The history of Koopman
Our history
The sole ownership company started by Siebe Koopman Sr. in 1923 has grown to become one of the largest logistics service providers within the Benelux. From generation to generation, our family firm has developed into an international enterprise employing more than 1100 people and offering a wide range of services and facilities. Koopman is not just growing for the sake of growth, but rather based on the drive to optimally serve customers. Takeovers and innovations have always and will always be based on optimisation of the chain. The time line has a number of particularly special milestones.
Siebe Koopman, the farrier
Most of the customers of the young farrier Siebe Koopman from Briltil were milk drivers who transported milk to the dairy factory in Briltil. It earned him a living to support his family, but that was to change as more and more milk drivers swapped their horse and cart for a truck.
Siebe bought a truck
Siebe Koopman therefore decided to earn a living as a milk driver. Slowly but surely, other work was added, such as the transport of butter and rough fodder for the farmers. In 1936, he bought a second truck, to be driven by his son Klaas.
A broader base
From the 1950s on, other products were transported, such as building materials and sugar beet. This gave the company a much broader base. In 1962, Koopman introduced the trailer coupling system: the driver delivered one trailer and picked up another.
The start of car transport
The first 2 car transporters were purchased in 1964. It was a difficult start, but Koopman was soon able to take advantage of the massive growth in the number of passenger cars. By the end of the 1960s, Koopman bade farewell to milk transport.
Establishment in the central Netherlands
As the working area for car transport continued to grow, there was a need for a second branch in the central Netherlands. This wish was to come true when Koopman took over a car transport company in Hoevelaken.
General cargo also growing
The general cargo business also continues to grow. A brand-new location is rising in Nijkerk, which will also house the car transporters from Hoevelaken.
TransMission: extensive distribution network
Together with 12 other independent transport companies, throughout the Netherlands and Belgium, Koopman forms an extensive distribution network to cover the entire Benelux. This new service is named TransMission.
More than just transport
Thanks to the takeover of the car terminals in Amsterdam (2004) and Born (2006), Koopman can offer fully integrated services. Large volumes of vehicles are transported, prepared for use and delivered on.
Even more specialities
Upon taking over Möhlmann (2014), Smink (2017) and ACM Fleetforce (2019), Koopman has further expanded the range of services to include closed transport, exclusive transport, fleet management and a pool of drivers who can quickly deliver or collect a single vehicle.
100% Electric
By 2025, Transport & Logistics would like to see new trucks driving in Dutch city centres have zero CO2 emissions. Koopman TransMission's 100% electric delivery van (2018) and Koopman Cargo's eTGM (2022) are a start on the zero emission era in city logistics.
100 years Koopman
With the fourth generation at the wheel, Koopman is celebrating an anniversary year in 2023. Something that started in 1923 as a one-man company has grown 100 years later into the logistics company they are today.