16/09/2026
It all started 39 years ago with Arjan and Willeke.
Arjan was the captain of the Dortsman, our very first barge, navigating the Main Channel. To pass safely under the low bridges, the wheelhouse had to be fully lowered. Meanwhile, Willeke was down in the engine room changing oil of the Deutz 545 engine and making sure everything kept running. The next day, they switched roles.
From day one, Van Loon Group was about teamwork. About getting the job done, trusting each other and taking pride in what you do. Today, that same mentality is still at the heart of the company.
What started with one small barge has grown into a family business with nine vessels: seven tankers and since three years two river cruise vessels. Across our two Van Loon companies, the entire family is now involved, each contributing in their own way, but with the same drive that started it all 39 years ago.
A lot has changed. The fleet, the people, the technology and the business itself. But the essentials haven’t: a passion for shipping and the strength of working together.
