The name "Koolwijk" has been known for years on ships that want to take provisions/stores. Several generations of the same family have been providing continuous service for decades, in the broadest sense of the word, regarding deliveries of ship stores and supplies to ships of all nationalities.

 

A. Koolwijk Sr. started the company in 1923. His son Anton Jr. continued the activities until 1998. From that year his daughter Anita became general manager. On January 1, 2006, a merger took place with Maaskant Store and became “Koolwijk Shipstores V.O.F.” formed. Since then, Anita Koolwijk and Wim Sr Maaskant have jointly formed the management.

 

In the beginning, only tobacco and other smoking supplies were delivered to the shipping company “Maatschappij Zeeland”. In 1949 the company became a full shipchandler company. Anton Jr. joined the company in 1949 when he was 16 years old. He started with a 'Solex', with a small trailer. He is proud that, in all these years, the company has stood up to the competition of eight local colleagues. This required a lot of energy and persistence. Koolwijk Shipstores has managed to build up a broad and satisfied customer base.

 

In 2013, expansion and new construction were realized in addition to the existing accommodation (warehouse and entrepot) on Westerhavenweg. A new office, spacious and light, was built. 7 years later in 2020 it was confirmed that we were going to make another expansion, but then with the entire building to a larger building in Middelburg, where we are currently located.

 

Since July 1 2023, Anita and Anton Koolwijk have retired. After many years, they have made the decision to leave the company. Wim Jr Maaskant and Jesper Schuit now form the management together with Wim Sr Maaskant.