On Thursday, February 22, Arie Dekker (89), the founder of the Dutch manufacturer Dekker Zevenhuizen passed away. The company provides various materials for kitchens or bathrooms. The vast majority of Dekker Zevenhuizen's revenue comes from the Dutch market. But the company also has a factory and sales organisation in Sweden, penetrating the Scandinavian market. Out of the six factories, two are located near the German border, allowing Dekker to serve part of the market of our Eastern neighbours. 
In a tribute, the Dekker family say the following:
'Throughout his entire working life, he was a self-made entrepreneur. Starting at the tender age of 14, he began his journey in his father's carpentry factory, which produced cribs, small furniture, and wardrobes for the steel furniture industry. From the early seventies, Arie Dekker ventured into the trade of kitchen buffets and kitchen units, which were adorned with coloured doors in Zevenhuizen. The kitchen units evolved to include fitted kitchens for which custom countertops were also crafted. This laid the groundwork for Dekker Zevenhuizen's current core activity. Arie Dekker was a passionate entrepreneur who, with inspiring leadership and calculated risks, expanded Dekker Zevenhuizen into Europe's largest independent custom countertop producer. His guiding principles: treat everyone as equals, keep it simple, and there's always room for improvement, are deeply embedded in the company's culture. In Zevenhuizen, he was revered as the patriarch of the "Oud Zevenhuizen" and "De Molenvrienden" Foundations. Arie Dekker was a man of commitment, passion, entrepreneurship, and solution-oriented thinking. He held independence in high regard and maintained control until his final moments. His departure was marked in the presence of his family. He will be profoundly missed!'
More information:
Dekker Zevenhuizen
PO Box 11
2760 AA Zevenhuizen
[email protected]
www.dekkerzevenhuizen.nl
'He expanded Dekker Zevenhuizen into Europe's largest independent custom countertop producer'