His debut single De werkmens (The laborer) was released in a production by Al Van Dam. De werkmens became a hit within three weeks and was in the Flemish BRT Top 10 for 17 weeks. In the song, Heylen sings about the hard, robust life of the working man. The line "A zet a hier" (He stands here!) became very well-known. A video clip showed him working in a garden, while singing the song.
