Since February 1, the Frisian bus operator Kooistra Reizen has continued under the wings of Royal Jan de Wit from Haarlem.
This is reported by the digital Magazine Personenvervoer. The takeover marks an important moment in the history of Kooistra Reizen, which has been a household name in Friesland since 1931. Director Nico Kooistra remains at the helm of the company and emphasizes that the trusted branch in Franeker will be retained and that the takeover will not have any consequences for the staff.
According to Kooistra, this step is necessary to safeguard the future of the company. “We have had a good relationship and collaboration with Royal Jan de Wit for decades. With this step, Kooistra Reizen is completely ready for the future. After 94 years, the company will remain located in the beautiful Franeker and the takeover will not affect the Kooistra Reizen team. We find all of this very valuable. We look forward to the future with confidence.”
between big and small
In the Leeuwarder Courant, Kooistra explains that the takeover is a strategic choice. “With Kooistra Reizen, we have become too big to remain small and too small to become really big.” The family business is mainly active in group travel and student transport and has faced a challenge in recent years. Last year, Kooistra took over the stranded Terschellinger bus transporter Yellow Cab over, but the costs of making the fleet more sustainable were becoming increasingly important.
In order to meet the increasingly stringent environmental requirements, Kooistra Reizen would have to invest heavily in the renewal of its ten buses over the next four years. "That would easily cost 450.000 euros per bus," says Kooistra. The entrepreneur acknowledges that this is a considerable financial challenge. Personal reasons also played a role in the decision. "My mentor uncle Henk, he is now 91, he is also getting older."
future-oriented
Royal Jan de Wit, founded in 1923, is a major player in the Dutch coach transport sector and has 170 buses. The Haarlem-based company was the first bus company in the Netherlands to completely reject diesel six years ago and has since been running on HVO 100 (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), a sustainable fuel.
For Jan de Wit, the takeover means an important expansion of its activities in the Northern Netherlands. The carrier sees potential in the collaboration with Kooistra Reizen to guarantee high-quality national and international passenger transport. “With Kooistra Reizen in Franeker, we can optimally serve Friesland and Groningen,” the Haarlem company reports.
With this acquisition, Kooistra Reizen retains its Frisian identity, while at the same time benefiting from the economies of scale and sustainable innovations of Royal Jan de Wit. Little will change for customers and staff, but the future of the company is assured.
