About
Building internet systems in the Netherlands since 1998.
Robertino Blagrove is a Dutch engineer and tech lead. He's been building internet systems in the Netherlands since 1998, starting at Tele2 on the first local internet support team. From there his career ran through Centric, Achmea, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Greenchoice, and today ECT Rotterdam.
Since 2011 he's worked independently, now under JFE Blagrove. In 2019 he took the tech-lead seat at ECT Rotterdam, Europe's largest container terminal operator, where he still leads engineering on mission-critical terminal systems.
Alongside the day job, he founds and runs his own platforms. He's the founder and creator of PP2G (PartyPeeps2000), which he ran from 2001 to 2013 through Connecting The Scene BV. It grew into one of the Netherlands' largest online communities. At its 2006 peak PP2G was the 5th most-visited website in the country, with 1.2 million unique visitors and over 300,000 registered active users. The platform covered four properties: PP2G.com (community), PP2G.TV (video-sharing), the PP2G Web Magazine, and PP2G Music, a 24/7 urban-music web radio.
More recently he launched Play2College.com, with KidsOpStap.com and the NexKyn networking platform both in active development.
The through-line: ship software that holds up in production. Whether that's a terminal system running 24/7 in the port of Rotterdam, or a free recruitment tool a student-athlete's family uses at the kitchen table.
How JFE Blagrove works
Four principles, quietly enforced.
Long engagements over sprints
Clients tend to stay for years rather than months. That lets the practice build deep context, not just ship features.
One throat to choke
No account managers, no offshore bench, no hand-offs. The person scoping the work is the person doing the work.
Built to hold up in production
The work goes into 24/7 terminal systems, customer-facing utility platforms, and consumer products. The standard is software that keeps running.
Patient product work
The in-house platforms ship when they’re ready, stay free where they can, and keep improving. There is no growth-hacked roadmap.
In their words
Colleagues and clients on working with Robertino.
Robertino is a very good tech lead and nice colleague who creates a great atmosphere. He is always aware of what everyone is doing and what needs to be done to achieve the sprint goals, and knows how to use the strengths of all team members.
Peter Dol
Microsoft Certified Azure Developer · Azure Solution Architect
Worked alongside Robertino at ECT Rotterdam
Robertino did an exceptional job on the projects we worked together. He was very productive and a multi-skilled person with a vast knowledge of .NET and programming in general.
Jeroen van der Stijl
Software Architect at Greenchoice
Worked with Robertino at Greenchoice
It has been a pleasure having Robertino on our development team. A firm .NET professional, familiar with modern, state-of-the-art technologies, always reaching for the right, future-proof way to solve the problem.
Bernadet Miceli
Client
Engaged Robertino through JFE Blagrove
As lead developer, Robertino has a clear technical vision and demonstrates a strong work ethic. He comes up with creative, innovative solutions and breaks complex topics down into simple and understandable items.
Dennis Dessens
Business Unit Director at Blue Bricks
Worked with Robertino on two projects
Excerpted from public LinkedIn recommendations.
Selected clients and engagements
- ECT Rotterdam (Hutchison Ports)
- Greenchoice
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Achmea
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Mexx
- PTT Post / TPG
- Neckermann
- Tele2
- Centric
Platforms & stack
- .NET / C#
- ASP.NET & ASP.NET Core
- SharePoint (2007–2016)
- Azure
- SQL Server
Delivery
- Tech leadership
- Architecture
- Technical project management
- Agile delivery
- Mentoring & team lead
Product
- Product ownership
- Founder experience
- Platform strategy
- UX & content-led design
Domains
- Port & logistics
- Energy & sustainability
- Higher education
- Insurance
- Consumer platforms & media
Credentials
- PRINCE2 Foundation
- PRINCE2 Practitioner