De Haan announces with deep sadness the passing of Wim de Haan.
Wim was not only a respected member of the De Haan family, but also the principal founder of the company that De Haan is today.
Wim de Haan was one of the driving forces behind the development of De Haan into a leading international relocation company. While De Haan originated as a traditional family business, Wim recognized the opportunities created by increasing international mobility and globalization at an early stage. Under his leadership and vision, the company took its first major steps into international relocations across Europe, road transportation throughout the continent, and overseas moving services to destinations 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 characterize the company remain a reflection of Wim’s legacy and vision.
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 the company culture.
Although Wim retired more than twenty years ago, his influence within De Haan remained clearly visible. The culture of the family business, built on genuine care for one another, commitment to its employees and responsibility for the world around it, has remained intact and continues to define the company today. This is reflected in the fact that Wim personally hired more than ten of De Haan’s current colleagues. Until three years ago, he remained an active member of the 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 legacy lives on in every international relocation De Haan performs and in the many relationships he built throughout his life, but above all in the values and culture he helped shape.
Those who had the privilege of working with Wim will remember him not only as a business leader, but also as a kind, trustworthy and genuine person who valued relationships above transactions.
The thoughts of all De Haan employees are with his wife Riet, his children Mieke, Michiel and Wilco, their families, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.
On behalf of the De Haan family and all its employees, De Haan thanks all those who shared their friendship, trust and support with Wim over the years.
