Wim de Haan

May 2021 De Haan will be existing 244 years. Former director Wim de Haan turns 80 in June. For that reason alone a special interview:

"Building relationships was and is essential for a good moving company and motivated staff"

In Januari 1960 De Haan got its first moving van. You were 19 years old at the time. What do you remember from that moment?

We were very proud of the moving van. It was really a showpiece for the time and a considerable investment. A double cabin so that the people who moved could ride along with us. I was the first driver to drive this moving van. In the beginning, the relocations were mainly in the area that is now the Drechtsteden and from Rotterdam.

I started working for the company in August 1957 as a co-driver on the carrier, driven by brother Aad. The idea of ​​buying a moving van came from my father Gilles Dignus de Haan in 1958. Until then, my father Gilles, my brother Aad, my cousin Adriaan, Rinus Bakker (his grandson is currently working in our office) and I worked there. Later my brother Bert and sister Ali also joined the company.

We worked hard and delivered quality. One of the first major customers was N.V. Nederlandsche Kabelfabrieken. They were looking for staff in Drenthe and we moved the families mainly to Alblasserdam and Papendrecht. 
It is worth mentioning that 60 (!!!) years ago we moved the office of Dredging company Bos & Kalis, now Boskalis, from Sliedrecht to Papendrecht and there is still a good relationship. 

How did it feel to be the seventh generation De Haan of a family business since 1777?

We did not notice that at all. We all worked very hard. It was only by the time we opened the new moving warehouse in 1977 that we came across the old documents again and celebrated our 200th anniversary in grand style.

Can you roughly outline how the company developed further?

Both the transport departments and the relocation have grown enormously from 1960. Here I limit myself to relocating. We also obtained a permit to operate internationally and this increased the possibilities. My father, Aad, Bert and I were the driving forces behind the strong development of national transport, international transport and removals.
It was the time when people emigrated to Canada, South Africa, Australia. Many Dutch people bought a second home in Spain and Portugal. Before the EU existed, customs clearance of household effects was a major problem. This resulted in representatives in those countries and later on they even became own offices.

Boskalis hired us for its expats in Portugal, because the quality over there left much to be desired. There was contact with Shell, for which we even did a local office move in Gabon. As such, we always moved  both large and small clients.
In 1976 we became a member of the international moving organization FIDI, which also opened new perspectives. In a leaflet we called the Port of Rotterdam “the gateway to Europe” and then of course for shipments use De Haan Relocation.

Did you already do commercial moving and office relocations at the time?

This was a new challenge. We have done many large and smaller projects. I mention from the early days the relocation of the warehouse of De Bijenkorf from Amsterdam to Woerden, Publishing House Misset in Doetinchem, KPN, Court in The Hague, taxation office in Dordrecht and, of course, regularly Boskalis if another piece was built.
Not that it always happened without a lot of effort. It often took a lot of headaches and improvisation skills, but we had guts and a lot of good, committed staff. Personnel from the transport departments also helped, especially on weekends. An advantage of a mixed company.

Are there moments or events in that sketched timeline that especially still stand by you?

What I recall is that everyone has worked with great dedication. Family and staff.
All our customers are special but I have nice memories of Princess Irene's move. We also moved Ronald Koeman, Johan Cruijff, Jan Terlouw and other celebrities. We were always pioneering.
For years I was also chairman of what is now the Dutch organization of the Recognized Movers.
Have I ever been home? Yes, especially on Sundays!

Born on June 1, 1941, you will turn 80 this year. A good moment to look back.

We have done very good things, enjoyed working, but in retrospect we may have been too ambitious. Ensuring controlled growth and remain critical is the message I now like to pass on to others. Be reliable and social.