Despite a stagnating housing market, Dekker Zevenhuizen, a manufacturer of luxury countertops and a wholesale supplier of kitchen and sanitary products, achieved modest revenue growth in 2025. The family-owned business looks to 2026 with confidence, planning international expansion, circular production initiatives, and technological innovations. Wonen360 spoke with spokesperson Ben van Elk about trends, challenges, and the future of the kitchen market.
© Dekker Zevenhuizen B.V.
Ben van Elk poses at one of the setups visible in the Dekker Trend Center.
Looking back on 2025, Dekker Zevenhuizen is satisfied. "The forecast we made has come true: we are closing this year with reasonable revenue growth," says Van Elk. "The expected growth, particularly in Germany, has continued, and the Netherlands has also seen further growth, despite housing construction in the country still lagging at -2%. Due to the sell-off of rental properties by private investors, there was a one-time spike in the number of homes sold over 10% compared to last year. This has led to a slight increase in the number of kitchens sold. The focus on luxury, primarily countertops, has resulted in a stronger rise in revenue in the kitchen market."
Looking ahead to 2026, Dekker remains optimistic: "Next year, we look forward with confidence. Barring major geopolitical disruptions, we expect modest growth in the Netherlands again, and our exports are also anticipated to increase strongly."
Regarding housing construction, a recovery is not yet in sight in the short term. "We do not foresee a recovery soon. Developments in housing construction are largely dependent on political decisions. Although we saw some revival in the last quarter, the question is whether this can be sustained. Without large-scale housing projects like the Vinex locations of the past, growth will remain limited, and we will likely stay around 70,000 homes. The government is working on so-called NOVEX locations, but without a functioning government, decision-making is delayed."
Positive Customer Expectations
About customer optimism, Van Elk notes a clear change. "At the Kuchenmeile fair in September in Germany, we spoke to almost all our customers, and the vast majority is positive about next year."
Germany remains the primary focus. "Our focus is particularly on Germany. Despite general market developments in Germany still being very moderate, the development for Dekker is going well. The luxury kitchen countertop with a beautiful flush-mounted sink is also gaining popularity. We also wish our eastern neighbors a beautiful countertop instead of that simple chipboard countertop with a built-in sink. The Scandinavian market has been hit even harder than the German market, but we are seeing growth there again. Belgium continues to grow stably as always."
To support German growth, the inside sales team has been expanded. "We have significantly expanded our inside sales team for Germany. Convincing customers of the beautiful luxury countertops with flush-mounted sinks requires quite a bit of support. A lot of time has been invested in our approach to customers. Most Dutch customers are used to ordering custom-made countertops, while this is not a given in Germany. We have developed a program for this called the Dekker Method. It is responding very positively and reduces the threshold to order. Of course, a beautiful countertop is 'the face of the kitchen'."
Productivity
Investments in new machines have paid off. "Thanks to these investments, we have further improved our productivity and quality. Improving productivity is especially necessary to cope with the tight labor market. In our view, this will remain an important focus in the coming years."
Design Trends
In terms of trends, Van Elk sees a clear shift: "The trend has shifted to Industrial Force in 2025 and Wild Essence for 2026."
Wild Essence:
Ancient Gold | Wild | Hotel Chic | Robust
"Wild Essence exudes luxury with a bold and natural character. Robust natural stone and warm wood form the basis, enriched with the shine of Ancient Gold and deep green tones. Organic structures and rich materials create a dynamic atmosphere that feels both elegant and powerful. This trend mixes the wild with the sophisticated: eclectic shapes, natural expression, and a touch of retro. The result is a hotel-chic kitchen that combines warmth and exclusivity."
Industrial Force:
Futuristic | Tough | Contrasts | Tibetan Red
"Industrial Force combines futuristic minimalism with powerful materials. Black and white form the basis, creating a tough, graphic look together with metal and concrete. Luxury natural stone and warm wood accents soften the whole, while Tibetan or Salsa Red adds a fashionable, energetic touch. Glossy surfaces enhance the sculptural character of this trend. The play of contrasts - cool versus warm, matte versus gloss - ensures a timeless kitchen seamlessly blending into the interior."
The trend color for this year and next year is "beige tones à la the Taj Mahal in all kinds of materials from TopCore to Evora Ceramics."
Circular Production
Sustainability remains an important spearhead: "Dekker is making great strides towards circularity. At least 50% of the custom-made countertops should be circular in the coming years and production is CO₂-neutral. Materials such as Greengridz, Obsidiana (recycled glass), and Cosmolite (minerals + industrial waste) are good examples of this. Dekker is working on complete reuse chains, including upcycling of old countertops."
Technologically, Dekker continues to lead: "The collaboration with Pitt Cooking has been expanded with induction zones beautifully integrated into countertops. This modular solution aligns with custom-made and high-end design trends. The market responds positively, especially because of the sleek design and flexibility in setup."
Outlook
According to Van Elk, the key growth opportunities for Dekker in the coming two years are:
- Export: further expansion in Germany and Scandinavia
- Sustainability: circular materials and CO₂-neutral production
- Technology: integration of induction and smart features in countertops
- Design trends: Industrial Force and Wild Essence, with combinations of natural stone looks, wood, and metallic accents
- Convenience: helping customers as easily as possible to sell beautiful high-quality countertops
"By focusing on this, we continue to distinguish ourselves and further build on our market share in luxury kitchen countertops, both in the Netherlands and abroad," concludes Van Elk.
More information:
Dekker Zevenhuizen
Nijverheidscentrum 2
2761 JP Zevenhuizen
www.dekkerzevenhuizen.nl
[email protected]
