History

Starting in the early 1960s, Pieter van der Leegte began developing his own household products such as washing machines and oil stoves. In 1962, it was decided to move to Hapert following a large order for Honda chain cases. However, the order turned out not to be as large as initially thought. Subsequently, new end products were introduced to the market: stainless steel household items, such as bed cradles, egg cups, butter dishes, etc.

With the rise of production from the Far East, the production of stainless steel household items in the Netherlands became increasingly difficult. Therefore, starting from 1976, the company focused once again on supplies.

In 1966, Wim van der Leegte, at the age of 19, a technical college student, joined his father's company. Wim started his practical year working at the lathe and deep-drawing presses, honing his technical skills. Meanwhile, he kept a keen eye on the business, and after six weeks, he had a good understanding of the company's affairs. Due to various factors, his father, Pieter van der Leegte senior, became overworked during the summer. As a result, Wim took over the management of the company within three months. Ultimately, Wim acquired all of his father's shares in 1972.

In 1977, Wim van der Leegte implemented an open consultation structure. The reason for this was to involve his employees in all aspects of the business operations. By listening carefully and communicating with employees from different departments, they gained insight into various developments. This organizational change ensured that the company started to operate positively again.

Due to the implementation of the open consultation structure, the company performed so well that Wim van der Leegte sought a new challenge: taking over underperforming companies.

In 1979, with the first acquisition of TIM Hapert, the company of his brother Piet, the first step was taken towards dynamic growth. The name of the company founded in 1953 by Pieter van der Leegte senior was changed to VD Leegte Metaal. 

Originally, Wim van der Leegte was the sole director of VDL Groep. The sudden death of his brother Piet convinced him of the vulnerability of a company led by a single person. In 1984, they began forming a management team of four directors with Wim van der Leegte as chairman. The other directors who formed the foundation of the team were Lau Pas, Wim Maathuis, and Rini Vermeulen.

In addition to forming the management board, a Supervisory Board was also appointed, with Pieter van der Leegte senior serving as chairman. Unfortunately, the founder of VDL Groep passed away on January 22, 1991. 

In 1993, VDL Groep entered the bus industry by acquiring DAF Bus International. The group continued to grow, making two major acquisitions in the bus sector. In 1998, the Berkhof Jonckheere Groep was acquired, followed by BOVA in 2003. 

With the acquisition of Steelweld in 1995, a significant step was taken in production automation systems. Today, VDL Steelweld has locations in six countries worldwide.

In 2006, Philips Enabling Technologies Group was acquired, the largest takeover at that time in the history of VDL Groep. The circle is complete once again; at the former Philips Machine Factories, Pieter van der Leegte senior started out as a toolmaker.

With the takeover of NedCar in late 2012, VDL became the only major car manufacturer in the Netherlands. As an independent car manufacturer, VDL Nedcar assembles passenger cars on behalf of third parties.

In January 2016, the children of Wim van der Leegte, namely Pieter, Jennifer, and Willem, joined the executive board of VDL Group as the third generation.

On November 1, 2016, Wim van der Leegte celebrated his 50th anniversary, and it was a special moment to hand over the chairman’s baton to his youngest son Willem van der Leegte. Wim remains connected to VDL Groep as a commissioner.

In 2019, VDL Groep made impressive advances in sustainable mobility and technological innovation. In March, VDL Bus & Coach delivered 43 electric Citea buses to Qbuzz for use in Groningen and Drenthe, marking a significant step toward fully electric bus transportation in the region. Shortly thereafter, VDL Steelweld received international orders from Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo Cars, and DAF Trucks valued at more than 200 million euros, focused on production lines for electric vehicles. In June, the delivery of 55 electric regional buses to Arriva in Limburg followed, the largest fleet to date, saving 100,000 clean kilometers per bus annually. That same month, VDL Groep was awarded the Dutch Innovation Prize 2019 for its innovative capacity and societal impact. In October, VDL Translift, together with public partners, presented the first electric vehicles for waste collection in cities like Rotterdam and Zwolle. At the end of 2019, Heliox and VDL realized solar-powered fast-charging infrastructure for Albert Heijn's electric trucks in Zaandam. Lastly, VDL Groep, together with ASML, Philips, Jumbo, and the High Tech Campus Eindhoven, became a premium partner of PSV under the banner of Brainport Eindhoven, aiming to stimulate innovation, vitality, and talent development in the region.

In 2020, VDL Groep took important steps again in the field of sustainable mobility and social involvement, despite the challenges of the corona crisis. In early January, the renewed CF Electric e-truck was presented, with a range of up to 300 kilometers per day and fast charging capabilities of 300 kW, also used in Albert Heijn's sustainable distribution system. In March, VDL Nedcar had to temporarily stop production due to a shortage of parts caused by COVID-19. At the same time, VDL demonstrated its social commitment by delivering parts for more than 500 breathing systems from Demcon within three weeks in April. In May, VDL Bus & Coach celebrated the milestone of 50 million electric kilometers and delivered 21 electric buses to Leipzig, enabling the city to realize its first fully electric bus lines. In October, it was announced that BMW would not place the production of the new MINI Countryman at VDL Nedcar, but the company will continue to produce existing models until 2023 and is actively seeking new partners. Finally, in December, VDL presented a completely new platform for electric city buses, with a lighter and more energy-efficient construction, ready for launch in 2021.

