Markiezen Nederland: A Look Back at 15 Years of Building, Innovating, Taking Risks, Surprising the Market, and… Growing

They’ve already celebrated with their own employees this year, and there’s a good chance that Aart van de Berg and Johan Hol—the two directors of Markiezen Nederland in Culemborg—will launch a special surprise promotion for the market before the year is out. But the fact remains: their company has been in business for 15 years. A look back at their joint start in 2011 up to the present.

We’re speaking with Aart van de Berg. “Before I started the company with Johan, I was already working in the sun protection industry. I was very happy at my job. But still, the urge to be my own boss just wouldn’t go away. Together with Johan, we started manufacturing awnings, initially just for a few local dealers. But eventually, we wanted more. We also realized we were a great team: Johan had a strong business background, and I had the technical expertise. We also felt we could build a brand. So we started out in Meerkerk in a small 150-square-meter space. It went quite well. And we actually thought that was a tremendous achievement, because quite a few sun protection companies went under due to the banking crisis.”

Aluminum hood and side panel

Aart continues: “We grew steadily, mainly thanks to word-of-mouth, which allowed us to expand to 300 square meters and then move to a larger facility—1,200 square meters—in Geldermalsen. There, we began developing our own aluminum hood and a side panel with a wood-like finish. I feel that was when we truly laid the foundation. We hired several employees and noticed that our brand recognition was growing across the country.”

The next step was taken in 2019: a move to Culemborg, where the company is still based today. Aart: “We now operate out of a 4,000-square-meter facility. We also opened a professional showroom. And in 2021, the powder coating department was established. Yes, looking back on those 15 years, I feel above all a sense of pride.”

In-house Powder Coating

The powder coating department has also grown significantly over the past three years. “We now have more than 500 tubes and profiles in our product line to ensure a perfect fit for every project. About two years ago, we purchased our own facility in Culemborg equipped with a modern powder coating line. We use this, of course, for our own awnings, but now also for other clients in the sun protection industry—and for clients outside that sector as well! Poedercoating Culemborg BV has become our own private limited company, and we now have 7 employees on staff.”

Where will it all end up? Aart laughs. “Growth is fun. Of course. But it’s not the goal. It’s simply the result of what we do and how we do it. Our focus has been the same from day one: delivering quality. Nothing more, nothing less. And yes, of course, in this time of reflection, we’re definitely looking ahead as well. We still have plenty of ambition, but you can only realize it if you keep doing what you’re good at: delivering quality.”