To propeller shafts
To repairs
To inland shipping
To history
De Waal is a family business through and through. Founded in 1938 by J.A. (Ko) de Waal and now managed by the third generation of the De Waal family, craftsmanship, a desire to excel and a willingness to invest the money earned have made this company a household name in Dutch and European shipbuilding.
After its start in 1938 at the former inland harbour of Werkendam, the company focused on motorising cargo sailing ships using a so-called side screw installation. Ko de Waal bought a motorbike and sought out customers throughout the country himself. Service 'on the road', even in those days.
The first employees in the 1930s in front of the former premises at the former Nieuwe Haven in Werkendam. On the far right (with hat and pipe) is founder Ko de Waal.
In 1952, the company moved to the Biesboschhaven. This is where the development of underwater repairs began.
On the riverbank, just across the dyke next to the factory, Ko de Waal had the ships to be repaired run aground on a sandbank. At low tide, De Waal's men ran to the sandbank in their waders. The mechanics lifted the dismantled propeller shaft over the dyke to the shed. It was hard work because the tide would not wait. In the early 1970s, the strong tide disappeared with the arrival of the Oosterschelde dam in Zeeland. This also meant that it was no longer possible to carry out repairs on a sandbank on site.
The Biesbosch harbour in the 1960s.
By then, his son A.M. (Ton) de Waal had joined the company. He convinced his father to build a hydraulic ship lift at the Biesboschhaven. This was later followed by a second ship lift in the Beatrixhaven, which was even covered.
The strategic location on the Nieuwe Merwede river, in combination with the two ship lifts, ensured almost automatic growth for De Waal. As a skipper, you couldn't ignore it. In 1993, a modern office was built and seven years later, the striking main building 'Havezathe' was put into use.
As a provisional conclusion, after years of negotiations, the Beatrixhaven was partially filled in again to open a quay of no less than 135 metres in 2012. The unique shape of the quay allows ships up to 150 metres in length to moor here easily. A tall construction hall was also built on the quay, providing space for all kinds of ship constructions, such as rudders for large seagoing vessels.
Ton de Waal has now passed the baton on to the third generation. His son J.A.M. (Marco) de Waal, together with other family members, is responsible for the continuity of this versatile family business.
1990s: opening of the Beatrixhaven ship lift by Ton de Waal, 2nd generation.
The current course that De Waal is steering is one of building on the past and taking on challenges in the new world: sustainable 'thinking and doing' with, among other things, fuel-saving systems. Propulsion and manoeuvring of larger dredgers and seagoing vessels. High-tech steering systems and rudders for superyachts. That is De Waal today.
Andere talen komen binnenkort beschikbaar.
Andere Sprachen werden in Kürze verfügbar sein.
Other languages will be available soon.
