Dutch relocation business De Haan has announced the death of its founder Wim de Haan.
In a message emailed to partners and posted on social media, company CEO Madeline van der Rhee says Wim had been ‘the key architect behind the company we are today’.
‘Wim de Haan was one of the driving forces behind the development of De Haan into a leading international relocation company,’ she said. ‘While De Haan originated as a traditional family business, Wim recognised the opportunities created by increasing international mobility and globalisation at an early stage. Under his influence, De Haan took its first major steps towards becoming an international relocation company, expanding its services across Europe through road transport and developing overseas moving services to destinations all around the world.
‘He dedicated a significant part of his career to building strong and lasting relationships with agents and partners worldwide. Many of these relationships continue to form the foundation of De Haan’s international network today. The global outlook and long-term partnerships that characterise our company remain a reflection of Wim’s legacy and vision.’
Van der Rhee added that while Wim retired more than 20 years ago, his influence on the company was still visible.
‘The culture of our family business, built on genuine care for one another, commitment to our employees and responsibility for the world around us, has remained intact and continues to define who we are today. This is reflected in the fact that Wim personally hired more than 10 of our current colleagues. Until three years ago, he remained an active member of our advisory board and, until the very end, Wim and his wife Riet stayed closely involved with the company, its employees and retired colleagues. His dedication, interest and connection to De Haan never faded.
‘His entrepreneurial spirit, international mindset and unwavering commitment to quality played an important role in establishing the reputation De Haan enjoys around the world today. The values Wim believed in most strongly, including reliability, personal attention, craftsmanship and long-term relationships, remain deeply embedded in our company culture.
‘His legacy lives on in every international relocation we perform and in the many relationships he built throughout his life. We are grateful for everything Wim contributed to our company, our industry and our family.’