Retirement is the end of a career and the start of something new. A colleague who has been around for twenty or thirty years deserves more than "all the best". Here are messages for every tone, and a few tips for a card that people keep.

Warm retirement messages

  • "After all these years you have earned this. Enjoy every slow morning."
  • "Thank you for everything you taught us. Your knowledge will be missed, and so will you."
  • "You were the heart of this team. We wish you a long, happy and healthy retirement."
  • "We cannot imagine the office without you. We hope your days are full of sunshine."

A garden bench with a thermos and a book

Funny retirement messages

  • "Retirement: the only time you can say Monday is your favourite day."
  • "From now on your boss is your calendar, and it has a lot of free space."
  • "We promise not to call about the passwords."
  • "Congratulations! You have been promoted to full-time weekend."

Short retirement messages

  • "Enjoy your well-earned rest."
  • "Happy retirement, and thank you for everything."
  • "All the best for your new chapter."

A calendar with one date circled and confetti

Ask for memories, not just wishes

The most touching retirement cards are made of stories: the first day, the biggest project, the time everything went wrong and somehow turned out fine. Ask colleagues, former colleagues and clients to add one memory each. A photo from twenty years ago says more than a page of text.

How to organise it

  1. Pick the delivery date, usually the last working day or the farewell party.
  2. Make the card and share one link in the team chat and with former colleagues.
  3. Set a deadline a few days before the date, and send one reminder.
  4. Keep it a surprise: the person who retires should not be in the group.

Hands raising champagne glasses

With a retirement card on Emailkaarten.nl everybody writes their own message with photos, and the card arrives by e-mail as a slideshow on the chosen day. More inspiration is in our article about retirement card ideas.

Frequently asked questions about the retirement card

What does it cost to send a retirement card digitally?

Starting is free: up to 7 people, one photo each, the free designs and a small watermark. For € 4.95 per card you get 20 people, two photos each, all designs, the slideshow and a PDF; for € 7.50 unlimited people and three photos. You pay once per card, never a subscription.

How long does it take to make the card?

About two minutes for the organiser. Everybody else opens the link, types a message and adds a photo.

Do the people who write need an account?

No. They open the link and write. Only the person who makes the card can choose to have an account.

When does the card arrive?

On the day and time you choose, by e-mail. The day before, the organiser gets a preview.

Want to know more about e-cards? Read e-card: what it is and how to send one or how to make a digital card in five steps.