V&D: The Rise & Fall of a Department Store

LEEUWARDEN, NETHERLANDS - During this WTC Leeuwarden Business Club event on September 27, 2016, Philippe Hondelink told us all about the rise and fall of one of the most successful department stores in The Netherlands. We all grew up with Vroom & Dreesmann later called V&D and internationally known as Vendex. Vendex International NV belonged in the 80s to one of the largest international retail groups.

Philippe Hondelink is the Historian and Regional Secretary of the Dutch Royal Metaalunie in the Northern Netherlands. Philippe is the author of the history of ‘Vroom & Dreesmann’. Together with Richard Otto they decomposed more than 100 brands and stores of this retail empire, including Vendet, Vendorado and Torro.

V&D Historian Philippe Hondelink emphatically explained the history and role of the two founders Anton Dreesmann and Willem Vroom. What made them successful entrepreneurs and pioneers who made V&D grew into a chain of department stores? How they changed the way of selling to consumers into a complete different and succesfull sales model. Of course Hondelink also paid attention to the V&D families and plenty of historical facts about the company were discussed. Based on the distinctive V&D moments, a picture of the almost 129 years of retail history including bankruptcy on December 31, 2015 and the most actual consequences were sketched.

A great evening that brought us insight in the history of retail.

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