guest wanted something different from what was arranged?
Yes, one incident has always stayed with me. It was with a CPO, that's a Close Protection Officer, also known as a bodyguard. The CPO had told me we were going to the Red Light District. When we arrived there, the guest realised we weren’t at the hotel and became extremely angry, demanding we go to the hotel immediately. He started saying unpleasant, even threatening things. It was quite intense. I really had to bite my tongue to stay calm.It turned out later at the hotel that it had been the CPO’s mistake. He hadn’t passed on the correct destination but also didn’t dare to admit this because he didn’t want to make the guest even angrier.

How did you handle that moment?
In a situation like that, there’s only one possible response: de-escalation. Luckily, that’s something we learn in our training. You have to switch off your emotions and apply what you’ve been taught.

Is there a booking that stands out in a positive way?
Yes, absolutely. That was in Dubai. I spent five weeks in Dubai with a guest. It was a unique experience to be able to drive the same guest there as I did in the Netherlands.

How did that come about?
I was already driving this client regularly in the Netherlands, and he needed to go to Dubai. He wanted me to come along. Fortunately, we have an office in Dubai, so it was easy to arrange.
At first, driving in Dubai took some getting used to. The roads are more complex. But after preparing the routes a few times, it became easy. You also develop a nice rapport with such a client. I knew exactly how he liked his coffee, so every morning I’d bring him fresh coffee with a croissant. To me, that’s part of the service.

So if that same guest asked you to drive in Monaco or Saint-Tropez next time…
Yes, definitely. Of course I would! The client is king, and I’m happy to go along if they ask me to. I also see it as a compliment that the guest wanted to bring me along.

“Fresh coffee and a warm croissant. That’s part of the service.”

Have you ever transported global superstars?
Yes, a few but of course I won’t mention names. It’s always a special experience. But I never talk about it, and I don’t take photos with them, that’s absolutely forbidden. Global superstars demand discretion, and we adhere to that fully.

What does discretion mean to you?
It’s extremely important in my work. People expect a certain level of calm and anonymity in the car. They don’t want a chauffeur acting like a fanboy. Outside the car, they already get enough of that. If that also happened inside the car, it wouldn’t feel calm or relaxed.

Do you ever overhear things in the car that you weren’t supposed to?
Of course but as we say in The Netherlands: it goes in one ear and out the other. By the time I step out of the car, I’ve usually forgotten it already.

Do you often receive compliments from guests?
Not really. And in a way, that’s already a compliment, it means you delivered exactly what they expected. I also take it as a compliment when a client specifically requests me again.

What would you like to tell PA’s who are considering Taylor?
Do it! We are well-trained, highly experienced, and extremely professional and discreet. Personal attention is very important to us.

*Please note: For safety and confidentiality reasons, the name "Cornelis" is a fictitious name. The real identity of the professional involved is not disclosed, in accordance with applicable security protocols and contractual confidentiality obligations.

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