In 2021, VDL Groep once again demonstrated its versatility and innovative strength. In early January, VDL started, in collaboration with DSM, the production of high-quality face masks under the name Dutch PPE Solutions in Helmond, while a production site was set up in Geleen for the critical filter layer, reducing the Netherlands' dependence on foreign supply. In June, the collaboration with the University of Twente was strengthened through a multi-million contract for joint high-tech research, focusing on, among other things, superconducting actuators and ultra-clean components. In October, VDL Energy Systems occupied a sustainable new building in Almelo, equipped with smart installations and prepared for future expansion. Shortly thereafter, VDL Groep recovered remarkably quickly from a cyberattack: within a month, the company was fully operational again, thanks in part to robust backups and a strong crisis team. Finally, in November, VDL introduced an autonomous electric vehicle for internal transportation at Aviko, powered by solar energy — a fine example of smart and sustainable logistics in collaboration with knowledge institutions.

In 2022, VDL Groep took significant steps in the areas of innovation, sustainability, and social engagement. In January, Marjan van Loon, President and CEO of Shell Netherlands, was appointed to the Supervisory Board, bringing valuable expertise in the field of energy transition. In June, VDL Nedcar celebrated the production of the millionth car for BMW Group since the start of their collaboration in 2014. During InnoTrans in September, VDL Bus & Coach presented the new generation of fully electric Citea city buses, setting a new standard for zero-emission public transportation. In the same month, the VDL Triple T Academy was launched, an innovative BBL training program combining technology, personal development, and sports. In the fall, the establishment of the Green Fund surrounding VDL Nedcar was announced, with a budget of 1.8 million euros for nature and livability projects in the Born region. It was also announced that Jan Mooren, a member of the executive board since 2001, will retire in early 2023 after an impressive career of 34 years at VDL. Finally, VDL Groep invested tens of millions of euros in its Limburg subsidiaries, focused on expansion, sustainability, and modernization of production capacity.

In 2023, VDL Groep once again demonstrated its innovative and future-oriented character. In March, VDL, together with Demcon, established the company FSO Instruments, the first Dutch technology company for laser satellite communication, based on TNO technology. In May, the intention to fully acquire De Meeuw was announced, strengthening VDL's position in the Infratech sector and responding to the growing demand for sustainable, modular housing. In June, VDL Nedcar presented an ambitious transition plan to develop into a comprehensive mobility partner, with new activities such as battery assembly and collaboration with ElectricBrands. At the end of August, together with Schaeffler and Mobileye, a new generation of autonomous electric shuttles was unveiled, intended for urban transport without a driver. In September, Henri Koolen joined the executive board of VDL Groep, responsible for the Buses and End Products divisions. In November, VD Leegte Metaal opened the 'Factory of the Future' in Hapert: a fully automated, sustainable production facility. Finally, in December, VDL Groep acquired Rena Electronica, strengthening its position in the electronics sector and increasing manufacturing capacity for high-quality LED and pcba applications.

On the night of November 18 to 19, 2023, Wim van der Leegte passed away at the age of 76 in his hometown Duizel. As the owner and former president-director of VDL Groep, he was the face of the family industrial business for decades. Under his leadership, VDL grew into an international conglomerate with more than 100 operating companies and over 16,000 employees. His vision of “strength through collaboration” and his entrepreneurship shaped VDL into a leading player in the manufacturing industry. His passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy lives on in the third generation of Van der Leegte, who has been at the helm since 2017.

In 2024, VDL Groep once again marked a year of transition, innovation, and strategic strengthening. In February, the last MINI Cooper Convertible was produced at VDL Nedcar, marking the end of a decades-long collaboration with BMW Groep. The factory in Born now focuses on sustainable mobility solutions such as battery assembly and special vehicles. In April, VDL Bus & Coach opened a state-of-the-art, sustainable bus factory in Roeselare, Belgium, where the latest generation electric Citea buses are produced. At the end of April, the online metalworking platform OrderOn.com was expanded with tube laser cutting and new materials, further enhancing its offer of high-quality processing services. In June, VDL announced the retirement of two key figures from the executive board, Guustaaf Savenije and Paul van Vuuren, both of whom played a major role in VDL’s growth in high tech and automotive respectively. In the same month, VDL acquired parts from the bankruptcy of bus manufacturer Van Hool, including a factory in North Macedonia and intellectual property, securing approximately 1,600 jobs and strengthening its position in the European bus market. Finally, in September, former ASML CEO Peter Wennink was appointed to the Supervisory Board, bringing valuable strategic knowledge and network experience to VDL's governance.